October 26, 2021 3:55 pm ET
If you’re reading this, you’ve probably asked the very question above: Joc Pederson, the outfielder for the Atlanta Braves — who are playing in the 2021 World Series against the Houston Astros — has started wearing a pearl necklace during games.
So: What’s the deal?
The answer isn’t completely certain, and Pederson has been asked about it a lot and has given various replies. But it’s an awesome quirk that could now be a good luck charm (you know how superstitious baseball players can be). The lefty hit a dinger in the NLDS series against the Milwaukee Brewers with the pearls on.
Let’s track this and the various answers:
Let's go back to Sept. 29
There he was in an at-bat against the Philadelphia Phillies, wearing the pearls. Social media started buzzing.
Joc Pederson is up to bat wearing a pearl necklace. pic.twitter.com/BlhVvMLW2q
— Baseball GIFs (@gifs_baseball) September 30, 2021
""Pearls are always appropriate."
– Jackie Kennedy"
– Joc Pederson pic.twitter.com/S81U7Cjhsq— Gwinnett Stripers (@GoStripers) September 30, 2021
The first answer
When asked about it, he said it was a “mystery.”
Joc Pederson says him wearing pearls is a mystery. pic.twitter.com/0PjBheK6l6
— Baseball GIFs (@gifs_baseball) October 1, 2021
A couple of days later, he said there was no origin story to share, but he said he was “a bad [expletive].”
More answers on them
On Oct. 3, via MLB.com:
“There’s not much behind [the pearl necklace],” Pederson said. “I like it. It looks good.” …
See AlsoHow the Braves got their name“It wasn’t something that was supposed to get this much media attention,” Pederson said. “It’s just something that I like. It’s getting blown way out of proportion.”
It's truly become a thing
JOC PEDERSON!
It’s gotta be the pearls. 🔥😂
(🎥: @MLB) pic.twitter.com/Ebb1UkzNZK
— theScore (@theScore) October 8, 2021
He tweeted this on Oct. 11:
pearl JAM pic.twitter.com/nIYs9K4GrH
— Joc Pederson (@yungjoc650) October 11, 2021
And his former Dodgers teammates are asking about it:
Justin Turner said him and some other players facetimed Joc Pederson the other day
He said they asked him about the pearl necklace
— Blake Harris (@BlakeHarrisTBLA) October 15, 2021
His teammates don't even know the true reason
“What’s up with the pearls?’’ Atlanta third baseman Austin Riley said. “Everyone wanted to know. I had so many people ask me that. We were all asking each other that.
“No one knew.’’ …
“Guys had to find out, and you know what, we still don’t know,’’ Riley said. “I don’t know. It’s Joc. There’s no rhyme or reason.
“He told us he just woke up one day and said, ‘Hey, let’s try this pearl necklace.’
“And that was that.’’
But where did he get them?
Now THAT we have an answer to:
Joc Pederson on the origin of the pearls: I saw some and thought they looked cooler than the black or gold chains, so I texted my jeweler, got some, and it kind of took off.
— Kelly Price (@thekellyprice) October 11, 2021
And now, there’s “Pearl Pandemonium,” per WSBTV:
“It’s Joctober:” @Braves fans embracing Joc Pederson, pearls pandemonium #BattleATL #MLB #Braves #Atlanta #ForTheA @yungjoc650 https://t.co/4DwOslxFQ7 pic.twitter.com/3BKQz0m97U
— Alison Mastrangelo (@AlisonWSB) October 12, 2021