Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts has stayed at a rented Airbnb rather than the team's 'haunted' hotel during their three-game series at the Milwaukee Brewers this week.
Instead, Betts, 30, stayed with friends, according to The Orange County Register, who organised the rental for the Dodgers ' three-day stint in Wisconsin. The Pfister Hotel, where the rest of the team are, is a regular haunt of travelling teams in the major leagues.
Betts is far from the first and unlikely to be the last player to swerve staying there. Former MLB outfielder Mike Cameron sought alternative accommodation when playing at the Brewers ' field, even spending two years on the franchise and avoiding the prospect of paranormal activity on road trips.
The Dodgers slugger explains that the precaution is "just in case" the stories are true despite not necessarily believing in ghosts. “It was a good excuse (not to stay there),” he told The Orange County Register. “You can tell me what happened after. I just don’t want to find out myself.”
Betts has previously stayed at the downtown Milwaukee spot, which is 130 years old and dates back to the Victorian times, but struggled to sleep despite admitting to not experiencing anything out of the ordinary.
“I couldn’t sleep,” he recalls. “Every noise, I’d be like, ‘Is that something?’” Several players tell spooky stories from their stays, though, with Bryce Harper sharing his in 2013 while on the Washington Nationals.
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"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," he said. "I was so flustered.
"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."
Half a dozen other players shared their own experiences with ESPN The Magazine, with Justin Upton sharing a similar sentiments to Betts. "From the minute I walk in there, I'm freaked out. The whole place, the creepy lights on the side, everything.
"I have to sleep with the blinds open and the lights on. Next time, I'm finding another hotel and paying for it on my own. I can't sleep there."
Thankfully for Betts, the Dodgers closed out the three-game set on Wednesday night, and they are back home to play the San Diego Padres on Friday. Despite the switching sleeping arrangements, the visitors, despite dropping the first game 9-3, won the next two 6-2 and 8-1.
After avoiding a fright in their final games against the Brewers, LA still topp the American League West standings after continuing their excellent recent streak. The Dodgers have dropped just two of their last ten games and are two-and-a-half games clear of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
