Spurious correlation #4,053 · View random
A linear line chart with years as the X-axis and two variables on the Y-axis. The first variable is Popularity of the first name Rico and the second variable is Wins for the Pittsburgh Pirates. The chart goes from 1975 to 2022, and the two variables track closely in value over that time.

A linear line chart with years as the X-axis and two variables on the Y-axis. The first variable is Popularity of the first name Rico and the second variable is Wins for the Pittsburgh Pirates. The chart goes from 1975 to 2022, and the two variables track closely in value over that time.

AI explanation

Fewer people named Rico meant fewer fans doing the "Rico Suave" dance in the stands, leading to a decrease in overall team morale and a corresponding decline in wins for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Remember, it's not just about the stats, it's about the dance moves too!

^{Show image generation prompt} Model: dalle-3
Prompt: Generate an image of a captivating baseball stadium scene with an emphasis on the contrast between the bustling atmosphere of the fans during a successful game and the desolate stands during a loss. Illustrate the transition of the once-packed stadium, filled with enthusiastic fans donning "Rico" jerseys, to a solemn, near-empty gathering as the Pittsburgh Pirates play. Showcase the emotions of the remaining fans, highlighting their disappointment and loyal support despite the diminishing popularity of the name "Rico". Emphasize the visual impact of the dwindling crowd as it mirrors the changing fortunes of the team and the associated decline of the name "Rico". The depiction should include only scenes, people, and objects, it should not include text or speech bubbles.

This image generation prompt was also generated by AI, using the following sequence:

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You select one of a few potential scene descriptors that seems to go along with the variables described. You respond only with the scene descriptions provided and say nothing else.
User prompt: Here are two variables: Popularity of the first name Rico and Wins for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Given these, which of the following image style descriptions seems most appropriate? Pick the one that seems to be related to one of the variables at hand. Please respond with only one of the following potential descriptions: Concept art Minimalism Futuristic Cutsy art illustration Realistic
ChatGPT: Realistic

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You describe simple visual scenes that depict the two variables stated. You combine both variables into one scene.
User prompt: Please describe a visual scene that prominently depicts both Popularity of the first name Rico and Wins for the Pittsburgh Pirates, in the following situation: As the name "Rico" fell out of favor, so did the Pirates' luck. It turns out, with fewer people exclaiming "¡Ay, caramba!" for Rico's suave plays, the team lost their mojo. The lack of Rico's universal appeal led to a severe lack of "Rico-suave" energy, resulting in fewer wins for the Pittsburgh Pirates.. Keep the description simple.
ChatGPT: In the stands of a baseball stadium, fewer fans cheer and wear jerseys with the name "Rico" on the back, as the Pittsburgh Pirates play. With each loss, the once-packed stadium becomes emptier, mirroring the diminishing popularity of the name "Rico".

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You write and improve image generation prompts for DALLE-3. You maintain the same subjects, but enhance the visuals.
User prompt: Please respond with an image generation prompt that would be likely to create an interesting visual using DALLE-3, using the following style: [ Realistic ] and depicting this scene: In the stands of a baseball stadium, fewer fans cheer and wear jerseys with the name "Rico" on the back, as the Pittsburgh Pirates play. With each loss, the once-packed stadium becomes emptier, mirroring the diminishing popularity of the name "Rico". Keep the visual depiction simple. Do not include any words or speech bubbles.
ChatGPT: Generate an image of a captivating baseball stadium scene with an emphasis on the contrast between the bustling atmosphere of the fans during a successful game and the desolate stands during a loss. Illustrate the transition of the once-packed stadium, filled with enthusiastic fans donning "Rico" jerseys, to a solemn, near-empty gathering as the Pittsburgh Pirates play. Showcase the emotions of the remaining fans, highlighting their disappointment and loyal support despite the diminishing popularity of the name "Rico". Emphasize the visual impact of the dwindling crowd as it mirrors the changing fortunes of the team and the associated decline of the name "Rico".

*Variations in the User Prompts from chart to chart are just the result of random number generation in Python. I wrote a few arrays of various styles and methods to ask questions to change up the results. Every time this site writes an explanation or generates an image, the script picks from each at random.

I sequence the requests into multiple prompts because I find GPT 3.5 to perform much better with short, well-managed contexts. Thus, I track the context directly in Python and only ask ChatGPT targeted questions.
^{Show prompt for explanation} Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106 (fine-tuned)
System prompt: You provide humorous responses in the form of plausible sounding explanations for correlations. You assume the correlation is causative for the purpose of the explanation even if it is ridiculous. You do not chat with the user, you only reply with the causal connection explanation and nothing else.
User prompt: Please make up a funny explanation for how a decrease in Popularity of the first name Rico caused Wins for the Pittsburgh Pirates to decrease. Make it feel plausible.

AI academic paper

(Because p < 0.01)

Rico, Rico, Wins: A Statistical Chorus of First Names and Baseball Victories

The Journal of Whimsical Analytics

Jan 2024

^{Show prompt used to generate this paper} Quick note: This sequence is long and repetitive. That's how the prompt engineering works for this one. I manage the output in Python to format it into this PDF.

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a dry but witty academic researcher. You speak in the passive voice, and your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics journal.You draft a literature review section of an academic research paper, that starts out dry for the first few sentences but then becomes hilarious and goofy.
User prompt:
Pretend you are an academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics journal. However, you frequently crack jokes, make puns, or add unexpected twists in your writing.

Please make up a literature review section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Popularity of the first name Rico and Wins for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Make it seem dry like academic research paper, but with lots of subtle hidden offhand remarks, jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

Speak in the present tense for this section (the authors find...), as is common in academic research paper literature reviews. Name the sources in a format similar to this: In "Book," the authors find lorem and ipsum.

Make up the lorem and ipsum part, but make it sound related to the topic at hand.

Start by naming serious-sounding studies by authors like Smith, Doe, and Jones - but then quickly devolve. Name some real non-fiction books that would be related to the topic. Then name some real fiction books that sound like they could be related. Then you might move on to cartoons and children's shows that you watched for research.

Here is the title and abstract of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
"Rico, Rico, Wins: A Statistical Chorus of First Names and Baseball Victories"

[[ABSTRACT]]
The connection between the frequency of the first name "Rico" and the performance of the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team over the span of 1975 to 2022 was investigated. Utilizing dataset from the US Social Security Administration and Baseball-Reference.com, a correlation coefficient of 0.5016245 was calculated, with statistical significance at p < 0.01. The implications of this correlation, and whether it is causative or coincidental, are ripe for spirited discussion as we uncover the intriguing ties between nomenclature and athletic achievement.

-------

And here is the introduction section that led to this literature review:
[[INTRODUCTION]]
The relationship between human names and their potential impact on the outcomes of professional sports teams has been a subject of both mirth and skepticism in academic and non-academic circles alike. While much of the existing literature focuses on the psychological influences of fan loyalty and superstitions, a lesser-explored avenue is the potential influence of the frequency of specific first names within a team's roster on their overall successes. In this study, we delve into the curious case of the first name "Rico" and its apparent association with the performance of the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team over a period spanning almost five decades.
Baseball, often referred to as America's pastime, has a rich history interwoven with numerous quirks and anomalies. The intricate dance between statistics and superstitions has led to various attempts to decipher the underlying reasons behind a team's victories and defeats. Could it be that a seemingly innocuous first name, such as "Rico," exerts an unforeseen influence on the performance of a Major League Baseball franchise? The present investigation seeks to shed light on this intriguing possibility through rigorous statistical analysis and an exploration of potential underlying mechanisms.
As spectators of the sport, we are often drawn to narratives of triumph and tales of underdog victories. However, amidst the fervor of game-day excitement, it is easy to overlook the underlying patterns and peculiarities that might steer the winds of fortune in favor of a particular team. With this in mind, we embark on a compelling journey to unravel the enigmatic connection between the prevalence of the name "Rico" and the wins accrued by the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the implications thereof. While the task at hand may be unconventional, the potential insights gleaned from this investigation promise to add a colorful dimension to the field of sports analytics and perhaps even bestow a newfound appreciation for the impact of nomenclature on athletic prowess.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]

ChatGPT:
[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]

The potential influence of first names on the outcomes of athletic competitions, particularly professional sports, has been a subject of both curiosity and amusement among researchers and spectators alike. While the existing body of literature predominantly emphasizes the psychological and sociological aspects of fan behavior and team superstitions, an emerging subfield has begun to explore the intriguing relationship between specific first names and the performance of sports teams. In the context of baseball, a sport renowned for its statistical intricacies and superstitious practices, the investigation into the association between the prevalence of the first name "Rico" and the victories attained by the Pittsburgh Pirates yields a rich tapestry of scholarly and nonscholarly content that invites further examination.

Smith and Doe (2009) provide an early exploration into the potential influence of first names on team performance in their study, "The Impact of Name Frequency on Competitive Success." While their investigation predominantly focuses on the psychological implications of individuals' names and their self-efficacy in competitive environments, the authors briefly touch upon the hypothetical influence of prevalent first names within team rosters. Their findings suggest a tentative association between the frequency of certain names and heightened confidence levels among players, thereby hinting at a potential indirect impact on team performance. However, the authors emphasize the need for further empirical scrutiny to establish a concrete relationship between specific names and athletic achievements.

Jones (2015) delves into the intersection of nomenclature and social dynamics in his work, "The Power of Names: A Multidisciplinary Inquiry." While his research spans diverse contexts, including literature, sociology, and popular culture, Jones acknowledges the potential implications of name prevalence within specific social groups. Though not explicitly focused on sports, his insights into the symbolic significance of names and their patterns within communities offer a thought-provoking perspective that could inform the investigation at hand.

Turning to nonfiction literature relevant to the subject matter, books such as "Freakonomics" by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner present an unconventional but paradigm-shifting approach to understanding causality and correlation in seemingly disparate phenomena. The authors' intriguing analyses of unexpected correlations serve to inspire a similar investigation into the potential link between the frequency of the name "Rico" and the successes of the Pittsburgh Pirates, offering a lens of intellectual curiosity and analytical audacity.

In the realm of fiction, novels such as "Moneyball" by Michael Lewis and "The Art of Fielding" by Chad Harbach captivate readers with their narratives of sporting triumphs and tribulations, providing a rich thematic backdrop against which to ponder the playful interplay between nomenclature and athletic accomplishment. While the authors' creative endeavors may not be grounded in empirical research, their storytelling prowess and thematic depth serve to underscore the captivating allure of sports-related narratives, laying a literary foundation for the current investigation.

Further expanding the purview of our exploration, the visual medium of cartoons and children's shows has been an unexpected but insightful source of inspiration. Through perceptive analyses of episodes featuring sports competitions, cartoon series such as "SpongeBob SquarePants" and "The Simpsons" offer whimsical narratives that playfully illustrate the myriad idiosyncrasies and superstitions associated with athletic pursuits. While the comedic overtones of these shows may diverge from the sober tone of academic inquiry, their tongue-in-cheek reflections on the quirks of sporting culture provoke a lighthearted reconsideration of the potential influences, both rational and whimsical, that might underlie the empirical connection between the name "Rico" and the fortunes of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

In light of these diverse literary and pop culture influences, the authors aim to synthesize the serious and the whimsical, the scholarly and the entertaining, as they embark on an in-depth exploration of the enigmatic nexus between the prevalence of the first name "Rico" and the performance of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a dry but witty academic researcher. You speak in the passive voice, and your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics journal.You draft the methodology section of an academic research paper.
User prompt:
Pretend you are an academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics journal. However, you frequently crack jokes, make puns, or add unexpected twists in your writing.

Please make up the methodology section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Popularity of the first name Rico and Wins for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Make it seem dry like academic research paper, but with lots of subtle hidden offhand remarks, jokes, goofy observations, and puns. Stay serious and dry most of the time, but then occasionally let your wit shine through.

Your research team collected data from all across the internet, but mostly just used information from US Social Security Administration and Baseball-Reference.com . You used data from 1975 to 2022

Make up the research methods you don't know. Make them a bit goofy and convoluted.

Here is the title, abstract, and introduction of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
"Rico, Rico, Wins: A Statistical Chorus of First Names and Baseball Victories"

[[ABSTRACT]]
The connection between the frequency of the first name "Rico" and the performance of the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team over the span of 1975 to 2022 was investigated. Utilizing dataset from the US Social Security Administration and Baseball-Reference.com, a correlation coefficient of 0.5016245 was calculated, with statistical significance at p < 0.01. The implications of this correlation, and whether it is causative or coincidental, are ripe for spirited discussion as we uncover the intriguing ties between nomenclature and athletic achievement.

[[INTRODUCTION]]
The relationship between human names and their potential impact on the outcomes of professional sports teams has been a subject of both mirth and skepticism in academic and non-academic circles alike. While much of the existing literature focuses on the psychological influences of fan loyalty and superstitions, a lesser-explored avenue is the potential influence of the frequency of specific first names within a team's roster on their overall successes. In this study, we delve into the curious case of the first name "Rico" and its apparent association with the performance of the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team over a period spanning almost five decades.
Baseball, often referred to as America's pastime, has a rich history interwoven with numerous quirks and anomalies. The intricate dance between statistics and superstitions has led to various attempts to decipher the underlying reasons behind a team's victories and defeats. Could it be that a seemingly innocuous first name, such as "Rico," exerts an unforeseen influence on the performance of a Major League Baseball franchise? The present investigation seeks to shed light on this intriguing possibility through rigorous statistical analysis and an exploration of potential underlying mechanisms.
As spectators of the sport, we are often drawn to narratives of triumph and tales of underdog victories. However, amidst the fervor of game-day excitement, it is easy to overlook the underlying patterns and peculiarities that might steer the winds of fortune in favor of a particular team. With this in mind, we embark on a compelling journey to unravel the enigmatic connection between the prevalence of the name "Rico" and the wins accrued by the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the implications thereof. While the task at hand may be unconventional, the potential insights gleaned from this investigation promise to add a colorful dimension to the field of sports analytics and perhaps even bestow a newfound appreciation for the impact of nomenclature on athletic prowess.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[METHODOLOGY]]

ChatGPT:

[[METHODOLOGY]]

Data Source and Collection
The dataset for this study was culled from two primary sources: the US Social Security Administration and Baseball-Reference.com. The former provided comprehensive records of individual names and their respective annual frequencies, encompassing the years 1975 to 2022. While the latter served as the fount of statistical information on the performance of the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team over the same period.

Name Selection Criteria
The first name "Rico" was chosen as the focal point of this study due to its distinctive yet not excessively rare occurrence in the population. Furthermore, its phonetic resonance with the concept of "riches" and "success" set an apt tone for the exploration of its potential association with baseball victories. The choice of this particular name was made with an eye toward eliciting both statistical robustness and an element of whimsy, reflecting the charm interwoven into the fabric of this investigation.

Statistical Analysis
The process of statistical interrogation involved the calculation of correlation coefficients between the relative frequency of the first name "Rico" and the number of wins accrued by the Pittsburgh Pirates in each season under consideration. Various statistical methods were applied to assess the strength and significance of this purported association. Leveraging a model of lighthearted seriousness and fashionable p-values, the analysis delivered a correlation coefficient of 0.5016245, with statistical significance at p < 0.01.

Control Variables
In order to mitigate the influence of confounding factors and bolster the cogency of the findings, control variables such as team composition, historical performance trends, and contemporaneous factors were factored into the analytical framework. A meticulous endeavor was made to insulate the core relationship between the prevalence of the name "Rico" and the Pittsburgh Pirates' victories from extraneous perturbations.

Sensitivity Analysis
Additional robustness checks encompassed sensitivity analyses that probed the stability of the observed relationship in the face of potential data perturbations and alternative model specifications. These analyses attested to the resilience of the findings and fortified the validity of the identified correlation.

Limitations
It is imperative to acknowledge the potential limitations that may temper the generalizability and causal inference drawn from this study. The nature of observational data precludes definitive causal claims, and while statistical coherence has been established, a causative mechanism remains tantalizingly elusive. Furthermore, the generalizability of these findings to other baseball teams and alternative first names necessitates careful circumspection.

Ethical Considerations
Lastly, ethical considerations pertaining to the handling and utilization of public datasets were conscientiously upheld throughout the course of this investigation. The dissemination of findings has been undertaken with the judicious intent of contributing to scholarly discourse and kindling intellectual musings, all the while revering the nuances and quirks encapsulated within the realm of sports analytics.

The methodology employed in this study reflects a harmonious blend of meticulous analysis and a playful spirit, encapsulating the dual mandate of scientific rigor and academic levity that defines the essence of this inquiry into the curious confluence of nomenclature and athletic triumph.

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a dry but witty academic researcher. You speak in the passive voice, and your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics journal.You draft the discussion section of an academic research paper.
User prompt:
Pretend you are an academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics journal. However, you frequently crack jokes, make puns, or add unexpected twists in your writing.

Please make up the discussion section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Popularity of the first name Rico and Wins for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Make it seem dry like academic research paper, but with lots of subtle hidden offhand remarks, jokes, goofy observations, and puns. Stay serious and dry most of the time, but then occasionally let your wit shine through.

Limit your response to 500 tokens.

Here are the title, abstract, literature review, and results sections. Please harken back to 1-2 of the goofy items in the literature review, but pretend to take them completely seriously. Discuss how your results supported the prior research.

Do not write a conclusion. I will add a conclusion after this.

[[TITLE]]
"Rico, Rico, Wins: A Statistical Chorus of First Names and Baseball Victories"

[[ABSTRACT]]
The connection between the frequency of the first name "Rico" and the performance of the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team over the span of 1975 to 2022 was investigated. Utilizing dataset from the US Social Security Administration and Baseball-Reference.com, a correlation coefficient of 0.5016245 was calculated, with statistical significance at p < 0.01. The implications of this correlation, and whether it is causative or coincidental, are ripe for spirited discussion as we uncover the intriguing ties between nomenclature and athletic achievement.

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]
The potential influence of first names on the outcomes of athletic competitions, particularly professional sports, has been a subject of both curiosity and amusement among researchers and spectators alike. While the existing body of literature predominantly emphasizes the psychological and sociological aspects of fan behavior and team superstitions, an emerging subfield has begun to explore the intriguing relationship between specific first names and the performance of sports teams. In the context of baseball, a sport renowned for its statistical intricacies and superstitious practices, the investigation into the association between the prevalence of the first name "Rico" and the victories attained by the Pittsburgh Pirates yields a rich tapestry of scholarly and nonscholarly content that invites further examination.
Smith and Doe (2009) provide an early exploration into the potential influence of first names on team performance in their study, "The Impact of Name Frequency on Competitive Success." While their investigation predominantly focuses on the psychological implications of individuals' names and their self-efficacy in competitive environments, the authors briefly touch upon the hypothetical influence of prevalent first names within team rosters. Their findings suggest a tentative association between the frequency of certain names and heightened confidence levels among players, thereby hinting at a potential indirect impact on team performance. However, the authors emphasize the need for further empirical scrutiny to establish a concrete relationship between specific names and athletic achievements.
Jones (2015) delves into the intersection of nomenclature and social dynamics in his work, "The Power of Names: A Multidisciplinary Inquiry." While his research spans diverse contexts, including literature, sociology, and popular culture, Jones acknowledges the potential implications of name prevalence within specific social groups. Though not explicitly focused on sports, his insights into the symbolic significance of names and their patterns within communities offer a thought-provoking perspective that could inform the investigation at hand.
Turning to nonfiction literature relevant to the subject matter, books such as "Freakonomics" by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner present an unconventional but paradigm-shifting approach to understanding causality and correlation in seemingly disparate phenomena. The authors' intriguing analyses of unexpected correlations serve to inspire a similar investigation into the potential link between the frequency of the name "Rico" and the successes of the Pittsburgh Pirates, offering a lens of intellectual curiosity and analytical audacity.
In the realm of fiction, novels such as "Moneyball" by Michael Lewis and "The Art of Fielding" by Chad Harbach captivate readers with their narratives of sporting triumphs and tribulations, providing a rich thematic backdrop against which to ponder the playful interplay between nomenclature and athletic accomplishment. While the authors' creative endeavors may not be grounded in empirical research, their storytelling prowess and thematic depth serve to underscore the captivating allure of sports-related narratives, laying a literary foundation for the current investigation.
Further expanding the purview of our exploration, the visual medium of cartoons and children's shows has been an unexpected but insightful source of inspiration. Through perceptive analyses of episodes featuring sports competitions, cartoon series such as "SpongeBob SquarePants" and "The Simpsons" offer whimsical narratives that playfully illustrate the myriad idiosyncrasies and superstitions associated with athletic pursuits. While the comedic overtones of these shows may diverge from the sober tone of academic inquiry, their tongue-in-cheek reflections on the quirks of sporting culture provoke a lighthearted reconsideration of the potential influences, both rational and whimsical, that might underlie the empirical connection between the name "Rico" and the fortunes of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
In light of these diverse literary and pop culture influences, the authors aim to synthesize the serious and the whimsical, the scholarly and the entertaining, as they embark on an in-depth exploration of the enigmatic nexus between the prevalence of the first name "Rico" and the performance of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

[[RESULTS]]
The investigation into the potential association between the frequency of the first name "Rico" and the performance of the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team yielded intriguing findings. Over the duration of the study, spanning from 1975 to 2022, a correlation coefficient of 0.5016245 was ascertained, accompanied by an r-squared value of 0.2516271. The statistical analysis revealed that this correlation was statistically significant, with p < 0.01, indicative of a robust relationship between the two variables.
The figure (Fig. 1) showcased a scatterplot depicting the delineation of the dataset. Without delving into specifics about the placement of this figure within the manuscript, the visual representation echoed the strength of the correlation observed, underscoring the noteworthy interplay between the prevalence of the name "Rico" and the victories accrued by the Pittsburgh Pirates over the period under scrutiny.
The results provoke contemplation on the potential undercurrent of influence exerted by peculiar first names within the realm of professional sports. While it is customary to attribute a team's success to various tangible factors such as skill, strategy, and luck, the notion that nomenclature might bear a concealed impact presents an enthralling avenue for further inquiry.
Intriguingly, the connection between the frequency of the first name "Rico" and the outcomes of a baseball team draws attention to the hitherto unexplored dimensions of the intersection between human nomenclature and athletic achievements. The statistical proclivity of this association, with its implications for both sports analytics and the broader cultural discourse, invites an animated dialogue, infusing a dose of levity and contemplation into the realm of statistical research.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[DISCUSSION]]

ChatGPT:

[[DISCUSSION]]

The current investigation has unveiled a statistically significant correlation between the prevalence of the name "Rico" and the performance of the Pittsburgh Pirates, echoing and expanding upon the prior research with an intriguing statistical verve. Reflecting on the scholarly and not-so-scholarly analyses from the literature review, the findings of the present study align with and reinforce the speculative nuances that percolated through the literary and pop culture sources.

The insight offered by Smith and Doe (2009), while primarily focused on the psychological implications of names in competitive contexts, hinted at the potential indirect influence of prevalent first names within team rosters on performance. The statistically sound correlation identified in the present study lends empirical weight to the conjectures proposed by Smith and Doe, infusing a dash of statistical gravitas into the realm of name frequency and athletic successes.

Furthermore, the literary provocations from Levitt and Dubner's "Freakonomics" serve as a captivating intellectual undercurrent for the empirical revelations of this study. The unexpected correlation between the frequency of the name "Rico" and the triumphs of the Pittsburgh Pirates reflects the paradigm-shifting ethos advocated by Levitt and Dubner, underscoring the novel contextual intersections that enliven statistical inquiry.

The playful undercurrents of the literature review also find resonance in the unanticipated statistical vigor exhibited in the present investigation. The whimsical, lighthearted perspectives offered by cartoons and children's shows serve as a poignant complement to the empirical gravitas of the study's findings, painting a comprehensive portrait of the multifaceted considerations that converge in the evaluation of the name "Rico" and its entwined fortunes with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

With the cobwebs of statistical skepticism artfully swept aside, the robust correlation unearthed in this study infuses an element of jocularity and intrigue into the esoteric domain of statistical analyses and sports research, sparking a luminary trail of inquiry that beckons further deliberation and playful mirth.

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a dry but witty academic researcher. You speak in the passive voice, and your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics journal.You draft the discussion section of goofy academic research papers that sounds like it belongs based on the title and abstract provided.
User prompt:
Pretend you are an academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics journal. However, you frequently crack jokes, make puns, or add unexpected twists in your writing.

Please make up a short conclusion of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Popularity of the first name Rico and Wins for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Make it seem dry like academic research paper, but with lots of subtle hidden offhand remarks, jokes, goofy observations, and puns. Stay serious and dry most of the time, but then occasionally let your wit shine through.

Limit your response to 300 tokens. At the very end, assert that no more research is needed in this area.

Here are the title, abstract, introduction, and results sections.
[[TITLE]]
"Rico, Rico, Wins: A Statistical Chorus of First Names and Baseball Victories"

[[ABSTRACT]]
The connection between the frequency of the first name "Rico" and the performance of the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team over the span of 1975 to 2022 was investigated. Utilizing dataset from the US Social Security Administration and Baseball-Reference.com, a correlation coefficient of 0.5016245 was calculated, with statistical significance at p < 0.01. The implications of this correlation, and whether it is causative or coincidental, are ripe for spirited discussion as we uncover the intriguing ties between nomenclature and athletic achievement.

[[INTRDUCTION]]
The relationship between human names and their potential impact on the outcomes of professional sports teams has been a subject of both mirth and skepticism in academic and non-academic circles alike. While much of the existing literature focuses on the psychological influences of fan loyalty and superstitions, a lesser-explored avenue is the potential influence of the frequency of specific first names within a team's roster on their overall successes. In this study, we delve into the curious case of the first name "Rico" and its apparent association with the performance of the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team over a period spanning almost five decades.
Baseball, often referred to as America's pastime, has a rich history interwoven with numerous quirks and anomalies. The intricate dance between statistics and superstitions has led to various attempts to decipher the underlying reasons behind a team's victories and defeats. Could it be that a seemingly innocuous first name, such as "Rico," exerts an unforeseen influence on the performance of a Major League Baseball franchise? The present investigation seeks to shed light on this intriguing possibility through rigorous statistical analysis and an exploration of potential underlying mechanisms.
As spectators of the sport, we are often drawn to narratives of triumph and tales of underdog victories. However, amidst the fervor of game-day excitement, it is easy to overlook the underlying patterns and peculiarities that might steer the winds of fortune in favor of a particular team. With this in mind, we embark on a compelling journey to unravel the enigmatic connection between the prevalence of the name "Rico" and the wins accrued by the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the implications thereof. While the task at hand may be unconventional, the potential insights gleaned from this investigation promise to add a colorful dimension to the field of sports analytics and perhaps even bestow a newfound appreciation for the impact of nomenclature on athletic prowess.

[[RESULTS]]
The investigation into the potential association between the frequency of the first name "Rico" and the performance of the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team yielded intriguing findings. Over the duration of the study, spanning from 1975 to 2022, a correlation coefficient of 0.5016245 was ascertained, accompanied by an r-squared value of 0.2516271. The statistical analysis revealed that this correlation was statistically significant, with p < 0.01, indicative of a robust relationship between the two variables.
The figure (Fig. 1) showcased a scatterplot depicting the delineation of the dataset. Without delving into specifics about the placement of this figure within the manuscript, the visual representation echoed the strength of the correlation observed, underscoring the noteworthy interplay between the prevalence of the name "Rico" and the victories accrued by the Pittsburgh Pirates over the period under scrutiny.
The results provoke contemplation on the potential undercurrent of influence exerted by peculiar first names within the realm of professional sports. While it is customary to attribute a team's success to various tangible factors such as skill, strategy, and luck, the notion that nomenclature might bear a concealed impact presents an enthralling avenue for further inquiry.
Intriguingly, the connection between the frequency of the first name "Rico" and the outcomes of a baseball team draws attention to the hitherto unexplored dimensions of the intersection between human nomenclature and athletic achievements. The statistical proclivity of this association, with its implications for both sports analytics and the broader cultural discourse, invites an animated dialogue, infusing a dose of levity and contemplation into the realm of statistical research.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[CONCLUSION]]

ChatGPT:

[[CONCLUSION]]

In conclusion, the investigation into the relationship between the frequency of the first name "Rico" and the performance of the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team over nearly five decades has shed light on a curious statistical association. The calculated correlation coefficient of 0.5016245, with a statistically significant p-value of less than 0.01, offers compelling evidence of a noteworthy connection between nomenclature and athletic achievements. The scatterplot (Fig. 1) aptly illustrates the salient relationship, emphasizing the robustness of the observed correlation. Such findings prompt a reflective pause amidst the fervor of baseball fandom, inviting consideration of the unexpected influences lurking within the realm of professional sports.

The enigmatic nexus between the name "Rico" and the wins accrued by the Pittsburgh Pirates presents an intriguing avenue for contemplation, punctuating the serious discourse of sports analytics with a touch of whimsy. Delving into the depths of statistical analysis, one cannot help but ponder the implications of this correlation - a reverberating reminder that the world of sports is not immune to the whimsical quirks of chance and happenstance.

While it is tempting to dismiss the idea of nomenclature as a determinative factor in athletic success as mere folly, the statistical evidence compels us to entertain the possibility, a notion that injects an element of riddle into the seemingly straightforward domain of team sports. This investigation prompts a captivating dialogue, prompting researchers and enthusiasts alike to muse upon the tantalizing enigma of the "Ricos" and the ever-elusive alchemy that underpins the triumphs and tribulations of professional baseball.

In light of these findings, we are compelled to recognize the alluring prospect of nomenclature as an unforeseen player in the grand symphony of athletic accomplishment, infusing the vibrant tapestry of sports analysis with an unanticipated and captivating melody. However, it is imperative to note that, while this research provides intriguing speculation and light-hearted musings, no further academic pursuit in this wonderment is warranted.

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You provide fictional names of academic journals. You say nothing else, and you do not chat with the user.
User prompt: Please provide the name of a funny but plausible sounding research, scientific, or academic journal that would publish a paper entited Rico, Rico, Wins: A Statistical Chorus of First Names and Baseball Victories. Respond only with the name of a fictional academic journal.

ChatGPT:

The Journal of Whimsical Analytics

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You provide fictional names of nonprofit research organizations and associations. You say nothing else, and you do not chat with the user.
User prompt: Please provide the name of a funny but plausible sounding nonprofit, academic, or scientific association or organization that would sponsor research that resulted in a paper entited Rico, Rico, Wins: A Statistical Chorus of First Names and Baseball Victories. Respond only with the name of a fictional organization.

ChatGPT:

The Institute for Interdisciplinary Research on Name Influence in Sports (IIRNIS)

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You provide potential search keywords separated by commas. You say nothing else, and you do not chat with the user.
User prompt: Please provide potential search keywords for a paper titled Rico, Rico, Wins: A Statistical Chorus of First Names and Baseball Victories with an abstract of The connection between the frequency of the first name "Rico" and the performance of the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team over the span of 1975 to 2022 was investigated. Utilizing dataset from the US Social Security Administration and Baseball-Reference.com, a correlation coefficient of 0.5016245 was calculated, with statistical significance at p < 0.01. The implications of this correlation, and whether it is causative or coincidental, are ripe for spirited discussion as we uncover the intriguing ties between nomenclature and athletic achievement.

ChatGPT:

Rico first name, Pittsburgh Pirates, baseball victories, first name frequency, US Social Security Administration, Baseball-Reference.com, correlation coefficient, causative or coincidental, nomenclature and athletic achievement

*There is a bunch of Python happening behind the scenes to turn this prompt sequence into a PDF.

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Data details

Popularity of the first name Rico
Detailed data title: Babies of all sexes born in the US named Rico
Source: US Social Security Administration
See what else correlates with Popularity of the first name Rico

Wins for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Detailed data title: The total number of season wins for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Source: Baseball-Reference.com
See what else correlates with Wins for the Pittsburgh Pirates

Correlation r = 0.5016245 (Pearson correlation coefficient)
Correlation is a measure of how much the variables move together. If it is 0.99, when one goes up the other goes up. If it is 0.02, the connection is very weak or non-existent. If it is -0.99, then when one goes up the other goes down. If it is 1.00, you probably messed up your correlation function.

r² = 0.2516271 (Coefficient of determination)
This means 25.2% of the change in the one variable (i.e., Wins for the Pittsburgh Pirates) is predictable based on the change in the other (i.e., Popularity of the first name Rico) over the 48 years from 1975 through 2022.

p < 0.01, which is statistically significant(Null hypothesis significance test)
The p-value is 0.00028.^Show 0.0002810499429546638000000000
The p-value is a measure of how probable it is that we would randomly find a result this extreme.^Note More specifically the p-value is a measure of how probable it is that we would randomly find a result this extreme if we had only tested one pair of variables one time.

But I am a p-villain. I absolutely did not test only one pair of variables one time. I correlated hundreds of millions of pairs of variables. I threw boatloads of data into an industrial-sized blender to find this correlation.

Who is going to stop me? p-value reporting doesn't require me to report how many calculations I had to go through in order to find a low p-value!
On average, you will find a correaltion as strong as 0.5 in 0.028% of random cases. Said differently, if you correlated 3,558 random variables^Note Which I absolutely did.
with the same 47 degrees of freedom, ^Note Degrees of freedom is a measure of how many free components we are testing. In this case it is 47 because we have two variables measured over a period of 48 years. It's just the number of years minus ( the number of variables minus one ), which in this case simplifies to the number of years minus one.
you would randomly expect to find a correlation as strong as this one.

[ 0.25, 0.69 ] 95% correlation confidence interval (using the Fisher z-transformation)
^{Read more about the confidence interval} The confidence interval is an estimate the range of the value of the correlation coefficient, using the correlation itself as an input. The values are meant to be the low and high end of the correlation coefficient with 95% confidence.

This one is a bit more complciated than the other calculations, but I include it because many people have been pushing for confidence intervals instead of p-value calculations (for example: NEJM. However, if you are dredging data, you can reliably find yourself in the 5%. That's my goal!

All values for the years included above: ^Note If I were being very sneaky, I could trim years from the beginning or end of the datasets to increase the correlation on some pairs of variables. I don't do that because there are already plenty of correlations in my database without monkeying with the years.

Still, sometimes one of the variables has more years of data available than the other. This page only shows the overlapping years. To see all the years, click on "See what else correlates with..." link above.

	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022
Popularity of the first name Rico (Babies born)	232	328	233	225	200	216	151	177	157	144	146	193	175	214	280	295	319	235	233	177	157	137	143	146	130	126	103	121	114	150	116	144	148	150	126	133	142	108	127	150	123	120	147	133	137	120	124	105
Wins for the Pittsburgh Pirates (Game wins)	92	92	96	88	98	83	46	84	84	75	57	64	80	85	74	95	98	96	75	53	58	73	79	69	78	69	62	72	75	72	67	67	68	67	62	57	72	79	94	88	98	78	75	82	69	19	61	62

Why this works

Data dredging: I have 25,153 variables in my database. I compare all these variables against each other to find ones that randomly match up. That's 632,673,409 correlation calculations! This is called “data dredging.” Instead of starting with a hypothesis and testing it, I instead abused the data to see what correlations shake out. It’s a dangerous way to go about analysis, because any sufficiently large dataset will yield strong correlations completely at random.
Lack of causal connection: There is probably^Note Because these pages are automatically generated, it's possible that the two variables you are viewing are in fact causually related. I take steps to prevent the obvious ones from showing on the site (I don't let data about the weather in one city correlate with the weather in a neighboring city, for example), but sometimes they still pop up. If they are related, cool! You found a loophole.
no direct connection between these variables, despite what the AI says above. This is exacerbated by the fact that I used "Years" as the base variable. Lots of things happen in a year that are not related to each other! Most studies would use something like "one person" in stead of "one year" to be the "thing" studied.
Observations not independent: For many variables, sequential years are not independent of each other. If a population of people is continuously doing something every day, there is no reason to think they would suddenly change how they are doing that thing on January 1. A simple^Note Personally I don't find any p-value calculation to be 'simple,' but you know what I mean.
p-value calculation does not take this into account, so mathematically it appears less probable than it really is.
Outlandish outliers: There are "outliers" in this data.^Note In concept, "outlier" just means "way different than the rest of your dataset." When calculating a correlation like this, they are particularly impactful because a single outlier can substantially increase your correlation.

For the purposes of this project, I counted a point as an outlier if it the residual was two standard deviations from the mean.

(This bullet point only shows up in the details page on charts that do, in fact, have outliers.)
They stand out on the scatterplot above: notice the dots that are far away from any other dots. I intentionally mishandeled outliers, which makes the correlation look extra strong.

Try it yourself

You can calculate the values on this page on your own! Try running the Python code to see the calculation results. ^{Show the steps to do this.} Step 1: Download and install Python on your computer.

Step 2: Open a plaintext editor like Notepad and paste the code below into it.

Step 3: Save the file as "calculate_correlation.py" in a place you will remember, like your desktop. Copy the file location to your clipboard. On Windows, you can right-click the file and click "Properties," and then copy what comes after "Location:" As an example, on my computer the location is "C:\Users\tyler\Desktop"

Step 4: Open a command line window. For example, by pressing start and typing "cmd" and them pressing enter.

Step 5: Install the required modules by typing "pip install numpy", then pressing enter, then typing "pip install scipy", then pressing enter.

Step 6: Navigate to the location where you saved the Python file by using the "cd" command. For example, I would type "cd C:\Users\tyler\Desktop" and push enter.

Step 7: Run the Python script by typing "python calculate_correlation.py"

If you run into any issues, I suggest asking ChatGPT to walk you through installing Python and running the code below on your system. Try this question:

"Walk me through installing Python on my computer to run a script that uses scipy and numpy. Go step-by-step and ask me to confirm before moving on. Start by asking me questions about my operating system so that you know how to proceed. Assume I want the simplest installation with the latest version of Python and that I do not currently have any of the necessary elements installed. Remember to only give me one step per response and confirm I have done it before proceeding."

# These modules make it easier to perform the calculation
import numpy as np
from scipy import stats

# We'll define a function that we can call to return the correlation calculations
def calculate_correlation(array1, array2):

    # Calculate Pearson correlation coefficient and p-value
    correlation, p_value = stats.pearsonr(array1, array2)

    # Calculate R-squared as the square of the correlation coefficient
    r_squared = correlation**2

    return correlation, r_squared, p_value

# These are the arrays for the variables shown on this page, but you can modify them to be any two sets of numbers
array_1 = np.array([232,328,233,225,200,216,151,177,157,144,146,193,175,214,280,295,319,235,233,177,157,137,143,146,130,126,103,121,114,150,116,144,148,150,126,133,142,108,127,150,123,120,147,133,137,120,124,105,])
array_2 = np.array([92,92,96,88,98,83,46,84,84,75,57,64,80,85,74,95,98,96,75,53,58,73,79,69,78,69,62,72,75,72,67,67,68,67,62,57,72,79,94,88,98,78,75,82,69,19,61,62,])
array_1_name = "Popularity of the first name Rico"
array_2_name = "Wins for the Pittsburgh Pirates"

# Perform the calculation
print(f"Calculating the correlation between {array_1_name} and {array_2_name}...")
correlation, r_squared, p_value = calculate_correlation(array_1, array_2)

# Print the results
print("Correlation Coefficient:", correlation)
print("R-squared:", r_squared)
print("P-value:", p_value)

Reuseable content

You may re-use the images on this page for any purpose, even commercial purposes, without asking for permission. The only requirement is that you attribute Tyler Vigen. ^Note Attribution can take many different forms. If you leave the "tylervigen.com" link in the image, that satisfies it just fine. If you remove it and move it to a footnote, that's fine too. You can also just write "Charts courtesy of Tyler Vigen" at the bottom of an article.

You do not need to attribute "the spurious correlations website," and you don't even need to link here if you don't want to. I don't gain anything from pageviews. There are no ads on this site, there is nothing for sale, and I am not for hire.

For the record, I am just one person. Tyler Vigen, he/him/his. I do have degrees, but they should not go after my name unless you want to annoy my wife. If that is your goal, then go ahead and cite me as "Tyler Vigen, A.A. A.A.S. B.A. J.D." Otherwise it is just "Tyler Vigen."

When spoken, my last name is pronounced "vegan," like I don't eat meat.

Full license details.
For more on re-use permissions, or to get a signed release form, see tylervigen.com/permission.

Download images for these variables:

High resolution line chart ^Note The image linked here is a Scalable Vector Graphic (SVG). It is the highest resolution that is possible to achieve. It scales up beyond the size of the observable universe without pixelating. You do not need to email me asking if I have a higher resolution image. I do not. The physical limitations of our universe prevent me from providing you with an image that is any higher resolution than this one.

If you insert it into a PowerPoint presentation (a tool well-known for managing things that are the scale of the universe), you can right-click > "Ungroup" or "Create Shape" and then edit the lines and text directly. You can also change the colors this way.

Alternatively you can use a tool like Inkscape.
High resolution line chart, optimized for mobile
Alternative high resolution line chart
Scatterplot
Portable line chart (png)
Portable line chart (png), optimized for mobile
Line chart for only Popularity of the first name Rico
Line chart for only Wins for the Pittsburgh Pirates
AI-generated correlation image
The spurious research paper: Rico, Rico, Wins: A Statistical Chorus of First Names and Baseball Victories

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Correlation ID: 4053 · Black Variable ID: 4161 · Red Variable ID: 4319


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