Praying Toward a World Series Win?

Bostonist has seen that Sox pitcher Curt Schilling is a religious man. As he scribbled down notes and prayers after pitching each inning against the Yankees in last year’s post-season, we could see that he believed that religion could help him and his bloody sock win games. When the Sox defied all odds last season to come back from four games behind New York, some fans believed it could only be something bigger than us all. Other fans believed it was just better ball-playing on our part.

According to yesterday's Boston Globe, some Sox players believe that God was on their side and still is as they head into the post-season. The Red Sox team has 12 evangelical Christians players, the most in all of major league baseball, with just as many coaches and staff joining them. Nixon, Timlin, Wakefield, Varitek, Schilling, Mirabelli, Mueller, Clement, Olerud, Myers, Graffanino, and Bradford all gathered this past Sunday afternoon with Rev. Walt Day of Baseball Chapel, a ministry that serves all 30 MLB teams. He gave a sermon and led them in prayer before taking the field, where the Sox beat the Tigers 11-3. (Five of the Tigers also attended a separate service before the game.)

According to Trot Nixon, things have definitely gotten more spiritual since the new ownership took over in 2002. Under the old regime, Rev. Day, who also serves as chaplain for the New England Patriots, wasn’t allowed in the clubhouse at all. Some of the players thinks it helps keep things in perspective and leads them away from temptations on the road. Rev. Day has a hunch why professional athletes like the Sox turn to religion: "Some of these guys get everything they think they always wanted in life at a young age and then find that it still leaves them a bit empty...They become more open to spiritual things and it can lead to a personal relationship with God."

The Sox, who proclaimed themselves “a bunch of idiots” last year, now have the largest number of evangelical Christians in the league. Red Sox Nation always talked about "keeping the faith" last season, but if they start toting the Bible with them into the stands, that might be taking it a bit far.