At the beginning of The Magical Game, author Addy Baird describes the moment she fell in love with the game. She took her father to see the Mets vs. the Royals in the 2015 World Series. The game she went to featured Noah Syndergaard and happened to be the only game they would win of the series. At the end of the game, the man in front of her turned to her, took her hand, and said, “Now you’re a Mets fan. It’s going to suck.”

I can relate, although I’ve been a Mets fan for about 40 more years than she has been.

The Magical Game is a fun and surprisingly thoughtful exploration of the superstitions, rituals, curses, and legends that have become such an important part of baseball. Addy Baird approaches the subject with genuine enthusiasm, and that affection for the game comes through throughout the audiobook.

What I enjoyed most was discovering just how deeply superstition is woven into baseball culture. From players’ individual routines and lucky charms to famous team curses and the rituals of fans, Baird shows that these traditions aren’t simply silly habits. They give players and fans a sense of control and connection in a sport where uncertainty is part of what makes the game exciting.

Erin Moon’s narrated the audiobook and makes the material easy to listen to and gives the book a smooth, approachable feel. The audiobook is particularly enjoyable for baseball fans because Baird combines history, unusual stories, folklore, and her own experiences as a Mets fan. Some of the stories are fascinating little pieces of baseball history that I had never heard before. The discussions of famous curses and baseball myths are especially entertaining.

That said, I occasionally wished the audiobook stayed more focused on baseball. At times, Baird moves away from baseball into broader discussions of superstition, mythology, and what these beliefs say about human nature. Those sections are interesting, but listeners who come primarily for behind-the-scenes baseball stories may find themselves wanting more anecdotes about players, teams, and the origins of specific baseball traditions.

I also feel that although Baird is trying to talk about all of baseball, she focuses on the Mets quite often. As a Mets fan myself, I don’t mind. Fans of other teams might wonder if their team ever had anything like the 2024 season with some of its strange quirks and rituals. She does discuss the infamous Curse of the Bambino and the Chicago goat curse. Baird states that the Curse of the Bambino first appeared in Dan Shaughnessy’s 1990 book, but I know I heard of it during the 1986 World Series, and I don’t believe that was the first time I heard it.

Overall, The Magical Game succeeds because it captures something difficult to explain about being a baseball fan: the feeling that sometimes the game is more than statistics and strategy. We know a lucky jersey can’t really change the outcome, and we know a curse isn’t responsible for a team’s losing streak, but that doesn’t stop us from believing, just a little. For baseball fans who enjoy the history, folklore, and strange traditions surrounding the sport, this is an entertaining listen and a reminder of why baseball can feel, well, magical.