Locker Room Celebrations!!

Posted on 22. Oct, 2009 by Corey in All, General Baseball.

The other night I was sitting with friends at Skyline Chili trying to enjoy my 4-way with onions and three bowls of oyster crackers with hot sauce when a friend brought up an interesting point for discussion.  He wanted to know how we all felt about the locker room celebrations in baseball, as players, coaches and staff members spray each other with beer and champagne.

The friend had a great point, that the team that wins the World Series could end up participating in this baseball ritual a total of four times, once after clinching their respective division or wild card spot, after winning the Division Series, after winning the League Championship series to advance on to the World Series, and then after winning their fourth game to become World Champions.  I agreed that I felt this was too much, but brought up a point that bothered me more.

I mentioned how I didn’t like members of these teams wearing ski or swimming goggles as they celebrate.  Granted I have never had beer or champagne poured on my head, and can imagine it stings quite a bit, but just didn’t like the look of these goggles.

I have come close to these types of celebrations twice in my life.  The first was in 2002, after winning the Conference USA Basketball Championship at the University of Cincinnati.  Athletic Director Bob Goin had purchased the team non-alcoholic sparking cider that we danced around and drank after clinching the title.  Very little was poured on anyone’s head, but the celebration was still nice as we spilled out of the locker room to the arena floor to celebrate with the remaining fans.

The second victory celebration was a little lower key as my dad and I drank Yoo-hoo (expensive chocolate milk) together after winning our first major Fantasy Baseball Championship. I did run outside and spray a can around in the air like an idiot, but I had fun doing it.

But back to professional baseball, I have always liked watching the post game celebrations that are shown on TV and see the excitement in the clubhouse following the game.  I hope to one day be a part of a team that has all the lockers taped up with plastic bags and participate in a celebration so large that the soaked carpets need to be changed!

I know I am getting old, when I start comparing sports to the “old days,” but I never remember seeing goggles and masks worn before.  This seems to be a newer tradition that has started the past few seasons, and I do not think I am a fan of it.  As you watch the last two rounds of the 2009 Major League Baseball playoffs end, take a look in the clubhouse and see if you notice these goggles being used.
The other lesson I learned, you never know what type of conversation will start while stuffing your face with Cincinnati Chili.