John Lackey trades Babe Ruth-signed ball for jersey number

More than any other athletes, baseball players are notorious for harboring odd superstitions. Sometimes it's guys entering the batter's box a certain way or eating the same pregame meal -- or not changing their socks for a month.

Other times its a simple obsession with a jersey number. 

In John Lackey's case, that number is 41. Since entering the big leagues in 2002, Lackey has worn No. 41 in every season except his 2010 campaign with the Red Sox.

Last month, the Red Sox sent him to the Cardinals in a deal right at the deadline, which presented a problem for Lackey ... No. 41 already belonged to St. Louis reliever Pat Neshek. Now, Neshek wasn't particularly attached to the jersey (he's worn a total of seven different numbers for four different teams throughout his eight-year career), but that doesn't mean he doesn't mean he's ignorant of the opportunity presented to him. 

So, Neshek traded No. 41 to Lackey for an autographed baseball ... signed by Babe Ruth.

Huge Thanks to John Lackey for the incredible gift for changing my uni # pic.twitter.com/SFnuTh2d7x

- Pat Neshek (@PatNeshek) August 20, 2014

I feel that this is the appropriate juncture and venue to inform the general public (and specifically other Cut4 writers) that I would be more than willing to part with my byline should I be compensated with a Willie Mays-signed bat or a Honus Wagner glove. Offer's on the table...