Baseball's Latest Fashion Accessory: The Titanium Necklace

Baseball players are probably among the most superstitious athletes on the planet.

So I'm not surprised to learn that around 200 major league ballplayers and 80% of Japanese players are now wearing necklaces embedded with titanium (above, on Mets reliever Heath Bell).

Lee Jenkins wrote about the new craze in the June 22 New York Times.

The $23 necklaces, sold by a Japanese company called Phiten, are made of nylon coated with a titanium solution and are said to improve circulation and reduce muscle stress.

Besides the necklaces, available in 12 different colors to match any team uniform, Phiten has started selling socks, boxers, soaps, shampoos and pillow cases, all incorporating similar technology.

Scott McDonald, a Seattle–based sales and marketing representative for Phiten and clearly a direct descendent of Nikola Tesla, told the Times' Jenkins, "Everybody has electricity running through their bodies. This product stablizes that flow of electricity if you're stressed or tired."

Makes perfectly good sense to me.

So much so that from this moment forward, all pixels composing bookofjoe will be Phiten–treated and titanium coated.

Don't you feel better already?

Stop by daily for your rejuvenation therapy: as always, one everyday low price.

But I digress.

Rick Peterson, the Mets' pitching coach, has started wearing Phiten tights in addition to his necklace.

Here's a link to Phiten's website so you can hop on board the titanium bandwagon.

And if you really want to take it to the next level here's a link to a website that sells zillions of products make of titanium.

Here's the article:

Is Your Bat Speed a Bit Off? Try a Titanium Necklace

Considering that baseball players rub snake oil on their arms, smear mascara under their eyes and keep pine tar stored on their helmets, it should come as no surprise that they are starting to wear necklaces embedded with titanium.

More common in major league clubhouses than 24-karat gold chains are $23 nylon necklaces, produced in Japan and distributed to athletes looking for the latest edge.

If steroids are out, titanium is in.

Representatives from Phiten, a company based in Japan that sells the necklaces, say the nylon is coated in a titanium solution that can help improve circulation and reduce muscle stress.

Predictably, baseball players have been among the best customers.

Phiten estimated that the necklaces were worn by 200 major leaguers and that 80 percent of Japanese players had used them.

The Mets, as desperate as any team for a quick fix, are practically making the necklace part of their uniform and trying not to choke themselves with it.

On a given day, Manager Willie Randolph, 20 of his players and half the coaching staff look as if they are wearing blue, black or orange Frisbees around their necks.

This is becoming baseball's answer to the Lance Armstrong bracelet.

"It's so typical," Mets pitcher Tom Glavine said.

"You tell a baseball player something will make him feel better, and he'll take it. I tried it when I pitched on Sunday and I lost, so needless to say, I'll never wear it again."

Rick Down, the Mets' hitting coach, models two at a time.

Relief pitcher Heath Bell has one for work and another for bed.

Billy Wagner, the Phillies' closer, wears one, and so does his son.

But even those who swear by the necklace seem stumped by the most critical question: Does it really work?

"I guess I feel a little happier with it," Seattle infielder Jose Lopez said.

Phillies outfielder Endy Chavez said, "I think I have a little more energy with it."

Mets reliever Roberto Hernandez said: "I don't know if it does anything at all. But I'll still wear it."

Bell said: "This is the way I look at the issue: If you think it works, it's going to work. If you don't think it works, it's not going to work. But I'm going to keep wearing it, because next year, there will be something new we'll all have to get."

Randy Johnson, now with the Yankees, kicked off the titanium trend four years ago when he learned about Phiten on an all-star tour in Japan.

The Red Sox made the necklaces part of their fashion statement during last year's World Series.

"If it worked for them, I figured it might work for me," said Mets first baseman Brian Daubach, who began last season with the Red Sox.

"Baseball players will copy anything that had success."

When the Mets arrived in Seattle on Friday, they were greeted by Phiten representatives at their clubhouse door with enough products to weigh down the team plane.

Besides the necklaces, which come in 12 different colors, matching any team jersey, Phiten has started selling socks, boxers, soaps, shampoos and pillow cases, all incorporating similar technology.

"Everybody has electricity running through their bodies," said Scott McDonald, a Seattle-based sales and marketing representative for Phiten.

"This product stabilizes that flow of electricity if you're stressed or tired. Pitchers are seeing that they aren't as sore. Injured players are seeing that they recover faster from workouts. People are always skeptical, but when they try it, they become believers."

After Daubach was hit on the knee with a pitch last week, he put titanium-coated stickers around his bruise and said it reduced the pain.

Rick Peterson, the Mets' pitching coach, has started wearing Phiten tights in addition to his necklace.

First baseman Doug Mientkiewicz pairs the tape with the necklace - but not at all times.

Even baseball players have their limits.

"They want you to wear it to sleep, and I can't do that," Mientkiewicz said.

"The necklace has already started to smell, and I don't think my wife likes it very much."