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Numbers and Names

Quick. What Yankees slugger wore uniform number “7?” What uniform number did Hank Aaron wear? What Brooklyn Dodgers infielder wore number “42?” Baseball fans as well as many casual baseball observers know the answers to these questions (Mickey Mantle, number “44,” and Jackie Robinson) because baseball numbers have taken on a special significance in the game. Indeed, short of being named to the Hall of Fame, having one’s uniform number retired may be the greatest honor a ballplayer can receive.

Reading Red Roses Dabble with Digits on Their Duds

While rumor has it that uniform numbers were first used in the 19th century, the earliest verified instance in which a team experimented with numbering its players occurred in 1907. Early that season, Alfred Lawson, manager of the Reading (Pennsylvania) Red Roses of the Atlantic League, decided to number his club’s uniforms. He did so in an effort to help fans identify the players. The plan was a sound one, but it is unknown if the club ever took the field with numbered jerseys.

Now Batting, Number “12.” José Mendez, Number “12.”

The earliest photographic evidence of the use of uniform numbers comes from a 1909 Chicago Daily News picture of pitching great José Mendez. A legendary Cuban ballplayer, Mendez was a member of the inaugural class of the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939 and was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006. In the photograph, Mendez is seen in his Cuban Stars uniform with a number “12” on his left sleeve.

At left: José Mendez of the Cuban Stars, 1909 (Chicago Daily News negatives collection, SDN-007852. Courtesy of the Chicago Historical Society.)

Indians Introduce Integers

Inspired by hockey’s and football’s use of uniform numbers, the Cleveland Indians became the first big league club to experiment with numbered uniforms when they took the field at League Park in Cleveland, on June 26, 1916, donning large numerals on their left sleeves. The experiment lasted just a few weeks that season and, after a brief trial the following year, was abandoned altogether. The numbers and corresponding names were listed in the club’s scorecards, and so, perhaps, this date also marked the first time a ballpark vendor called out: “Programs, get your programs. You can’t tell the players without a program.”

Cardinal Numbers

In 1923, acting on the suggestion of St. Louis sportswriter John Sheridan, St. Louis Cardinals manager Branch Rickey added uniform numbers to the sleeves of his players. As Rickey reminisced in 1962, “Ridicule followed throughout the country, presswise and otherwise. More particularly, the players were subjected to field criticism from the stands and especially from opposing players.… The effect upon the team was bad and ‘busted up’ the team morale or spirit completely. They really didn’t want to show themselves on the field. Because of the continuing embarrassment to the players, the numbers were removed.” Other clubs experimenting with uniform numbers on their sleeves that same year were the Indianapolis ABC’s of the Negro National League and the San Antonio Bears of the Texas League.

At left: Ray Blades of the St. Louis Cardinals, 1923

Indians Introduce Integers … Again

Not only were the Cleveland Indians the first big league club to wear uniform numbers, they were the first to wear numbers on the back of their jerseys. The practice has often been credited as originating with the New York Yankees in 1929, as the reigning World Champions were scheduled to open the season donning uniforms with the new numbering style. However, rain cancelled the Yankees’ April 16 home opener, while the Indians were blessed with clear skies that same day. By, the mid-1930s, every major league had adopted uniform numbers, though it was not until 1937 that the Philadelphia Athletics donned numbers on their home, as well as road, uniforms.

Numbers on Front

While uniform numbers first appeared on jersey sleeves and are most commonly seen on the back of jerseys, they have appeared on other parts of the uniform as well. In 1951, the Springfield Cubs of the International League were the first club to wear numbers on the front of their jerseys, a practice that was adopted by the Brooklyn Dodgers the following year. Today nearly every major league club uses jersey-front numbers on their home or road uniform. In 1940, the Memphis Red Sox of the Negro American League wore numbers on their uniform pants, but the style did not appear in the major leagues until the Astros wore numbers on the front left hip of their pants from 1975 through 1978.

Names on Back

Bill Veeck, the brash baseball executive whose “innovations” included the use of a moving outfield wall in Milwaukee and a 3’7” midget in St. Louis, introduced player names to the back of his Chicago White Sox jerseys in spring training of 1960. The concept, brought about by the popularity of baseball on television, caught on, and today every major league club has adopted the practice with one notable exception. Despite being the second big league club to adopt uniform numbers, the tradition-minded New York Yankees have yet to don a uniform (home or road) adorned with player names.

What’s in a Name?

Johnny Neves of the Northern League Fargo-Moorhead Twins wore uniform number “7” backwards on the back of his 1951 jersey. After all, his name spelled backwards is “seveN.”

Bill Voiselle, who was born in Ninety Six, South Carolina, wore his home town on the back of his jersey, “96,” while with the Braves and Cubs from 1947 through 1950.

Carlos May, born May 17, 1948, is the only big leaguer to wear his birthday on his back: “May 17.”

At left: Johnny Neves of the Fargo-Moorhead Twins (Northern League) as seen in The Sporting News of May 16, 1951

Retired “4”-Ever

On June 19, 1939, Lou Gehrig was diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), a progressive and fatal motor-neuron disease. A few weeks later, on Independence Day, the New York Yankees staged “Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day.” It was at that special event that the “Iron Horse” uttered the now infamous words, “Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth.” That same day, the Yankees retired Gehrig’s uniform number “4,” ensuring that no member of the Yankees family would ever again wear the honored number. Since that time, well over 100 major league uniform numbers have been retired.

No Number? No Problem.

Numberless uniforms have been worn at least three times since the full-time adoption of uniform numbers in the big leagues. On September 4, 1961, White Sox pitcher Joe Horlen made his big league debut in Minnesota. A last-minute call-up, Horlen was forced to wear a uniform with no number, the only road jersey the club had available. For the same reason, Eric Davis wore a numberless jersey when he made his major league debut with Cincinnati as a pinch-hitter on May 19, 1984. And on September 27, 1999, Detroit Tigers center fielder Gabe Kapler took the field donning a numberless uniform. That day, the Tigers played their last game at historic Tiger Stadium and, in honor of great Tigers of the past, members of the starting lineup wore the uniform numbers of corresponding members of an All-Time Detroit Tigers team voted on by the fans. Since Kapler played center field, he was to wear Ty Cobb's uniform number. But since Cobb never wore a number, Kapler's back was blank.

There’s Only One Jackie and Never Another “42”

On April 15, 1997, exactly 50 years after Jackie Robinson broke the major league color line, Acting Commissioner Bud Selig announced that never again would Robinson’s uniform number “42” be worn by a major or minor league player. The only exception to the mandate was that players who were already wearing the number would be allowed to keep it until the end of their careers.

The following is a list of retired uniform numbers for each current major league team (last updated May 2007):

American League National League

Anaheim Angels (5)
11 — Jim Fregosi
26 — Gene Autry
29 — Rod Carew
30 — Nolan Ryan
50 — Jimmie Reese
Baltimore Orioles (6)
4 — Earl Weaver
5 — Brooks Robinson
8 — Cal Ripken Jr.
20 — Frank Robinson
22 — Jim Palmer
33 — Eddie Murray
Boston Red Sox (5)
1 — Bobby Doerr
4 — Joe Cronin
8 — Carl Yastrzemski
9 — Ted Williams
27 — Carlton Fisk
Chicago White Sox (8)
2 — Nellie Fox
3 — Harold Baines
4 — Luke Appling
9 — Minnie Minoso
11 — Luis Aparicio
16 — Ted Lyons
19 — Billy Pierce
72 — Carlton Fisk
Cleveland Indians (6)
3 — Earl Averill
5 — Lou Boudreau
14 — Larry Doby
18 — Mel Harder
19 — Bob Feller
21 — Bob Lemon
Detroit Tigers (5)
2 — Charlie Gehringer
5 — Hank Greenberg
6 — Al Kaline
16 — Hal Newhouser
23 — Willie Horton

Kansas City Royals (3)
5 — George Brett
10 — Dick Howser
20 — Frank White
Minnesota Twins (5)
3 — Harmon Killebrew
6 — Tony Oliva
14 — Kent Hrbek
29 — Rod Carew
34 — Kirby Puckett
New York Yankees (15)
1 — Billy Martin
3 — Babe Ruth
4 — Lou Gehrig
5 — Joe DiMaggio
7 — Mickey Mantle
8 — Yogi Berra and Bill Dickey
9 — Roger Maris
10 — Phil Rizzuto
15 — Thurman Munson
16 — Whitey Ford
23 — Don Mattingly
32 — Elston Howard
37 — Casey Stengel
44 — Reggie Jackson
49 — Ron Guidry
Oakland Athletics (4)
9 — Reggie Jackson
27 — Catfish Hunter
34 — Rollie Fingers
43 — Dennis Eckersley
Seattle Mariners (0)
Tampa Bay Devil Rays (1)
12 — Wade Boggs
Texas Rangers (2)
26 — Johnny Oates
34 — Nolan Ryan
Toronto Blue Jays (0)

Arizona Diamondbacks (0)
Atlanta Braves (5)
3 — Dale Murphy
21 — Warren Spahn
35 — Phil Niekro
41 — Eddie Mathews
44 — Henry Aaron
Chicago Cubs (4)
10 — Ron Santo
14 — Ernie Banks
23 — Ryne Sandberg
26 — Billy Williams
Cincinnati Reds (9)
1 — Fred Hutchinson
5 — Johnny Bench
8 — Joe Morgan
10 — Sparky Anderson
13 — Dave Concepcion
18 — Ted Kluszewski
20 — Frank Robinson
24 — Tony Perez
41 — Joe Nuxhall
Colorado Rockies (0)
Florida Marlins (1)
5 — Carl Barger
Houston Astros (8)
5 — Jeff Bagwell
24 — Jimmy Wynn
25 — Jose Cruz
32 — Jim Umbricht
33 — Mike Scott
34 — Nolan Ryan
40 — Don Wilson
49 — Larry Dierker
Los Angeles and Brooklyn Dodgers (10)
1 — Pee Wee Reese
2 — Tommy Lasorda
4 — Duke Snider
19 — Jim Gilliam
20 — Don Sutton
24 — Walt Alston
32 — Sandy Koufax
39 — Roy Campanella
42 — Jackie Robinson
53 — Don Drysdale
Milwaukee Brewers (4)
4 — Paul Molitor
19 — Robin Yount
34 — Rollie Fingers
44 — Henry Aaron

New York Mets (3)
14 — Gil Hodges
37 — Casey Stengel
41 — Tom Seaver
Philadelphia Phillies (5)
1 — Richie Ashburn
14 — Jim Bunning
20 — Mike Schmidt
32 — Steve Carlton
36 — Robin Roberts
Pittsburgh Pirates (9)
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
St. Louis Cardinals (10)
1 — Ozzie Smith
2 — Red Schoendienst
6 — Stan Musial
9 — Enos Slaughter
14 — Ken Boyer
17 — Dizzy Dean
20 — Lou Brock
42 — Bruce Sutter
45 — Bob Gibson
85 — August Busch Jr.
San Diego Padres (4)
6 — Steve Garvey
19 — Tony Gwynn
31 — Dave Winfield
35 — Randy Jones
San Francisco and New York Giants (8)
3 — Bill Terry
4 — Mel Ott
11 — Carl Hubbell
24 — Willie Mays
27 — Juan Marichal
30 — Orlando Cepeda
36 — Gaylord Perry
44 — Willie McCovey
Washington Nationals (0)
Though the Washington Nationals were formerly the Montreal Expos, they have chosen not to recognize these previously retired uniform numbers:
8 — Gary Carter
10 — Andre Dawson
10 — Rusty Staub
30 — Tim Raines

Dressed to the Nines: A History of the Baseball Uniform
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