OT: Retirement of Players' Numbers

[Kibitzer]

At halftime yesterday (Pittsburgh vs. Baltimore), the Steelers officially retired Joe Greene's number. Remarkably, his #75 is only the second officially retired (Ernie Stautner's #70 was the first). It is, however, no secret that jerseys with numbers 12 (Bradshaw), 32 (Harris), 36 (Bettis), 52 (Webster), 58 (Lambert), or 63 (Dawson) are simply not issued. It is unlikely that any future Steeler will ever wear #7 (Roethlisberger), 43 (Polamalu), or 86 (Ward). Players named Swann, Stallworth, Woodson, Blount and Bleier are ignored.

Greene spoke to the team before the game and urged them to "Play Steeler football." (Which they did.) Got me to thinking: How many teams have the combination of a storied history and a revered player to do something like that? Certainly the Yankees (Jeter), the Celtics (Russ), and the Lakers (Magic); and maybe the 49ers (Rice or Montana). UConn women, but which of many legendary players?

The Boston Celtics probably have most retired numbers (including even Jim Luscotoff) and I just read that the Chicago Bears have retired 14 to lead the NFL. in this category.

MLB retired Jackie Robinson's #42 for all teams.

UConn retires jerseys, not numbers. Even Diana's #3 (Hayes and Tuck) and Maya's #23 (KML) have been reissued. Nothing is Sacred in Storrs!

 

[Zorro]

If the Huskies were to have retired all the numbers of players who deserved to have their numbers retired, they'd be just about out of < 3-digit numbers.

 

[Husky25]

The Redskins Have only 1 officially retired number (#33, Sammy Baugh), but do not issue #s 7 (Theismann), 9 (Jurgenson), 28 (Green), 42 (Taylor), 43 (Brown), 44 (Riggins), 49 (Mitchell), 65 (Butz), and 81 (Monk), among others.

The Red Sox have not issued #21 (Clemens) or #45 (Martinez), since they were last worn, though they are not officially retired.

 

[j66kicker]

The Yankees are going to have to enlarge their stadium to display all the retired numbers if they keep on retiring them

 

[Kibitzer]

The Yankees are going to have to enlarge their stadium to display all the retired numbers if they keep on retiring them

Baseball teams, like football, have access to at least 99 numbers, basketball, only about half as many. In the case of the Yankees, #13 should be available soon.

 

[j66kicker]

Baseball teams, like football, have access to at least 99 numbers, basketball, only about half as many. In the case of the Yankees, #13 should be available soon.

Yup, after they pay him $6 million for passing Willie Mays in HRs - just needs 6 more. I'm a life-long Yankee fan, but can't stand #13.

 

[Biff]

Baseball teams, like football, have access to at least 99 numbers, basketball, only about half as many. In the case of the Yankees, #13 should be available soon.

Well in reality Basketball has access to approximately 30 numbers, far less than half of 99. 1-5, 10-15, 20-25, 30-35, 40-45, 50-55 (and sometimes some variations of 0, 00 etc.)
What the basketball world needs is refs with more than 5 fingers.

 

[j66kicker]

Well in reality Basketball has access to approximately 30 numbers, far less than half of 99. 1-5, 10-15, 20-25, 30-35, 40-45, 50-55 (and sometimes some variations of 0, 00 etc.)
What the basketball world needs is refs with more than 5 fingers.

I had no idea. Why not 6-9, 16-19, etc?

 

[Husky25]

Baseball teams, like football, have access to at least 99 numbers, basketball, only about half as many. In the case of the Yankees, #13 should be available soon.

Untrue. Pro Basketball can have whatever number they wish. Dennis Rodman was number 73. College still only issues a total of 37 numbers. (0-5 for single digits - 50s, plus number 00). Retiring college basketball number is infinite more selective. For the men, the following numbers should be retired: 34 (Allen), 3 Dropo, 32 (Rip), 42 (Multiple, a la #44 for 'Cuse Fball), 13 (Napier, but King too), 50 (Okafor), 4 (Gordon), 15 (Walker), and 00 (Robinson).

 

[Husky25]

I had no idea. Why not 6-9, 16-19, etc?

Tradition. When a foul is called, the ref indicates the first number with his left hand and second number with his right.

 

[ABachelor6CR]

UConn retires jerseys, not numbers. Even Diana's #3 (Hayes and Tuck) and Maya's #23 (KML) have been reissued. Nothing is Sacred in Storrs!

How many times has #50, 52, and 42 have been issued since Rebecca, Kara, and Nyesha wore them?

 

[j66kicker]

Tradition. When a foul is called, the ref indicates the first number with his left hand and second number with his right.

Ahhhhhh... Thanks - now I get Biff's, "...refs with more than 5 fingers."

So do the NBA refs have 9 fingers?

 

[MilfordHusky]

What the basketball world needs is refs with more than 5 fingers.

Or TWO eyes.

 

[Biff]

Or TWO eyes.

Ah. Well played sir.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Ah. Well played sir.

I'm half expecting a pic of a cyclops in black and white stripes.

 

[j66kicker]

I'm half expecting a pic of a cyclops in black and white stripes.

9 fingers on each hand.

 

[bramos]

Or TWO eyes.

another great vote..the EYES have it

 

[stwainfan]

Lady Vols 3 Parker, 23 Holdsclaw, 24 Catchings, 22 Warlick, 30 Gordon, 32 Charles.
The Lakers have many 32 Magic, 13 Chamberlain, 22 Baylor, 25 Goodrich, 33 Abdul Jabbar, 34 O'Neal, 42 Worthy, 44 West, 52 Wilkes also 24 Bryant will be retired at some point.

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

A-ROID is the anti-Christ in pinstripes! They should release him now and eat the $61 million!

 

[j66kicker]

A-ROID is the anti-Christ in pinstripes! They should release him now and eat the $61 million!

If they were willing to do that, then they should keep him on the payroll and just not play him so he can't play anywhere else - wouldn't be able to break any more records.

 

[Beemer]

How many times has #50, 52, and 42 have been issued since Rebecca, Kara, and Nyesha wore them?

None.

 

[Husky25]

A-ROID is the anti-Christ in pinstripes! They should release him now and eat the $61 million!

Anti-Christ in pinstripes is a redundancy.

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

If they were willing to do that, then they should keep him on the payroll and just not play him so he can't play anywhere else - wouldn't be able to break any more records.

j66kicker- - -The problem with that is it would take up a spot on the 25 man roster and they'd play shorthanded! Better to release him and no-one in MLB will touch that $61 million contract so he'd be in limbo all season!

 

[DishNSwish]

At halftime yesterday (Pittsburgh vs. Baltimore), the Steelers officially retired Joe Greene's number. Remarkably, his #75 is only the second officially retired (Ernie Stautner's #70 was the first). It is, however, no secret that jerseys with numbers 12 (Bradshaw), 32 (Harris), 36 (Bettis), 52 (Webster), 58 (Lambert), or 63 (Dawson) are simply not issued. It is unlikely that any future Steeler will ever wear #7 (Roethlisberger), 43 (Polamalu), or 86 (Ward). Players named Swann, Stallworth, Woodson, Blount and Bleier are ignored.

Greene spoke to the team before the game and urged them to "Play Steeler football." (Which they did.) Got me to thinking: How many teams have the combination of a storied history and a revered player to do something like that? Certainly the Yankees (Jeter), the Celtics (Russ), and the Lakers (Magic); and maybe the 49ers (Rice or Montana). UConn women, but which of many legendary players?

Kibitzer, not sure if you've ever been to Heinz Field. On one side of the concourse is the Steelers' "Hall of Fame" area, where they have awards, trophies, etc.

They also have lockers honoring players from their past, with jerseys, memorabilia, books, etc. and those in fact include Swann, Stallworth, Woodson, Blount and Bleier, as well as the other names you mentioned. It's pretty impressive.

They also have Pitt Panthers tributes over there, with some of the awards of Dan Marino, Hugh Green, Tony Dorsett, and Larry Fitzgerald among other awards displayed.