Friday, March 18, 2011

Retired Numbers

A custom has developed in Major League Baseball where a team honors a player who was a star for the team by retiring the uniform number worn by that player. Without looking it up, the customer probably started with the Yankees and they have retired a bunch of numbers. Other teams like the Arizona Diamondbacks are so young as a team that they have no numbers retired. Well, none except for Jackie Robinson's 42, a number that is retired throughout baseball. Mariano Rivera is the last active player that will wear that number. The Fan thought it would be fun to go through all the teams and list the retired numbers and perhaps make a suggestion or two along the way.


  • Arizona Diamondbacks - None besides 42. Suggestions: 51 for Randy Johnson because he had four unbelievable years there and won them a World Series. 20 for Luis Gonzalez because of his winning World Series hit and his leading of the team in most offensive categories. 
  • Atlanta Braves - 42, 3 (Dale Murphy), 21 (Warren Spahn), 31 (Greg Maddux), 35 (Phil Neikro), 41 (Eddie Matthews), 44 (Hank Aaron), 47 (Tom Glavine). Coming soon: Bobby Cox, Chipper Jones and John Smoltz.
  • Baltimore Orioles - 42, 4 (Earl Weaver), 5 (Brooks Robinson), 20 (Frank Robinson), 22 (Jim Palmer), 33 (Eddie Murray). Suggestions: Boog Powell, Luis Aparicio (the guy IS in the Hall of Fame), Mark Mussina.
  • Boston Red Sox - 42, 1 (Bobby Doerr), 4 (Joe Cronin), 6 (Johnny Pesky), 8 (Carl Yastrzemski), 9 (Ted Williams), 14 (Jim Rice),  27 (Carlton Fisk). Umm...Hello!? Wade Boggs. Roger Clemens, Dick Williams.
  • Chicago Cubs - 42, 10 (Ron Santo), 14 (Ernie Banks), 23 (Ryne Sandberg), 26 (Billy Williams), 31 (Ferguson Jenkins and Greg Maddux). Suggestions: Charlie Grimm and Bruce Sutter.
  • Chicago White Sox - 42, 2 (Nellie Fox), 3 (Harold Baines), 4 (Luke Appling), 9 (Minnie Minosa), 11 (Luis Aparicio), 16 (Ted Lyons), 19 (Billy Pierce), 35 (Frank Thomas), 72 (Carlton Fisk). Suggestions: Wilbur Wood and Al Lopez (great manager).
  • Cincinnati Reds - 42, 1 (Fred Hutchinson), 5 (Willard Hershberger and Johnny Bench), 8 (Joe Morgan), 10 (Sparky Anderson), 13 (Dave Conception), 18 (Ted Kluszewski), 20 (Frank Robinson), 24 (Tony Perez). Suggestions: Pete Rose! Barry Larkin and Bucky Walters.
  • Cleveland Indians - 42, 3 (Earl Averill), 5 (Lou Boudreau), 14 (Larry Doby), 18 (Mel Harder), 19 (Bob Feller), 21 (Bob Lemon), 455 (Fans for 455 straight sellouts). Suggestions: Satchel Paige, Sam McDowell, Gaylord Perry and Tris Speaker.
  • Colorado Rockies - None besides 42. Too new a franchise. Only suggestion would be Larry Walker.
  • Detroit Tigers - 42, 2 (Charles Gehringer), 5 (Hank Greenberg), 6 (Al Kaline), 16 (Hal Newhouser), 23 (Willie Horton).  Suggestions: Sparky Anderson will happen in 2011, Harry Heilmann, Lou Whitaker, Alan Trammell, Mickey Lolich.
  • Florida Marlins - None besides 42 and 5 for Carl Berger (an executive). Too new a franchise. No suggestions. Maybe Conine.
  • Houston Astros - 42, 5 (Jeff Bagwell), 7, (Craig Biggio), 24 (Jimmy Wynn), 25 (Jose Cruz) Seriously!? 32 (Jim Ulbricht) Who? 33 (Mike Scott), 34 (Nolan Ryan), 40 (Don Wilson), 49 (Larry Dierker). Suggestions: Dickie Thon and J. R. Richard and maybe Cesar Cedeno (led them in WAR five years in a row).
  • Kansas City Royals - 42, 5 (George Brett), 10 (Dick Howser), 20 (Frank White). Suggestions: Brett Saberhagen, Whtey Herzog, John Mayberry, Bo Jackson? and for sure: Dan Quisenberry.
  • Angels - 42, 11 (Jim Fregosi), 29 (Rod Carew), 30 (Nolan Ryan), 50 (Jimmy Reese). Suggestions: Frank Tanana, Bobby Grich.
  • Los Angeles Dodgers - 42, 1 (Pee Wee Reese), 2 (Tommy Lasorda), 4 (Duke Snider), 19 (Jim Gilliam), 20 (Don Sutton), 24 (Walter Alston), 32 (Sandy Koufax), 39 (Roy Campanella), 53 (Don Drysdale). Suggestions: Dazzy Vance, Leo Derocher and Wilbert Robinson. The latter two are long-time managers that won World Series titles. Dazzy Vance is in the Hall of Fame for Pete's sake.
  • Milwaukee Brewers - 42, 4 (Paul Molitor), 19 (Robin Yount), 34 (Rollie Fingers), 44 (Hank Aaron). Suggestions: None.
  • Minnesota Twins - 42, 3 (Harmon Killebrew), 6 (Tony Oliva), 14 (Kent Hrbek), 29 (Rod Carew), 34 (Kirby Puckett). Suggestions: Jim Kaat, Burt Blyleven, Tom Kelly, Walter Johnson, Goose Goslin, Bucky Harris. The Twins started life as the Washington Senators. None of those old Senators are honored and they should be.
  • New York Mets - 42, 14 (Gil Hodges), 37 (Casey Stengel), 41 (Tom Seaver). Suggestions: Jerry Koosman, Davey Johnson, Keith Hernandez, Tug McGraw.
  • New York Yankees - 42, 1 (Billy Martin), 3 (Babe Ruth), 4 (Lou Gehrig), 5 (Joe DiMaggio), 7 (Mickey Mantle), 8 (Bill Dickey and Yogi Berra), 9 (Roger Maris), 10 (Phil Rizzuto), 15 (Thurmon Munson), 16 (Whitey Ford), 23 (Don Mattingly), 32 (Elston Howard), 37 (Casey Stengel), 44 (Reggie Jackson), 49 (Ron Guidry). Suggestions: Graig Nettles, Dave Winfield and Joe Torre.
  • Oakland Athletics - 42, 9 (Reggie Jackson), 24 (Rickey Henderson), 27 (Catfish Hunter), 34 (Rollie Fingers), 43 (Dennis Eckersley). Suggestions: Mark McGwire, Tony LaRussa, Vida Blue, Jimmy Foxx, Lefty Grove and Dick Williams. Would add Connie Mack, but he wore a suit.
  • Philadelphia Phillies - 42, 1 (Richie Ashburn), 14 (Jim Bunning), 20 (Mike Schmidt), 32 (Steve Carlton), 36 (Robin Roberts). Suggestions: Dallas Green, Pete Rose.
  • Pittsburgh Pirates - 42, 1 (Billy Meyer), 4 (Ralph Kiner), 8 (Willie Stargell), 9 (Bill Mazeroski), 11 (Paul Waner, 20 (Pie Traynor), 21 (Roberto Clemente), 33 (Honus Wagner), 40 (Danny Murtaugh). Suggestions: Barry Bonds, Bob Friend, Jim Leyland, Arky Vaughan, Bill McKechnee.
  • San Diego Padres - 42, 6 (Steve Garvey), 19 (Tony Gwynn), 31 (Dave Winfield), 35 (Randy Jones). Suggestions: Dave Roberts, Bruce Bochy.
  • San Francisco Giants - 42, 3 (Bill Terry), 4 (Mel Ott), 11 (Carl Hubbell), 20 (Monte Irvin), 24 (Willie Mays), 27 (Juan Marichal), 30 (Orlando Cepeda), 36 (Gaylord Perry), 44 (Willie McCovey). Suggestions: Barry Bonds (didn't that already happen?), Will Clark and Leo Derocher. 
  • Seattle Mariners - None other than 42. Suggestions: Ken Griffey Jr., Edgar Martinez, Lou Piniella and Randy Johnson.
  • St. Louis Cardinals - 42, 1 (Ozzie Smith), 2 (Red Schoendienst), 6 (Stan Musial), 9 (Enos Slaughter), 14 (Ken Boyer), 17 (Dizzy Dean), 20 (Lou Brock), 24 (Whitey Herzog), 42 (Bruce Sutter), 45 (Bob Gibson). Suggestions: Ted Simmons, Rogers Hornsby.
  • Tampa Bay Rays - 42, 12 (Wade Boggs). Too new a franchise for any more. Maybe Fred McGriff.
  • Texas Rangers - 42, 26 (Johnny Oates), 34 (Nolan Ryan). Suggestions: Buddy Bell, Frank Howard, Curt Flood.
  • Toronto Blue Jays - None besides 42. What's with that? Suggestions: Dave Stieb, Pat Hentgen, Jon Olerud, Robbie Alomar, Cito Gaston.
  • Washington Nationals - 42, 8 (Gary Carter), 10 (Rusty Staub and Andre Dawson), 30 (Tim Raines). Suggestions: Larry Walker.

3 comments:

Nav said...

The Jays have got a Level of Excellence, where guys and their numbers are honoured. Robbie's up there with his #12, as is Cito and his #43. Others up there are: Stieb, Carter, Bell, Fernandez, Gillick, Beeston, and Tom Cheek.

http://mlb.mlb.com/tor/history/level_of_excellence.jsp

Anonymous said...

Topps would have been benefited had they known not to photoshop Lance Berkman in a Cards uniform wearing #17!

Cardinal70 said...

Hornsby actually has been retired--he just didn't have a number when he played. He is listed up on the retired numbers wall, though, even without that.

Similarly, Jack Buck is honored there with a microphone.