Player 230 Quotes

In another surprising study published in 2010 in the journal Psychological Science, researchers Ernest Abel and Michael Kruger of Wayne State University examined vintage photos of 230 major league baseball players from the 1952 season, comparing the lifespans of the 184 players who had already died. Of the players’ photos in the baseball cards, 40% showed no smile, 42% showed a partial smile, and 18% had a full smile. Those players who had no smiles lived an average of 72.9 years, while those with partial smiles had a lifespan of 75 years. However, those with big authentic grins lived to be 79.9 years on average, approximately 10% longer than those who did not smile in their photographs. The researchers could not confirm whether any of the players were prompted by the photographer to smile for their photos or if they smiled spontaneously. At the same time, the data seems to suggest that distributed images of smiling people result in a longer, happier life. So smile in your photos!

The positive psychology field has taught us about the benefits of optimism and happiness. One study correlated the life spans of Major League Baseball players with their smiles. In 2010, researchers Ernest Abel and Michael Kruger analyzed 230 baseball cards from 1952, a time when cards featured athletes looking straight at the camera. The results will make you want to smile. * Players not smiling had an average life span of 72.9 years. * Players partially smiling had an average life span of 75.0 years. * Players with a full smile had an average life span of 79.9 years.