What Angels in the Outfield Got Wrong About the Influence Of Paranormal Activity On Major League Baseball
The film Angels in the outfield deserves credit for having the courage to take on the controversial topic of ghosts in baseball. That said, it comes up short in several key areas. Here’s what Angels in the Outfield got wrong about the impact of paranormal activity on Major League Baseball.
1. All baseball ghosts are angels—Most people who see the film walk away with the impression that every ghost involved in baseball is an angel, as those are the only paranormal beings shown in the film. In reality, most baseball spirits are demons hellbent on injuring star players, slowing down the game, and enforcing the many curses that remain in effect today. The recent lifting of the [Red Sox Curse] and the Billy Goat Curse may lead one to believe that the influence of demons in Major League Baseball has diminished, however these curses simply expired after so many decades in effect. The truth is that there are more demons rigging baseball games nowadays than ever before.
2. The angels only help the Angels—This should go without saying, but the fact that Anaheim’s mascot is the Angels does not mean that they are the only team receiving divine help. Angelic assistance is much like the salary cap—big market teams with large fanbases are able to field better, more talented angels. Merely ascending to heaven and being granted wings by God is not enough to make someone root for a bullshit franchise like the Angels.
3. Prayer is the key to angel-vision—In the film, Roger gains the ability to see the angels on the field after praying for the Angels to win the World Series. While this is a touching moment on the screen, the truth is that God couldn’t care less about who a 10-year-old kid wants to win the World Series. Roger is able to see the angels for one simple reason—he’s an orphan. All orphans have been able to see supernatural ballplayers since the 1940s, when the original baseball orphan, Babe Ruth, sacrificed his best friend and teammate, Lou Gehrig, to help the lost and parentless children of the world. As Prometheus gave humanity fire, the Bambino gave orphans the power of sight. And just as Prometheus was punished for his deed, so to was Ruth, who still haunts the bleachers of America’s ballparks today, eternally peddling concession food to fans who cannot see him.
