Cubs fans have found an unexpected good luck charm in the form of pop superstar Taylor Swift. The Chicago Cubs’ recent hot streak has coincided with a unique pregame ritual that manager Craig Counsell believes might just be the secret to their success.
Before securing their second consecutive victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday—a win that marked their fourth in five games—Counsell revealed an unusual pregame tradition involving “a Taylor Swift candle.” The Cubs manager credited this candle with helping to ignite the team’s recent surge.
“I was gifted a Taylor Swift candle, and we’ve been lighting that before games in my office—clubhouse manager Danny Miller and I,” Counsell, 54, shared before the Cubs defeated the Pirates 9-5 at PNC Park. “We’ve been on a nice little run here, so we’re going to credit Taylor Swift,” he added with a smile.
The Cubs’ winning streak continued the following day, as they triumphed in a 14-10 victory to complete a three-game sweep of the Pirates. With their record now at 68-66, the Cubs are hoping to ride this wave of success into the postseason.
The candle, labeled “This Smells Like Taylor Swift,” has become something of a talisman for the team. MLB.com even published a photo of the candle, which is made by Candle Babes, a Chicago-based sister-run business specializing in hand-poured candles. While Counsell didn’t reveal the exact scent of the candle, it retails for $21 and is available in a variety of scents, including Beverly Hills, Cactus Blossom, Mahogany Coconut, and Sexy Cowboy.
During an interview with Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network, Counsell acknowledged the influence of Swift’s fanbase, noting, “There’s a lot of Swifties in Cubs nation, and there might be some luck coming from those Swifties that have impacted the Cubs.”
Chicago fans, along with Swifties, were quick to embrace the idea that the pop star might be bringing the Cubs some much-needed luck. Social media was abuzz with reactions, with one fan on X (formerly Twitter) pledging, “If the Cubs make the playoffs, I’ll listen to every one of her songs from her 1st album to her last,” while another added, “Let’s go,” accompanied by a GIF of Swift pumping her arm in the air.
Though Taylor Swift doesn’t have any direct ties to the Cubs, her influence seems to be reaching the team in unexpected ways. Swift recently made headlines when she went public with her relationship with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce at an NFL game against the Chicago Bears last fall. The Grammy-winning artist nearly broke the internet when she was spotted in a private suite at Arrowhead Stadium with Kelce’s friends and family, including his mother, Donna Kelce, to watch the Chiefs crush the Bears 41-10 on September 24. This appearance marked Swift’s first public outing at an NFL game in support of Kelce.
Their relationship has since blossomed, with the two stepping out publicly for the first time in New York City last October. Kelce, who has now won three Super Bowl championships, followed Swift on her “Eras Tour” in Europe after leading the Chiefs to victory over the 49ers in the Super Bowl in February.
Kelce’s connection to Swift doesn’t stop there. He recently became a co-owner of a racehorse that had already been named after the pop star, as exclusively reported by The Post. Additionally, Kelce and his brother Jason recently secured a $100 million deal with Amazon’s Wondery to produce and distribute their popular podcast, according to Variety.
As the Cubs continue their push towards the playoffs, fans will be watching closely to see if the Taylor Swift candle continues to bring the team good fortune. For now, it seems that both Cubs nation and Swifties are united in hoping that the pop star’s influence will help the team keep their winning streak alive.
