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Curse of Sophie

The Curse of Sophie is a hex associated with the Florida Marlins Major League Baseball team based in Miami, Florida. The curse is not unlike past or current curses connected with the game of baseball (i.e. Curse of the Bambino, Curse of Billy Penn, Curse of the Billy Goat). It is alleged the curse got it’s start when Sophia Panatakis, was visiting from Greece. She was staying with relatives in Pembroke Pines, Florida, a short distance from Sun Life Stadium, where the Marlins play their home games.

Her nephew George Banos, was a freelance photographer who had requested a media credential to take photos for a book that author Marv Becker was writing on expansion in baseball. On Tuesday, September 2, 2008, Banos had arrived at the park with his parents, sister Mary, brother Michael and Aunt Sophie. George had arranged for tickets for his family to see the Marlins host the Atlanta Braves. But when George went to Media Will Call for his credential, he was told it wasn’t there. George explained the situation, but apparently to no avail. He wound up having to leave his camera equipment in his van, and had to buy a single ticket as close to his family as was possible.

When it was explained to his Aunt Sophie what had happened, she became outraged. The game was a slugfest and was tied 14-14 going into the ninth inning. As Sophie’s rage for the Marlins grew, so did her wrath. It was then when she put the curse on the team. The Braves scored two runs in the top of the ninth, and the Marlins went down quietly in the bottom of the inning, losing 16-14.

Afterwards, the 77 year old Sophie claimed she had placed what the Greeks call the “mati” or evil eye on the team forever, for putting her nephew in such a difficult position. Banos was later fired from his photography assignment by Becker. Sophia Panatakis returned one week later to her village of Valtesi, Greece vowing to never lift the hex.

Speculation continues regarding the validity of the curse and whether the Marlins have attempted to contact the Panatakis or Banos families. The hex has been discussed on local sports radio stations and has grown in popularity, particularly now that the Marlins are preparing to enter a new phase by moving into a new facility in 2012.