Pitchers and Numbers

[CuseFan10]

Does anyone know why NO pitchers have a uniform number that is single digits? Is there a history behind this or some reason?

Josh Towers used to wear #7 (not even sure if he's in the majors right now), but I can't think of anyone else that's had a single digit uniform number on the bump in recent memory?

Thoughts?

[homedawg]

At one time, a baseball player's number was specifically related to his place in the batting lineup. The regular starting eight wore numbers 1 through 8, while the backup catcher wore number 9. Starting pitchers generally took numbers 10, 11, 12, and 14, (avoiding the superstitious #13, although some pitchers tried it, perhaps most notably the star-crossed pitcher Ralph Branca), while reserve pitchers and position players took the remaining numbers, 15 through 26.

Even to this day, low numbers are generally associated with being an everyday player, and many players try to get one, no matter what it is. This is also due to the fact that in Spring Training, minor league players unlikely to make the roster are usually given very high numbers, and many players feel that the higher the number, the less likely you are to make the team after Spring Training.

Many of the single digit #'s could be retired by now? :beer2:

[homedawg]

Retired numbers by team:

1
Billy Meyer - Pirates
Pee Wee Reese - Dodgers
Bobby Doerr - Red Sox
Fred Hutchinson - Reds (manager)
Ozzie Smith - Cardinals
Richie Ashburn - Phillies
Billy Martin - Yankees
2
Red Schoendienst - Cardinals
Nellie Fox - White Sox
Tommy Lasorda - Dodgers (manager)
Charlie Gehringer - Tigers
3
Babe Ruth - Yankees
Earl Averill - Indians
Bill Terry - Giants
Harmon Killebrew - Twins
Dale Murphy - Braves
Harold Baines - White Sox
4
Luke Appling - White Sox
Earl Weaver - Orioles (manager)
Duke Snider - Dodgers
Ralph Kiner - Pirates
Lou Gehrig - Yankees
Paul Molitor - Brewers
Mel Ott - Giants
Joe Cronin - Red Sox
5
Brooks Robinson - Orioles
Carl Barger - Marlins (club president)
Lou Boudreau - Indians
George Brett - Royals
Johnny Bench - Reds
Willard Hershberger - Reds (1940 - 1941)
Hank Greenberg - Tigers
Joe DiMaggio - Yankees
Jeff Bagwell - Astros
6
Steve Garvey - Padres
Stan Musial - Cardinals
Al Kaline - Tigers
Tony Oliva - Twins
7
Mickey Mantle - Yankees
8
Willie Stargell - Pirates
Joe Morgan - Reds
Yogi Berra - Yankees
Gary Carter - Expos (no longer retired)
Cal Ripken, Jr. - Orioles
Bill Dickey - Yankees
Carl Yastrzemski - Red Sox
9
Ted Williams - Red Sox
Reggie Jackson - Athletics
Minnie Minoso - White Sox
Enos Slaughter - Cardinals
Bill Mazeroski - Pirates
Roger Maris - Yankees

[CuseFan10]

HD- Good info, I actually surmised much of that (I guess surmised isn't the right word but I also don't want to sound cocky and say I knew it, b/c I didn't 100%).

Anyway, point is that other than superstition it's a pretty inexplicable entity, right? I think #5 was the most retired number and that was by less then 10 teams so it's not like there's dearth of single digit numbers to be had. And plus, the Yankees take up 20% of that list since they retire every number of anyone remotely significant (although 1-10 are all 'no brainers' for them except Billy Martin at #1 and Roger Maris at #9 are jokes being retired and totally undeserving of such stature, but they have no rules regarding who and why the retire numbers like many other teams do).

Also, in this day and age, anyone born after 1960 probably has no clue to any of that traditional stuff and pitchers in little leagues, senior leagues, and high schools commonly wear single digits numbers. I just find it odd that NO ONE (I honestly think right now in the MLB there's not 1 pitcher with a uniform jersey under #10-11) that pitches wears a single digit uniform number.. It's just strange, IMHO.

Last couple years, Josh Towers looked "funny" wearing his #7 and it stuck out like a sore thumb. I guess we'd need some brazen, flame throwing, uber-kid to buck the trend and make it popular.

Just something fun to chat about.... :thumbs: