In a bid to avoid the eerie lore surrounding Milwaukee’s Pfister Hotel, Dodgers star outfielder Mookie Betts has decided to stay in an Airbnb this week rather than join his team at the infamous establishment.
The Pfister Hotel, a century-old fixture in downtown Milwaukee, has long been rumored to harbor supernatural activity.
Known among baseball players as a haunted hotel, the Pfister’s ghostly reputation has led many to steer clear.
Betts is making his second consecutive decision to bypass the Pfister.
When asked by Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register whether he’d stay at the hotel, Betts firmly responded, “No, that ain’t going to change.”
Despite not having any personal encounters with the supernatural, Betts has heard enough unsettling stories to remain wary.
Last year, he recounted struggling to sleep during a previous stay, alert to every creak and noise that might signal a ghostly presence.
“Every noise, I’d be like, ‘Is that something?!?” Betts said.
Given that Betts is returning from an injury and will be crucial in the Dodgers’ division race, it’s understandable why he would avoid any potential distractions.
Activated from the Injured List on Monday, Betts is set to bat second and return to right field, a position where he has earned all six of his Gold Gloves.
With the Dodgers in a tight race and only six weeks left in the regular season, ensuring a clear mind is essential for the star player.
The Pfister Hotel’s haunted reputation extends beyond baseball circles.
Since its opening in 1893 – supposedly built over an old burial ground – numerous guests have reported eerie occurrences.
Several baseball players have tales of the hotel’s mysterious activity.
Philadelphia Phillies’ star Bryce Harper recalled a strange incident where his clothes and furniture seemed to shift on their own.
“When I woke up in the morning – I swear on everything – the clothes were on the floor and the table was on the opposite side of the room against the wall,” Harper recalled to ESPN the Magazine.
“I honestly thought there might be someone in my room. I had no idea what the hell just happened, so I actually looked around, and then I checked to see if the door was still latched, and it was.”
Former Cardinals pitcher Carlos Martinez famously attributed a poor performance to an encounter with the Pfister ghost, as recounted by former narrator Anna Lardinois in a local radio segment.
“The Cardinals pitcher woke up in the middle of the night and jumped on Instagram saying that he had just been touched by the Pfister ghost,” Lardinois said.
“Well, the next day, he plays terribly, he blames it on the Pfister ghost, and the city cheers. So how do you not love the Pfister ghost who just wants the Brewers to win?”
Former Pirates manager Clint Hurdle also shared a spooky anecdote involving a former player who, after a night of being spooked, sought refuge in his room.
“I actually had him come into my room – not to sleep. I settled him down, went back to his room with him, sat for a while,” Hurdle said.
“The TV did not come back on. I exited. Everything was OK. It’s real to some people, there’s no doubt. I’m absolutely positive that I don’t want to name names … He’s still playing.”
What are your thoughts on the “haunted” hotel???