VICTORY FAUST | In an era of extreme superstition, John McGraw stood out in his belief of omens, charms, and spells. His most famous good-luck charm was an unbalanced Kansas hayseed named Charles Faust, whose middle name of Victor was changed to "Victory" after a string of victories was attributed to his presence around the club. McGraw, looking to keep players and fans loose, often had Faust warm up using his bizarre windmill windup. In the ninth inning of the final game of the 1911 season, he actually inserted Faust in the lineup. Brooklyn players, playing along with the farce, swung half-heartedly at Faust's feeble pitches, then let him steal his way around the bases in his only at-bat. Faust "helped" the Giants to three straight pennants, but his magic failed in the World Series, as New York lost in the post-season each time. Faust died in a hospital for the insane in 1915. That year the Giants finished last.

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