List of Major League Baseball retired numbers

Major League Baseball (MLB) and its participating clubs have retired various uniform numbers over the course of time, ensuring that those numbers are never worn again and thus will always be associated with particular players or managers of note. The use of numbers on uniforms to better identify one player from another, and hence to boost sales of scorecards, was tried briefly by the Cleveland Indians of 1916, but this failed. The first team to permanently adopt the practice was the New York Yankees of 1929. By 1932, all 16 major league clubs were issuing numbers, and by 1937, the leagues passed rules requiring it.

Plaques of numbers retired by the New York Yankees in Monument Park at Yankee Stadium

The Yankees' original approach was to simply assign the numbers 1 through 8 to the regular starting lineup in their normal batting order. Hence, Babe Ruth wore number 3 and Lou Gehrig number 4. The first major leaguer whose number was retired was Gehrig, in July 1939, following his retirement due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which became popularly known in the United States as Lou Gehrig's Disease.

Since then, over 150 other people have had their numbers retired, some with more than one team. This includes managers and coaches, as MLB is the only one of the major North American professional leagues in which the coaching staff wear the same uniforms as players. Three numbers have been retired in honor of people not directly involved on the playing field – all three for team executives. Some of the game's early stars, such as Ty Cobb and Christy Mathewson, retired before numbers came into usage. Teams often celebrate their retired numbers and other honored people by hanging banners with the numbers and names. Early stars, as well as honored non-players, will often have numberless banners hanging along with the retired numbers. Because fewer and fewer players stay with one team long enough to warrant their number being retired, some players believe that getting their number retired is a greater honor than going into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Ron Santo, upon his number 10 being retired by the Chicago Cubs on the last day of the 2003 regular season, enthusiastically told the Wrigley Field crowd as his #10 flag was hoisted, "This is my Hall of Fame!"[1] However, Santo would be inducted into the Hall of Fame in July 2012, nearly two years after his death, after being voted in by the Veterans Committee.

List of all-time retired numbers

Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame
Ford C. Frick Award winner
No. Player or other figure Team Date
1Billy MeyerPirates1954
1Bud Selig[Notes 1]BrewersApril 6, 2015
1Pee Wee ReeseDodgersJuly 1, 1984
1Bobby DoerrRed SoxMay 21, 1988
1Fred HutchinsonRedsOctober 19, 1964
1Ozzie SmithCardinalsSeptember 26, 1996
1Richie AshburnPhilliesAugust 24, 1979
1Billy MartinYankeesAugust 10, 1986
1Lou WhitakerTigersAugust 6, 2022
2Red SchoendienstCardinalsMay 11, 1996
2Nellie FoxWhite SoxMay 1, 1976
2Tommy LasordaDodgersAugust 15, 1997
2Charlie GehringerTigersJune 12, 1983
2Derek JeterYankeesMay 14, 2017
3Babe RuthYankeesJune 13, 1948
3Earl AverillGuardiansJune 8, 1975
3Bill TerryGiantsApril 5, 1983
3Harmon KillebrewTwinsMay 4, 1975
3Dale MurphyBravesJune 13, 1994
3Harold BainesWhite SoxAugust 20, 1989
3Alan TrammellTigersAugust 26, 2018
4Luke ApplingWhite SoxJune 7, 1975
4Earl WeaverOriolesSeptember 19, 1982
4Duke SniderDodgersJuly 6, 1980
4Ralph KinerPiratesSeptember 19, 1987
4Lou GehrigYankeesJuly 4, 1939
4Paul MolitorBrewersJune 11, 1999
4Mel OttGiantsJuly 17, 1948
4Joe CroninRed Sox1984
5Brooks RobinsonOriolesApril 14, 1978
5Lou BoudreauGuardiansJuly 9, 1970
5George BrettRoyalsMay 14, 1994
5Johnny BenchRedsAugust 11, 1984
5Hank GreenbergTigersJune 12, 1983
5Joe DiMaggioYankeesApril 18, 1952
5Jeff BagwellAstrosAugust 26, 2007
6Johnny PeskyRed SoxSeptember 28, 2008
6Steve GarveyPadresApril 16, 1988
6Stan MusialCardinalsSeptember 29, 1963
6Al KalineTigersAugust 17, 1980
6Tony OlivaTwinsJuly 14, 1991
6Bobby CoxBravesAugust 12, 2011
6Joe TorreYankeesAugust 23, 2014
7Mickey MantleYankeesJune 8, 1969
7Craig BiggioAstrosAugust 17, 2008
7Iván RodríguezRangersAugust 12, 2017
7Joe MauerTwinsJune 15, 2019
8Willie StargellPiratesSeptember 6, 1982
8Joe MorganRedsJune 6, 1998
8Yogi BerraYankeesJuly 22, 1972
8Bill DickeyYankeesJuly 22, 1972
8Cal Ripken Jr.OriolesOctober 6, 2001
8Carl YastrzemskiRed SoxAugust 6, 1989
9Ted WilliamsRed SoxSeptember 1960
9Reggie JacksonAthleticsMay 22, 2004
9Minnie MiñosoWhite SoxMay 8, 1983
9Enos SlaughterCardinalsSeptember 6, 1996
9Bill MazeroskiPiratesAugust 7, 1987
9Roger MarisYankeesJuly 21, 1984
10Sparky AndersonRedsMay 28, 2005
10Dick HowserRoyalsJuly 3, 1987
10Phil RizzutoYankeesAugust 4, 1985
10Ron SantoCubsSeptember 28, 2003
10Tony La RussaCardinalsMay 11, 2012
10Tom KellyTwinsSeptember 8, 2012
10Chipper JonesBravesJune 28, 2013
10Michael YoungRangersAugust 31, 2019
11Carl HubbellGiants1944
11Jim FregosiAngelsAugust 1, 1998
11Luis Aparicio[Notes 2]White SoxAugust 14, 1984
11Paul WanerPiratesJuly 21, 2007
11Sparky AndersonTigersJune 26, 2011
11Barry LarkinRedsAugust 25, 2012
11Edgar Martínez MarinersAugust 12, 2017
11Ryan ZimmermanNationalsJune 18, 2022
12Wade BoggsRaysApril 7, 2000
12Roberto AlomarBlue JaysJuly 31, 2011[lower-alpha 1]
13Dave ConcepciónRedsAugust 25, 2007
14Ernie BanksCubsAugust 22, 1982
14Kent HrbekTwinsAugust 13, 1995
14Larry DobyGuardiansJuly 3, 1994
14Ken BoyerCardinalsMay 20, 1984
14Gil HodgesMetsJune 9, 1973
14Jim BunningPhilliesApril 16, 2001
14Jim RiceRed SoxJuly 28, 2009
14Paul KonerkoWhite SoxMay 23, 2015
14Pete RoseRedsJune 26, 2016
14Gil HodgesDodgersJune 4, 2022
15Dick AllenPhilliesSeptember 3, 2020
15Thurman MunsonYankeesAugust 3, 1979
16Ted LyonsWhite SoxJuly 25, 1987
16Whitey FordYankeesAugust 3, 1974
16Hal NewhouserTigersJuly 27, 1997
17Dizzy DeanCardinalsSeptember 22, 1974
17Todd HeltonRockiesAugust 17, 2014
17Keith HernandezMetsJuly 9, 2022
18Ted KluszewskiRedsJuly 18, 1998
18Mel HarderGuardiansJuly 28, 1990
19Bob FellerGuardiansDecember 28, 1956
19Billy PierceWhite SoxJuly 25, 1987
19Jim GilliamDodgersOctober 10, 1978
19Tony GwynnPadresSeptember 4, 2004
19Robin YountBrewersMay 29, 1994
20Luis GonzalezDiamondbacksAugust 7, 2010
20Monte IrvinGiantsJune 26, 2010
20Lou BrockCardinalsSeptember 9, 1979
20Jorge PosadaYankeesAugust 22, 2015
20Frank RobinsonOriolesMarch 10, 1972
20Frank RobinsonRedsMay 22, 1998
20Frank RobinsonGuardiansMay 27, 2017
20Pie TraynorPiratesApril 18, 1972
20Mike SchmidtPhilliesMay 26, 1990
20Don SuttonDodgersAugust 14, 1998
20Frank WhiteRoyalsMay 2, 1995
21Bob LemonGuardiansJune 20, 1998
21Warren SpahnBravesDecember 11, 1965
21Roberto ClementePiratesApril 6, 1973
21Paul O'NeillYankeesAugust 21, 2022
22Jim PalmerOriolesSeptember 1, 1985
22Will ClarkGiantsJuly 30, 2022
23Ryne SandbergCubsAugust 28, 2005
23Don MattinglyYankeesAugust 31, 1997
23Willie HortonTigersJuly 15, 2000
23Ted SimmonsCardinalsJuly 31, 2021
24Whitey HerzogCardinalsJuly 31, 2010
24Tony PérezRedsMay 27, 2000
24Willie MaysGiantsMay 12, 1972
24Walter AlstonDodgersJune 5, 1977
24Ken Griffey Jr.MarinersAugust 6, 2016[Notes 3]
24Jimmy WynnAstrosJune 25, 2005
24Rickey HendersonAthleticsAugust 1, 2009
24Willie MaysMetsAugust 27, 2022
25José CruzAstrosOctober 3, 1992
25Barry Bonds GiantsAugust 11, 2018
25Jim ThomeGuardiansAugust 18, 2018
26Billy WilliamsCubsAugust 13, 1987
26Gene Autry[Notes 4]AngelsAugust 3, 1982
26Johnny OatesRangersAugust 5, 2005
26Wade BoggsRed SoxMay 26, 2016
27Carlton FiskRed SoxSeptember 4, 2000
27Catfish HunterAthleticsJune 9, 1991
27Juan MarichalGiantsJuly 10, 1983
28Bert BlylevenTwinsJuly 16, 2011
29Rod CarewAngelsAugust 6, 1991
29Rod CarewTwinsJuly 19, 1987
29John SmoltzBravesJune 8, 2012
29Adrián BeltréRangersJune 8, 2019
30Orlando CepedaGiantsJuly 11, 1999
30Nolan RyanAngelsJune 16, 1992
31Dave WinfieldPadresApril 14, 2001
31Greg MadduxCubsMay 3, 2009
31Greg MadduxBravesJuly 17, 2009
31Ferguson JenkinsCubsMay 3, 2009
31Mike PiazzaMetsJuly 30, 2016
32Steve CarltonPhilliesJuly 29, 1989
32Sandy KoufaxDodgersJune 4, 1972
32Elston HowardYankeesJuly 21, 1984
32Jim UmbrichtAstrosApril 12, 1965
32Roy HalladayBlue JaysMarch 29, 2018
33Mike ScottAstrosOctober 3, 1992
33Eddie MurrayOriolesJune 7, 1998
33Honus WagnerPiratesFebruary 16, 1952
33Larry WalkerRockiesSeptember 25, 2021
34Rollie FingersBrewersAugust 9, 1992
34Rollie FingersAthleticsJuly 5, 1993
34Nolan RyanRangersSeptember 15, 1996
34Nolan RyanAstrosSeptember 29, 1996
34Kirby PuckettTwinsMay 25, 1997
34David OrtizRed SoxJune 23, 2017
34Roy HalladayPhilliesAugust 8, 2021
34Dave StewartAthleticsSeptember 11, 2022
35Randy JonesPadresMay 9, 1997
35Phil NiekroBravesAugust 6, 1984
35Frank ThomasWhite SoxAugust 29, 2010
36Gaylord PerryGiantsJuly 23, 2005
36Robin RobertsPhilliesMarch 21, 1962
36Jerry KoosmanMetsAugust 28, 2021
36Jim KaatTwinsJuly 16, 2022
37Casey StengelYankeesAugust 8, 1970
37Casey StengelMetsSeptember 2, 1965
39Roy CampanellaDodgersJune 4, 1972
40Don WilsonAstrosApril 13, 1975
40Danny MurtaughPiratesApril 7, 1977
41Eddie MathewsBravesJuly 26, 1969
41Tom SeaverMetsJune 24, 1988
42Mariano Rivera[Notes 5]YankeesSeptember 22, 2013
42Jackie RobinsonDodgersJune 4, 1972
42Jackie RobinsonAll MLBApril 15, 1997
42Bruce Sutter[Notes 5]CardinalsSeptember 17, 2006
43Dennis EckersleyAthleticsAugust 13, 2005
44Hank AaronBravesApril 15, 1977
44Hank AaronBrewersOctober 3, 1976
44Reggie JacksonYankeesAugust 14, 1993
44Willie McCoveyGiantsSeptember 21, 1980
45Bob GibsonCardinalsSeptember 1, 1975
45Pedro MartínezRed SoxJuly 28, 2015
46Andy PettitteYankeesAugust 23, 2015
47Tom GlavineBravesAugust 6, 2010
47Jack MorrisTigersAugust 12, 2018
49Larry DierkerAstrosMay 19, 2002
49Ron GuidryYankeesAugust 23, 2003
50Jimmie ReeseAngelsAugust 2, 1995
51Randy JohnsonDiamondbacksAugust 8, 2015
51Trevor HoffmanPadresAugust 21, 2011
51Bernie WilliamsYankeesMay 24, 2015
53Don DrysdaleDodgersJuly 1, 1984
56Mark BuehrleWhite SoxJune 24, 2017
66Don ZimmerRaysApril 6, 2015
72Carlton FiskWhite SoxSeptember 14, 1997
85August Busch, Jr.[Notes 6]CardinalsApril 13, 1984
455Indians fans[Notes 7]GuardiansMay 29, 2001
KSMKeli McGregor[Notes 8]RockiesSeptember 28, 2010
NYChristy Mathewson[Notes 9]GiantsAugust 17, 1986
NYJohn McGraw[Notes 10]GiantsAugust 17, 1986
PGrover Cleveland Alexander[Notes 11]Phillies2001
PChuck Klein[Notes 12]Phillies2001
SHEAWilliam Shea[Notes 13]MetsApril 8, 2008
SLRogers Hornsby[Notes 14]Cardinals1997
Jack Buck[Notes 15]Cardinals2002
Jaime Jarrín[Notes 16]DodgersSeptember 21, 2018
Vin Scully[Notes 17]DodgersMay 3, 2017
Ralph Kiner[Notes 18]MetsMarch 31, 2014
  1. Team founder and former MLB Commissioner. Number selected symbolically.
  2. Aparicio's number was temporarily unretired with his approval for fellow Venezuelan shortstop Omar Vizquel. Vizquel played the 2010 and 2011 seasons with the White Sox.
  3. Date of formal ceremony; number retirement took effect at the start of the 2016 MLB season. The number was also retired for all Mariners minor league affiliates at that time.
  4. Team founder. The number represents the "26th man"—At the time of the number's retirement, Major League Baseball rosters were limited to 25 players prior September 1, when rosters expanded to 40.
  5. Number was already retired league-wide.
  6. Served as president, chairman, or CEO of the Cardinals from the team's purchase by Anheuser-Busch in 1953 until his death in 1989. The number represents his age at the time the number was retired in 1984.
  7. Number was selected symbolically. The number 455 was retired in honor of the fans after the Indians sold out 455 consecutive games.
  8. Rockies president Keli McGregor was honored by having his initials "KSM" displayed in a manner similar to a retired number after his death.
  9. Christy Mathewson played in the era before uniform numbers were used. He was honored for his tenure with the then-New York Giants with the letters "NY" displayed in a manner similar to a retired number.
  10. John McGraw played in the era before uniform numbers were used. He was honored for his tenure with the then-New York Giants with the letters "NY" displayed in a manner similar to a retired number.
  11. Grover Cleveland Alexander only played in the era before uniform numbers were used. Alexander was honored with a Phillies letter "P" logo displayed in a manner similar to a retired number.
  12. Chuck Klein first played in the era before uniform numbers were used. He later frequently changed his number. Instead of retiring a number, Klein was honored with a Phillies letter "P" logo displayed in a manner similar to a retired number.
  13. William Shea was the attorney who was in large part responsible for the creation of the Mets in 1961. The team's second home, Shea Stadium, was named for him. He was honored with the name "SHEA" displayed in a manner similar to a retired number.
  14. Rogers Hornsby played most of his career in the era before uniform numbers were used. He wore number 4 with the Cardinals late in his career. Hornsby was honored with the letters "SL" displayed in a manner similar to a retired number.
  15. Broadcaster Jack Buck was honored by the Cardinals with a microphone displayed in a similar manner to a retired number.
  16. Broadcaster Jaime Jarrín was honored by the Dodgers with a microphone displayed in a similar manner to a retired number.
  17. Broadcaster Vin Scully was honored by the Dodgers with a microphone displayed in a similar manner to a retired number.
  18. Ralph Kiner was honored by the Mets as a broadcaster with a microphone displayed in a similar manner to a retired number.


Former retired numbers

It is very rare for a team to reissue a retired number, and usually requires a special circumstance, such as the person for whom the number was retired returning to the team in a player, coach or manager role. Harold Baines provides one example of this when he returned to the White Sox multiple times.[3] The White Sox also re-issued Luis Aparicio's number 11, with his permission, to fellow countryman Omar Vizquel in 2010–11.[4]

In cases of franchise relocation, the handling of existing retired numbers is at the discretion of team management. The team may decide to continue honoring the retired numbers (as did the San Francisco Giants), or it may choose to make a "fresh start" and reissue the numbers (as the Washington Nationals have done).

The Cincinnati Reds returned Willard Hershberger's number 5 to circulation two years after his death. Cincinnati later re-retired the number to honor Johnny Bench.

When the Florida Marlins moved to their current stadium, LoanDepot Park, and were rebranded as the Miami Marlins, the number 5, which had been retired for the team's late first president Carl Barger, was returned to circulation because player Logan Morrison requested permission to wear the number to honor his father.[5]

No. Name Team Retirement date
5Carl Barger[Notes 1]MarlinsApril 5, 1993
5Willard Hershberger[Notes 2]Reds1940
8Gary Carter[Notes 3]ExposJuly 31, 1993
10Andre Dawson[Notes 3]ExposJuly 6, 1997
30Tim Raines[Notes 3]ExposJune 19, 2004
10Rusty Staub[Notes 3]ExposMay 15, 1993
  1. Placed into circulation in 2012 when the Marlins moved to their new park and decided to honor Barger instead with a plaque at the stadium. The first player to receive the number was Logan Morrison. Barger was the team's first president, but died in December 1992, four months before the team's first game. The Marlins chose to retire #5 because it was the number worn by Barger's favorite player, Joe DiMaggio.
  2. The Reds retired Hershberger's #5 after his death in 1940, but returned it to circulation two years later. Cincinnati later re-retired the number 5 for Johnny Bench.
  3. The Montreal Expos retired numbers in honor of four players (Carter #8, Dawson #10, Staub #10, Raines #30). When the franchise relocated to Washington, D.C., after the 2004 season, the newly christened Washington Nationals chose not to recognize any uniform number retired while in Montreal. On October 18, 2005, the NHL's Montreal Canadiens honored the departed team by raising an Expos commemorative banner listing the retired numbers to the rafters of Montreal's Bell Centre.

Retired in honor of multiple players

The following numbers have been retired in honor of multiple players:

Retired by multiple teams

A handful of players who had notable careers for multiple teams have had their numbers retired by each team.[11]

  • Frank Robinson's #20 was retired by the Reds, Orioles and the then-Indians.
  • Rod Carew's #29 was retired by the Twins and Angels.
  • Hank Aaron's #44 was retired by the Braves and Brewers.
  • Reggie Jackson had his #9 retired by the Athletics, and his #44 retired by the Yankees.
  • Rollie Fingers' #34 was retired by the Athletics and Brewers.
  • Carlton Fisk had his #27 retired by the Red Sox, and his #72 retired by the White Sox.
  • Greg Maddux's #31 was retired by the Cubs and Braves.
  • Nolan Ryan had his #30 retired by the Angels, while his #34 is retired by the Astros and Rangers.
  • Wade Boggs's #12 was retired by the then-Devil Rays, and his #26 is retired by the Red Sox.
  • Roy Halladay's #32 was retired by the Blue Jays, and his #34 is retired by the Phillies.
  • Jackie Robinson’s #42 has been retired by every team in the MLB, due to him breaking the color barrier in baseball.
  • Gil Hodges' #14 was retired by the Mets and Dodgers.
  • Willie Mays' #24 was retired by the Giants and Mets.

Excluding Jackie Robinson, only Frank Robinson and Nolan Ryan have had their number(s) retired by three teams. Managers Casey Stengel and Sparky Anderson have also had numbers retired by two teams. Stengel's #37 was retired by the Yankees and Mets. Anderson's #10 was retired by the Reds, and his #11 was retired by the Tigers.[12]

Alternative methods of recognition

A number of teams have formal or informal policies of only retiring numbers of players inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, although there is no league-wide uniformity and teams sometimes break their own guidelines.[13][14] As an alternative to retiring numbers, many teams have established other means of honoring former players, such as team-specific Halls of Fame (Angels, Astros, Athletics, Braves, Brewers, Cardinals, Indians, Mariners, Mets, Orioles, Padres, Rangers, Reds, Red Sox, and Twins) or Walls of Fame (Giants and Phillies), a Ring of Honor (Nationals) or Level of Excellence (Blue Jays). In addition, several teams have kept certain numbers out of circulation since a player left, but have not formally retired them.[15][16] The Rangers introduced a third means of honoring former players while preparing to open their current home of Globe Life Field in 2020. In December 2019, a few months before the park's opening, the team announced that all of its retired numbers would be incorporated into the park's posted dimensions.[17]

The Montreal Expos franchise retired jerseys in honor of four players, but returned the numbers to use upon moving to Washington, D.C., to begin play as the Washington Nationals in 2005, becoming the only MLB team with no retired numbers other than Jackie Robinson's No. 42. In 2010, the Nationals established a "Ring of Honor" which as of 2022 includes three of those Expos players (Gary Carter, Andre Dawson, and Tim Raines), along with the Expos' last and Nationals' first manager, Frank Robinson; Nationals players Iván "Pudge" Rodríguez, Jayson Werth, and Ryan Zimmerman; original Washington Senators (1901–1960) players Joe Cronin, Rick Ferrell, Goose Goslin, Bucky Harris, Walter Johnson, Heinie Manush, Sam Rice, Harmon Killebrew, and Early Wynn, as well as owner Clark Griffith; expansion Washington Senators (1961–1971) player Frank Howard; and Homestead Grays players Cool Papa Bell, Ray Brown, Josh Gibson, Buck Leonard, Cumberland Posey, and Jud Wilson.[18][19][20] The Nationals finally retired their first number, Ryan Zimmerman's No. 11, on June 18, 2022.

The Miami Marlins had previously retired #5 in honor of their first team president, the late Carl Barger, but returned it to use entering the 2012 season when they relocated to the venue now known as LoanDepot Park.

Numbers kept out of circulation

Some teams have not formally retired certain numbers, but nonetheless kept them out of circulation. For example, the Los Angeles Dodgers' current policy is only to retire the numbers of longtime club members if they are inducted into the Hall of Fame; the lone exception was longtime Dodger player and coach Jim Gilliam, whose #19 was retired when he died of a cerebral hemorrhage during the Dodgers' 1978 postseason run. Nevertheless, the Dodgers have informally kept Fernando Valenzuela's #34 out of circulation since he last played for the team in 1990.[21] The San Francisco Giants have a similar policy, and have kept Tim Lincecum's #55 out of circulation since he departed after the 2015 season, though it is not formally retired.[16]

The Miami Marlins have not issued José Fernández’s #16 since his death in September 2016.

The Milwaukee Brewers have not issued Jim Gantner’s #17 since his retirement.

The Seattle Mariners have kept the following numbers out of circulation since the departure of a popular member of the team who wore it: #19 (Jay Buhner), and #51 (initially for Randy Johnson, and later for Ichiro Suzuki).

On Opening Day of the 2012 season, the New York Mets unveiled a memorial "Kid 8" logo to honor the late Gary Carter. Although no Met has worn the number 8 since Carter's election to the Hall of Fame, it is not retired. Following Willie Mays' retirement in 1973, Mets owner Joan Payson promised him that the team would not reissue his #24. In the following four decades, three Met players ended up wearing it: Kelvin Torve (a minor-league callup mistakenly issued the number that wore it for ten days in 1990), Rickey Henderson (1999-2000), and Robinson Cano (2019).[22]). The Mets formally retired Willie Mays' #24 during the Mets Old Timers Day festivities on August 27, 2022. The Mets have not issued #5 since the retirement of David Wright.

The New York Yankees have not re-issued Paul O'Neill's #21 since he ended his career, except for a brief period in 2008 when Morgan Ensberg and then LaTroy Hawkins wore #21, before fan complaints led Hawkins to change his number to No. 22 in April.[23] However, the Yankees formally retired O’neill’s #21 on August 21, 2022.

The Baltimore Orioles have not re-issued numbers 7, 44, and 46 since the passing of Cal Ripken, Sr., Elrod Hendricks, and Mike Flanagan respectively. The team has placed a moratorium on the three numbers in their honors.[24]

The Boston Red Sox have not re-issued uniform numbers 21 (Roger Clemens), 33 (Jason Varitek) and 49 (Tim Wakefield) since those players left the Red Sox or ended their careers.[25]

The St. Louis Cardinals have not re-issued Albert Pujols's #5 since he left the team after 2011. Pujols returned to the team in 2022, and was reissued his old #5.

After Darryl Kile's death in 2002, the teams he played for (Colorado Rockies, Houston Astros, and St. Louis Cardinals) took his #57 out of circulation.[15] The Cardinals first re-issued the number in 2021 Spring Training, to pitcher Zack Thompson.

The Colorado Rockies have not re-issued Carlos Gonzalez's #5 since he left the team after 2018.

The Tampa Bay Rays have not re-issued Evan Longoria's #3 since he left the team after 2017.

The Los Angeles Angels had not re-issued Nick Adenhart's #34, after he was killed in a car accident on April 9, 2009, although Noah Syndergaard requested and received the number when he joined the team in 2022. He stated that he wanted to wear his old Mets’ number as a tribute to Adenhart. The Angels have not re-issued Tim Salmon's #15 since his retirement at the end of the 2006 season. They have not retired Tyler Skaggs #45 since he died on July 1, 2019, although it is not in use anymore. For the remainder of the 2019 season, they put the 45 on the mound instead of the sponsor.

Number retired by Major League Baseball

(Left): The number 42 worn by Robinson on a plaque at Monument Park; (right): Mariano Rivera was the last player to wear the 42 on his shirt

Normally the individual clubs are responsible for retiring numbers. On April 15, 1997, Major League Baseball took the unusual move of retiring a number for all teams. On the 50th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's breaking the major league color barrier, his number 42 was retired throughout the majors, at the order of Commissioner Bud Selig. This meant that no future player on any major league team could wear number 42, although players wearing #42 at the time were allowed to continue wearing it (Mariano Rivera was the last active player to be grandfathered in, retiring after the 2013 season).[26]

Starting in the 2007 season, the 60th anniversary of Robinson's Major League debut, players and coaches have all worn the number 42 as a tribute to Robinson on Jackie Robinson Day, April 15.

There is a lobby to have uniform #21 retired in all of baseball to honor Roberto Clemente.[27]

Similar honors

Players who pre-date uniform numbers

Four teams have honored players who played before the advent of uniform numbers by placing their names among those of players whose numbers have been retired:

Broadcasters

The Ralph Kiner memorial logo (black), found adjacent to the New York Mets' retired numbers at Citi Field, 2018
  • Bob Murphy and Ralph Kiner New York Mets; The radio booth at both Shea Stadium and Citi Field are named for the beloved, late Murphy. The television booth at Citi Field is named for Kiner, who continued to broadcast some home games for the Mets until his death in early 2014. In addition, a special memorial logo honoring Kiner, depicting a microphone along with his name and the years 1922–2014, was displayed at Citi Field on the left field wall adjacent to, but not as a part of, the Mets' retired numbers, from 2014 to 2016. In the 2016 Mets yearbook, a sidebar in an article on Mike Piazza's upcoming number retirement implies that Kiner has been "retired" a la William A. Shea.[28] This was reinforced when the Mets' retired numbers were moved to the roof facade during the 2016 season to accommodate Mike Piazza's #31; Kiner's "number" was placed adjacent to the Shea and Jackie Robinson numbers, no longer separated from the others.
  • Jack Buck St. Louis Cardinals; honored with a drawing of a microphone on the wall with the retired numbers.
  • Lon Simmons, Russ Hodges, and Jon Miller San Francisco Giants; honored with stylized old-style radio microphone displayed in place of a number.
  • Marty Brennaman, Waite Hoyt, and Joe Nuxhall Cincinnati Reds; honored with microphones by the broadcast booth.
  • Jerry Coleman San Diego Padres; a "star on the wall" in reference to his trademark phrase "You can hang a star on that one!" The star is painted in gold on the front of the press box down the right field line, accompanied by Coleman's name in white. Upon Coleman's death in 2014, the broadcast booth at Petco Park was named in his honor.
  • Harry Kalas and Richie Ashburn Philadelphia Phillies; At Citizens Bank Park, the restaurant built into the base of the main scoreboard is named "Harry the K's" in Kalas's honor. After Kalas's death, the Phillies' TV-broadcast booth was renamed "The Harry Kalas Broadcast Booth". It is directly next to the radio-broadcast booth, which is named "The Richie 'Whitey' Ashburn Broadcast Booth". They both also have statues at Citizens Bank Park (though Ashburn is in uniform for his statue).
  • Ernie Harwell Detroit Tigers; honored with his name alongside the retired players on the Left-Centerfield Brick wall in Comerica Park and a statue & portrait at the stadium's front entrance. Honored with the Media Center named after him also.
  • Bob Uecker – "50 Years in Baseball" along with Uecker's name is next to the Brewers retired numbers at American Family Field.
  • Tom Cheek Toronto Blue Jays; honored with a spot on the Rogers Centre's "Level of Excellence" bearing his name and, in place of a jersey number, 4,306 – his streak of consecutive regular-season broadcasts.
  • Harry Caray and Jack Brickhouse Chicago Cubs: Caray is remembered inside and outside of Wrigley Field. A statue of him leading the crowd in "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" is near the bleacher entrance (originally at the corner of Addison Street and Sheffield Avenue), and a caricature of him adorns his former WGN-TV broadcast booth. Brickhouse's catch phrase, "Hey hey!" is memorialized in large red letters on each foul pole. (Brickhouse also has a statue on Michigan Avenue.)
  • Dave Niehaus Seattle Mariners; the press box at T-Mobile Park was renamed the "Dave Niehaus Media Center" on April 8, 2011, prior to the Mariners' home opener against the Cleveland Indians. In addition, a part of First Avenue NW outside the stadium was renamed Dave Niehaus Way, and the wall in deep right-center field also has a microphone with a Dave Niehaus graphic. There is the Dave Niehaus Statue on the Main Concourse at Section 105.[29]
  • Vin Scully Los Angeles Dodgers; in 2001, the Dodgers honored Scully by naming the press box at Dodger Stadium the "Vin Scully Press Box". However, on January 29, 2016, the Los Angeles City Council in a unanimous vote, renamed Elysian Park Avenue to Vin Scully Avenue, changing the address of Dodger Stadium to 1000 Vin Scully Ave.[30]
  • Arch McDonald and Bob Wolff - Washington Senators: MacDonald and Wolff's names are on the Washington Nationals' Ring of Honor at Nationals Park.
  • Bill King Oakland Athletics; The Athletics named their broadcast facilities the "Bill King Broadcast Booth" after King's death in 2005.

Owners and contributors

  • The initials of the late San Diego Padres owner Ray Kroc are painted in gold on the front of the pressbox down the right field line, accompanied by his name in white.
  • The initials of the late Boston Red Sox owners Tom and Jean Yawkey are rendered in Morse code and painted in white on the manual scoreboard on Fenway Park's Green Monster.
  • Charles Bronfman was inducted into the Expos Hall of Fame as its inaugural member in 1993, and a circular patch placed on the right field wall with his name, the number 83, which he used to wear during spring training, and the words "FONDATEUR / FOUNDER".[31]
  • On April 8, 2008, the final opening day at Shea Stadium, the New York Mets unveiled a "Shea" logo which was displayed on the left-field fence next to the team's retired numbers. The stadium was named for William Shea, a prominent lawyer who was responsible for the return of National League baseball to New York.
  • Walter A. Haas Jr., honorary jersey retired (with stylized Old English "A" in place of a number) in 1995, located in right field. Owner of the Oakland Athletics from 1980 until 1995. Haas purchased the team from Charles O. Finley in 1980, saving the team from potentially moving out of the area.
  • At the start of the 2007 season, the Kansas City Royals designated Seat #9 in Section 127, Row C at Kauffman Stadium as the "Buck O'Neil Legacy Seat" in honor of Negro leagues legend and Royals scout Buck O'Neil. During each home game, the Royals honor a fan who exemplifies O'Neil's spirit of humanitarianism and community service by inviting that fan to sit in the Buck O'Neil Legacy Seat.
  • Paul Beeston and Pat Gillick, the Toronto Blue Jays's former president and general manager, respectively, have been inducted into the team's Level of Excellence, alongside the team's retired numbers. In addition, a Baseball Hall of Fame banner for Gillick hangs in the Rogers Centre rafters.
  • A statue of former Arlington, Texas mayor Tom Vandergriff is located at Vandergriff Plaza at Globe Life Park alongside those of former Texas Rangers Nolan Ryan and Ivan Rodriguez, both of whom had their numbers retired. Vandergriff was responsible for bringing Major League Baseball to the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
  • The New York Yankees' spring training facility, George M. Steinbrenner Field is named in honor of its late owner George Steinbrenner.

Umpires

See: Umpire (baseball) § Numbers retired by the National and American Leagues

See also

Notes

  1. In light of an investigation of Alomar being in violation of MLB policy after being alleged to have engaged in sexual misconduct in 2014, the Blue Jays removed Alomar's banner on April 30, 2021 and cut ties with him. [2]

References

  1. Jauss, Bill (September 29, 2003). "Santo: Flag 'my Hall of Fame'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 19, 2010.
  2. "Statement". MLB. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  3. Schmuck, Peter (September 11, 1996). "Baines' hit season is designated delight DH: Unwanted by the Orioles, veteran shows he's far from through with an '80s-like year for the White Sox". The Baltimore Sun.
  4. Gregor, Scot (February 8, 2010). "White Sox unretire Luis Aparicio's No. 11 for Vizquel". Daily Herald.
  5. Capozzi, Joe (February 13, 2012). "Miami Marlins un-retire ex-team president Carl Barger's No. 5 for Logan Morrison, but Barger family unhappy". Palm Beach Post. Archived from the original on July 4, 2012.
  6. baseball-almanac.com (2009). "Retired Uniform Numbers in the National League". baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved October 2, 2009.
  7. MLB Advanced Media (2009). "Franchise Retired Numbers". MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved October 2, 2009.
  8. MLB Advanced Media (2009). "Yankees Retired Numbers". MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved October 2, 2009.
  9. MLB Advanced Media (2009). "Cardinals Retired Numbers". MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved October 2, 2009.
  10. "A's announce plan to retire Stewart's No. 34". MLB.com.
  11. Lukas, Paul. "Some numbers live on forever". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  12. "Baseball Players with Uniform #s Retired by Multiple Teams". The Pecan Park Eagle. August 18, 2011. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  13. Jaffe, Jay (June 23, 2016). "Picking the best players whose numbers have yet to be retired in MLB". SI.com.
  14. Baggarly, Andrew (September 13, 2015). "Commentary: It's time for Giants to retire Barry Bonds' number". Bay Area News Group.
  15. Goold, Derrick (February 23, 2015). "Why McGwire's No. 25 is back off the rack". St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
  16. Schulman, Henry (May 7, 2016). "No one's getting Lincecum's No. 55 anytime soon". San Francisco Chronicle.
  17. "Texas Rangers Unveil Globe Life Field Dimensions". Ballpark Digest. December 4, 2019. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  18. "Washington Nationals 2016 Media Guide". MLB.com. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  19. Steinberg, Dan (August 26, 2016). "Senators legend Frank Howard is humbled and thrilled to enter the Nats' Ring of Honor". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  20. Finney, Blake (August 28, 2018). "Washington Nationals: Remembering Jayson Werth and his Nats legacy". districtondeck.com. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  21. "Big Unit beats Dodgers 2-1 in Manny's LA debut". Yahoo.com. February 8, 2008. Retrieved August 2, 2008.
  22. "Accidental 24: The Kelvin Torve Interview". Mets by the Numbers. February 11, 2008. Archived from the original on June 19, 2010. Retrieved October 9, 2013.
  23. Cohen, Jason (February 26, 2015). "The Yankees need to reissue Paul O'Neill's no. 21". Pinstripe Alley.
  24. "Orioles Insider: Guthrie wants to know whether he should keep No. 46 – Baltimore Orioles: Schedule, news, analysis and opinion on baseball at Camden Yards". Baltimore Sun. August 25, 2011. Retrieved November 23, 2012.
  25. Cafardo, Nick (December 22, 2015). "Red Sox finally do right by Wade Boggs". The Boston Globe.
  26. Araton, Harvey (April 14, 2010). "Yankees' Mariano Rivera Is the Last No. 42". The New York Times.
  27. Ruiz, M. Teresa. "Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 27". State of New Jersey. State of New Jersey. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
  28. 2016 New York Mets yearbook, page 62
  29. "Dave Niehaus Statue". Mariners.com. © 2020 MLB Advanced Media, LP. All rights reserved. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
  30. McCullough, Andy (January 29, 2016). "Street is renamed to honor Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully". LA Times. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
  31. Blair, Jeff (August 15, 1993). "This used to be his playground; Bronfman was always a fan; Original owner steps into Expos Hall of Fame". Montreal Gazette. pp. D.1.

Further reading

  • Baseball Uniforms of the 20th Century, Marc Okkonen, 1991, Sterling Publishing.
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