In the history of witchcraft, one of the most notorious aspects is the execution of accused witches. While the methods of execution varied throughout different regions and time periods, one common element was the characteristic attire worn by these accused individuals during their trial and subsequent execution - the witch execution outfit. The witch execution outfit was designed to visually brand the accused as a witch and to strip them of any normal societal status. They were often characterized by the color black, which was associated with evil and darkness during medieval times. The purpose of this outfit was to further demonize the accused and create a tangible representation of their supposed connection to witchcraft. One key component of the witch execution outfit was the black hood or hat.
Matthew J. Prigge is a freelance author and historian from Milwaukee. He is the author of four books, and wrote two weekly blogs for shepherdexpress.com on topics of local history.
Stay on top of the news of the day Subscribe to our free, daily e-newsletter to get Milwaukee s latest local news, restaurants, music, arts and entertainment and events delivered right to your inbox every weekday, plus a bonus Week in Review email on Saturdays. If I lived in Milwaukee and went to baseball games, I would have prayed for home runs, just to see anyone, much less a guy in a foam suit, slide into a mug of beer.
One key component of the witch execution outfit was the black hood or hat. This accessory served to conceal the identity of the accused and symbolized the mysterious and hidden nature of witchcraft. The hood was often conical in shape, resembling the stereotypical image of a witch's hat that is popularized in modern culture.
Bernie Brewer: Mascot, Cheerleader… Spy?
With a 7-3 win on July 8, 1973, the Brewers completed a resounding doubleheader sweep of the Texas Rangers and climbed above .500 at the latest point in any of their three seasons of existence. The Brewers were one of the AL ’s surprise teams that year. They had opened June by winning 15 of 16 games and were now only four games behind the first-place Yankees as the all-star break neared. The Rangers lingered pathetically in last place, already 24 games below .500. The pounding of the Rangers by the Brewers, in this context, seemed nothing out of the norm. Texas manager Whitey Herzog, however, still felt that his team had been cheated. Suffering from either the strain of a miserable Rangers team or the 90-plus degree summer heat in Milwaukee that afternoon, Herzog unloaded in the clubhouse following the losses. It was not the Brewers hitters, he claimed, but their mascot, who had beaten him.
“Can you imagine a damn team that has to cheat to beat us?” Herzog howled to reporters after the game. Herzog went on to explain that during the second game of the doubleheader – the third in a row in which Milwaukee blasted Texas pitching – Rangers first base coach Jackie Moore noticed some strange activity in the centerfield bleacher chalet of mascot Bernie Brewer. The chalet, with its now-famous slide and giant beer mug, had been installed earlier that season as a promotional gimmick. The lederhosen-clad Bernie, played by Marquette University student Dan McCarthy, cheered on the home team while they were batting and slid into the mug after each home run. But Moore and Herzog soon noticed him doing something else. He clapped once – so the two claimed – before a Texas pitcher threw a curveball and not at all when the pitcher delivered a fastball.
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Sign-stealing is an old (and somewhat accepted) practice in baseball. Tipping off a batter to a breaking pitch could give him an advantage. The Rangers also noticed what appeared to be a man, who appeared to have a set of binoculars, hiding in the chalet. If this man was spying on the catcher’s signs to the pitcher and then relaying those signs to the Brewers batters, so Herzog thought, it could explain the Brewers’ recent hit barrage. Convinced he was being had, Herzog sent pitcher Jim Bibby, who had been shelled in game one, to go investigate. According the Mike Shropshite’s Seasons in Hell, a recounting of the 1973-75 Rangers, Herzog said “I wanted to send Bibby up there to Bernie Brewer’s little house and kick his gooddamn ass.” Instead Herzog sent the pitcher on a recon mission. A team official prevent Bibby from going up to the chalet, but Bibby told Herzog he had seen two boxes and a telephone being removed from the house. “Watergate has nothing on Bernie’s chalet at County Stadium , to hear the Texas Rangers tell it,” the Milwaukee Sentinel observed.
Herzog took his complaints to the umpiring crew, screaming at them about the conspiracy. Mid-game, they ordered the second man out of the chalet and had McCarthy remove his white gloves – a part of the costume Herzog thought were used to better relay his clapping. The second man, the Brewers claimed, was an assistant who inflated the balloons that flew out of the mug after each home run. Herzog continued his rage after the game, blaming that “little asshole in the costume” for his pitching staff’s sour luck.
McCarthy, the “little asshole” in question, later denied any role in sign-stealing, “I played outfield in Little and Babe Ruth leagues and I can’t tell one sign from another. I wouldn’t know what to look for.” Brewers manager Del Crandall cheekily admitted the team did have a spy in Bernie’s roost and “revealed” the identity of the mysterious second man. “It’s Bud Selig,” he said with a laugh. “Who’d you think we’d send up there?”
If Bernie was stealing signs back in 1973, it didn’t do much good. The Brewers scored 10 fewer runs at home that season as they did on the road. And a week after the incident, they beat the Rangers three more times in a row – in Texas .
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Matthew J. Prigge
Matthew J. Prigge is a freelance author and historian from Milwaukee. He is the author of four books, and wrote two weekly blogs for shepherdexpress.com on topics of local history.
Miller Park. J. Meiers, via WIkimedia Commons.
This distinctive headwear added to the overall imagery of the witch execution outfit and further perpetuated the belief that those accused were indeed practitioners of dark magic. In addition to the hood, a long black cloak was often worn as part of the witch execution outfit. The cloak draped around the accused, emphasizing their otherness and creating an ominous and intimidating presence. The cloak served as a visual reminder to the public that these individuals were to be feared and ostracized from society. While the exact details of the witch execution outfit varied, certain elements were consistent. The use of black, the hood, and the cloak were all common characteristics of this attire. These visual cues were intentionally chosen to evoke fear, create a sense of foreboding, and to distinguish the accused from the rest of society. It is important to note that the witch execution outfit was not only a means to visually condemn the accused but also a tool in perpetuating the beliefs of the time. The outfit reinforced the existing stereotypes and superstitions about witches, making it easier for the public to accept the execution of these individuals. In conclusion, the witch execution outfit was a deliberate choice of attire designed to visually condemn accused witches and perpetuate societal beliefs about witchcraft. The use of black, the hood, and the cloak created an image of darkness, fear, and otherness that emphasized the accused's alleged affiliation with witchcraft. The witch execution outfit played a significant role in the witch trials and ultimately contributed to the persecution of countless individuals throughout history..
Reviews for "From Medieval to Modern: The Evolution of the Witch Execution Outfit"
1. Sarah - ★☆☆☆☆
I was extremely disappointed with the witch execution outfit. The quality of the material was poor, and it was nothing like the image shown on the website. The fit was also awful; it was way too tight in some areas and too loose in others. It looked more like a cheap Halloween costume than a well-crafted outfit. I would not recommend this product to anyone.
2. John - ★★☆☆☆
I purchased the witch execution outfit for a themed party, and I have to say it was quite underwhelming. The sizing was completely off, even though I followed the provided measurements chart. The fabric felt cheap and flimsy, and the colors were not as vibrant as depicted in the product photos. Overall, it was not worth the money I spent on it, and I ended up having to come up with a last-minute alternative costume.
3. Emma - ★★☆☆☆
The witch execution outfit looked so cool on the website, but in person, it was far from impressive. The stitching was sloppy, and there were loose threads everywhere. The hat was bent out of shape, and no matter what I tried, I couldn't fix it. The overall design felt lackluster, and I felt embarrassed wearing it to the Halloween party. I definitely won't be purchasing from this brand again.
4. Michael - ★☆☆☆☆
The witch execution outfit was a total letdown. It arrived late and didn't even fit properly. The fabric was thin and felt uncomfortable against my skin. The worst part was the construction; it looked like it was put together in a rush, with uneven hems and loose buttons. I expected much better quality for the price I paid. Save your money and look elsewhere for a witch costume.