The Strange Habits of Baseball Players: From Urinating on Hands to Marking Territory

Former New York Yankee catcher Jorge Posada has made headlines for his unusual use of urine to improve his baseball game. Posada admitted to peeing on his hands to make them smoother during spring training, a practice he shares with Moises Alou. Alou, known for not wearing batting gloves, also used urine to toughen up his hands and eliminate calluses.

Posada’s confession to the Newark Star-Ledger about his unique pre-game ritual sheds light on the bizarre practices some baseball players engage in. While Posada and Alou use urine for hand care, former player Alex Rodriguez reportedly used it to mark his territory off the field, according to Yuri Sucart’s wife, Carmen.

Despite the strange nature of these practices, they are not uncommon in the world of baseball. Red Sox icon Luis Tiant also supported the use of urine on hands, a tradition passed down from his father in Cuba. Vladimir Guerrero and Moises Alou are among the other players who have used urine instead of batting gloves.

Jorge Posada’s unconventional methods may raise eyebrows, but they did not detract from his success on the field. Posada was a key player for the New York Yankees during their dynasty years, retiring in 2012 as one of the top catchers in MLB history. His unique approach to hand care may be unusual, but it certainly didn’t hinder his performance on the field.