Why Do Baseball Players Wear Numbers on Their Jerseys?

Numbers on jerseys are not as important in baseball as other sports, because during the game, your position doesn’t change as much as in football or basketball. If a player is on first, then he pretty much stays there, and doesn’t changed places with another player. In football, numbers on jerseys play an important role in identification of the player, particularly if the player is at the bottom of a pile of other players.

The first baseball team to put numbers on their jerseys was the Cleveland Indians. They started putting large numbers on their sleeves on June 26, 1916. They continued doing this into the next year, but soon, gave it up.

The major league baseball game that first had both teams to have numbers on their jerseys was between the Indians and the Yankees and was played on May 13, 1929. By the mid 1930s, every major league team was using numbers on their uniforms.

How Numbers Were Selected in the Past

At one time, the numbers showed the batting lineup. The starting lineup would be numbers 1 through 8, and the backup catcher wore number 9. Pitchers would wear numbers 10, 11, 12, and 14, because baseball players could be superstitious and wouldn’t wear number 13.

How Numbers Are Selected Now

This is not how it is done today. Now, pitchers usually have higher numbers than in the old days, but the lower numbers are still associated with the starting players and, knowing how superstitious players can be, many try to get the lower numbers. Infielders usually have the lower numbers today.

Well known players, coaches, or managers will sometimes have their number “retired” to honor them. This is usually done only for the cream of the crop, the real stars of baseball.

• Lou Gehrig, whose number was 4, was the first player to have his number retired.

• The Yankees have retired more than any other team and the highest number to have been retired was number 72, worn by Carlton Fisk.

• Some players have had their number retired from more than one team, as was the case with Nolan Ryan. He had the numbers 30 and 34 retired from three different teams.    

Notables by the Numbers

Some of the numbers have a history of being worn by a particularly famous baseball player or players. For example:

• Number 0 - Two great players wore the number 0 - Al Oliver and Ozzie Smith. Ozzie was a 14 time All-Star, league MVP in 1985, and won 13 consecutive Gold Gloves. 
• Number 2 - This number was worn by Charlie Gehringer and Derek Jeter. Gehringer hit .320 and 1427 RBIs.
• Number 3 - Babe Ruth was the most famous number 3 and is said, by some, to be the greatest player of all time.
• Number 4 - The well-known Lou Gehrig wore this number. Gehrig played 2130 consecutive games, hit .340, and had 1995 RBIs.
• Number 5 - The best player to wear number 5 was Joe DiMaggio, with a 56 game hitting streak, hitting .325, and 361 home runs to his credit. He was also famous for being married to Marilyn Monroe. Other notables who wore number 5 include Johnny Bench and George Brett.
• Number 6 - Stan Musial, wearing number 6, played in 24 all star games and hit 475 home runs in his career.
• Number 7 - This number was worn by Mickey Mantle, who had 536 home runs.
• Number 8 - Cal Ripken, Jr., Yogi Berra and Carl Yastrzemski all wore number 8.  Cal played 2632 consecutive games, and received many awards during his career.
• Number 9 - This number was worn by Ted Williams, Reggie Jackson and Roger Maris. Ted was a terrific hitter who is remembered for batting over .400 in a season and hit .344 in his career.
• Number 10 - Lefty Grove wore the number 10, and had 2266 strikeouts in his career. Other players who wore the number 10 of note are Andre Dawson and Phil Rizzuto.
• Number 11 - Carl Hubbell was number 11 and was a two-time National League MVP. 
• Number 12 - This number was worn by Roberto Alomar who was one of the best second basemen, playing in 18 All-Star games.
• Number 13 - Alex Rodriguez donned the number 13 and is rated one of the best all-around players ever. He is the youngest player to ever hit 500 home runs.
• Number 14 - Ernie Banks and Pete Rose wore number 14. Ernie has 2583 hits, 1636 RBIs, and played 2528 games. 
• Number 15 - Thurman Munson and Dick Allen each wore number 15. Dick slugged .534 and made 351 home runs.  
• Number 16 - A great player with the number 16 was Whitey Ford, with 236 career wins and a .690 win percentage. 
• Number 17 - Dizzy Dean wore number 17 and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1953.
• Number 18 - Ted Kluszewski wore number 18, earned a .498, and hit 279 home runs. 
• Number 19 - Bob Feller wore number 19 and had a fast ball which was recorded at 107 mph.
• Number 20 - This number was donned by Mike Schmidt, Frank Robinson, and Lou Brock.  Mike was a fantastic third baseman and drove in almost 1600 RBIs.  
• Number 21 - Roger Clemons was number 21 and one of the best pitchers in baseball with 4672 strikeouts.
• Number 22 - This number was worn by Jim Palmer, who collected three Cy Young awards in his career.
• Number 23 - Ryne Sandberg and Don Mattingly wore number 23. Ryne collected many awards in his career, including MVP and Gold Gloves, and was an All-Star 10 times.
• Number 24  - This number was worn by Willie Mays and Ken Griffey Jr. Willie won 12 Gold Gloves, and went to 20 All Star games.
• Number 25 - Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire wore number 25. Both are considered the best of all time. Barry had 71 home runs in one season and Mark made 49 in his rookie season. Both players received many awards in their careers.