The Hardball Times: The Superstitious Life of Mike Cuellar

http://www.hardballtimes.com/card-corner-plus-the-superstitious-life-of-mike-cuellar/

Cuellar?s physical appearance was highly deceptive. At six feet and 165 pounds, he didn?t look particularly big or powerful. But his Orioles teammates soon marveled at the strength of his handshake, which could be best compared to a vise grip. Joining a rotation that featured Palmer, McNally and right-hander Tom Phoebus, the new Orioles acquisition took his place as one of the staff aces. Cuellar?s ERA of 2.38 nearly matched Palmer?s. He logged a staff-high 290 innings, winning 23 of his decisions, also the top total on the Orioles. As much as anybody, Cuellar helped drive the Orioles to a 19-game runaway in the newly formed American League East. Cuellar?s performance earned him a share of the league?s Cy Young Award, along with Detroit?s more famous Denny McLain.

Cuellar?s behavior in winter ball exemplified his unique, offbeat personality and also helped explain how he obtained the nickname of ?Crazy Horse? during his years with the Orioles. In perhaps his most extreme quirk, Cuellar believed strongly in the spirit of a special baseball cap, which he felt that he had to wear in any game he pitched. On one occasion, Cuellar forgot this particular cap and demanded that the Orioles fly the cap back to Milwaukee, where they were playing a series against the Brewers. ?We had to call the clubhouse man back in Baltimore to airmail that [bleeping] hat to us,? Weaver explained to the Baltimore Sun. But when the cap made its way to Milwaukee, Cuellar realized that it was his practice cap, and not his gamer. Without his usual game-worn cap, Cuellar refused to pitch against the Brewers. Hence the nickname Crazy Horse.