Let’s Bring Back These Baseball Jersey Numbers

Not all retired MLB jersey numbers are created equal. Here are the suspects…

Let’s Bring Back These MLB Jersey Numbers

The majority of major league teams do retired jersey numbers well. Then, there’s the New York Yankees, who hand them out like a Pez dispenser. Do you realize that, unless something changes, you will never see a pin-striper wear a single-digit again outside of an old-timers game?

We say give retired numbers a 50-year term limit. That would open the field and allow for current players to continue their legacies. Pay tribute to the original recipients with permanent visuals in their home stadiums. Younger fans have absolutely no clue who many of them are, anyway.

Here are the primary suspects whose numbers should be put back in play…

30. Roger Maris

Position: Outfielder

Retired jersey number: 9 (New York Yankees)

Career: 12 seasons (1957-68)

Teams: Cleveland Indians (1957-58), Kansas City Athletics (1958-59), Yankees (1960-66), St. Louis Cardinals (1967-68),

World Series championships: 3 (1961-62, 1967)

Career statistics: 1,463 games played/.260 batting average/275 home runs

Bottom Line: Roger Maris

New York Yankees outfielder Roger Maris poses at Yankee Stadium

Maris had a 1961 season for the ages.

But four full seasons in pinstripes isn’t nearly enough for this prestigious honor — at least not with a franchise that has more legit candidates than any in baseball history.

29. Don Mattingly

New York Yankees first baseman Don Mattingly makes running catch

Position: First baseman

Retired jersey number: 23 (New York Yankees)

Career: 14 seasons (1982-95)

Teams: Yankees (1982-95)

World Series championships: 0

Career statistics: 1,785 games/.307 batting average/222 home runs

Bottom Line: Don Mattingly

New York Yankees first baseman Don Mattingly waits for pick-off throw

While the luckless Mattingly put up solid numbers, he was in the Bronx at the wrong time.

The Yankees are about World Series, and he played in nary a one.

28. Mel Harder

Position: Pitcher

Retired jersey number: 18 (Cleveland Indians)

Career: 20 seasons (1928-47)

Teams: Indians (1928-47)

World Series championships: 0

Career statistics: 582 games/223-186 won-loss record/3.80 earned run average

Bottom Line: Mel Harder

Harder was among the better pitchers of his time. He just wasn’t more dominant than Addie Joss and Stan Coveleski, who played in the era before uniform numbers.

How about some love for them?

27. Jorge Posada

Jorge Posada shakes Mariano Rivera's hand

Position: Catcher

Retired jersey number: 20 (New York Yankees)

Career: 17 seasons (1995-2011)

Teams: Yankees (1995-2011)

World Series championships: 4 (1998-2000, 2009)

Career statistics: 1,829 games/.275 batting average/273 home runs/1,065 RBI

Bottom Line: Jorge Posada

Posada was talented, popular and a winner above all. Sado also was the fourth-best catcher in franchise history.

He has a plaque in Monument Park at Yankee Stadium, and that should be tribute enough.

26. Bernie Williams

Bernie Williams shakes hands with BIll "Moose" Skowron

Position: Outfielder

Retired jersey number: 33 (New York Yankees)

Career: 16 seasons (1991-2006)

Teams: Yankees (1991-2006)

World Series championships: 4 (1998-2000, 2009)

Career statistics: 2,076 games/.297 batting average/287 home runs

Bottom Line: Bernie Williams

As consistently good as Williams was in his career, he wasn’t more productive than Earle Combs or Tony Lazzeri of the legendary ’27 team.

Inexplicably, Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth are the only members of Murderer’s Row to have their numbers retired. Whaa?!

25. Andy Pettitte

New York Yankees starting pitcher Andy Pettitte throws during baseball game

Position: Pitcher

Retired jersey number: 46 (New York Yankees)

Career: 14 seasons (1995-2010, 2012-13)

Teams: Yankees (1995-2003, 2007-2010, 2012-13), Houston Astros (2004-06)

World Series championships: 5 (1996, 1998-2000, 2009)

Career statistics: 531 games/256-153 won-loss record/3.85 earned run average

Bottom Line: Andy Pettitte

New York Yankees Andy Pettitte winds up for delivery against Boston Red Sox

Based on his massive numbers, Pettitte deserves to have his number put away for good.

But if the guy admittedly cheated with the Astros later in his career, then are we to believe that he was clean before he got there? Hmmm.

24. Jim Gilliam

Position: Second baseman, third baseman

Retired jersey number: 18 (Los Angeles Dodgers)

Career: 14 seasons (1953-66)

Teams: Dodgers (1953-66)

World Series championships: 4 (1955, 1959, 1963 1965)

Career statistics: 2,090 games/.265 batting average /65 home runs/203 stolen bases

Bottom Line: Jim Gilliam

We fully understand and appreciate what Gilliam contributed to four World Series championship teams. We also owe the switch-hitter for the additional option in our whiffle ball games back in the day.

Yet he doesn’t meet the lofty Dodger Blue standard, particularly in the postseason.

23. Jerry Koosman

Position: Pitcher

Retired jersey number: 46 (New York Mets)

Career: 19 seasons (1967-1985)

Teams: Mets (1967-78), Minnesota Twins (1979-81), Chicago White Sox (1981-83), Philadelphia Phillies (1984-85)

World Series championships: 1 (1969)

Career statistics: 612 games/222-209 won-loss record/3.36 earned run average

Bottom Line: Jerry Koosman

A strong argument can be made for Koosman as the 1969 World Series Most Valuable Player.

But it should take more than one remarkable season and a 140-137 career record to cancel a jersey number forever.

22. Kent Hrbek

Minnesota Twins Kent Hrbek shouting his excitement

Position: First basemen

Retired jersey number: 14 (Minnesota Twins)

Career: 14 seasons (1981-94)

Teams: Twins (1981-94)

World Series championships: 2 (1987, 1991)

Career statistics: 1,747 games/.282 batting average/293 home runs

Bottom Line: Kent Hrbek

Other than Kirby Puckett, of course, we can’t think of a bigger fan favorite than Hrbek in franchise history. But Herbie was more popular than he was dominant.

It’s long past time to find a number for franchise icon Walter Johnson even if the Hall of Fame pitcher never wore one.

21. Willie Horton

Position: Outfielder

Retired jersey number: 23 (Detroit Tigers)

Career: 18 seasons (1963-80)

Teams: Tigers (1963-77), Texas Rangers (1977), Cleveland Indians (1978), Oakland Athletics (1978), Toronto Blue Jays (1978), Seattle Mariners (1979-80)

World Series championships: 1 (1968)

Career statistics: 2,028 games/.273 batting average/325 home runs

Bottom Line: Willie Horton

Willie Horton and Rusty Staub shaking hands

Horton mashed a bunch of taters, all right, but by almost any other standard, teammates Norm Cash and Mickey Lolich deserve the honor more.

Besides, pigeon rights groups would be sure to protest his downright cruel treatment of their feathered friends. The brute killed one on a foul ball in a 1974 game, remember?

20. Rod Carew

Position: First baseman, second baseman

Retired jersey number: 29 (California Angels)

Career: 19 seasons (1967-85)

Teams: Minnesota Twins (1967-78),Angels (1979-85)

World Series championships: 0

Career statistics: 2,469 games/.328 batting average/92 home runs/353 stolen bases

Bottom Line: Rod Carew

Rod Carew slides into home behind Seattle Mariners

Carew will forever be a Twin. That’s where he spent the prime of his career, won all seven of his batting titles and deservedly had his No. 29 put away.

By the time the guy headed West, he was in his mid-30s and no longer an everyday player. He did make six more All-Star Game appearances, but they were mostly by default.

19. Luis Gonzalez

Luis Gonzalez follows through on a swing

Position: Outfielder

Retired jersey number: 20 (Arizona Diamondbacks)

Career: 19 seasons (1990-2008)

Teams: Houston Astros 1990-1995, 1997), Chicago Cubs (1995-96), Detroit Tigers (1998), Diamondbacks (1999-2006), Los Angeles Dodgers (2007), Florida Marlins (2008)

World Series championships: 1 (2001)

Career statistics: 2,591 games/.283 batting average/354 home runs

Bottom Line: Luis Gonzalez

Luis Gonzalez shakes hands with Tony Womack,

Basically, Gonzo got his number retired because of one bombastic 2001 season when he hit 57 homers and drove in 142 runs out of nowhere.

How much of it was legit, only he knows for sure.

18. Steve Garvey

Position: First baseman

Retired jersey number: 6 (San Diego Padres)

Career: 19 seasons (1969-87)

Teams: Los Angeles Dodgers (1969-82), Padres (1983-87)

World Series championships: 1 (1981)

Career statistics: 2,332 games/.294 batting average /272 home runs

Bottom Line: Steve Garvey

Here’s another guy who got his number retired after his real team snubbed him. While Garvey was a core piece of the first pennant-winners in franchise history, not to mention the 1984 NLCS Most Valuable Players, his best years were behind him.

The Padres have been so starved for stars in their history, though, even past-their-prime ex-Dodgers can’t be ignored.

17. Rollie Fingers

Position: Pitcher

Retired jersey number: 34 (Milwaukee Brewers)

Career: 17 seasons (1968-1982, 1984-85)

Teams: Oakland Athletics (1968-76), San Diego Padres (1977-80), Milwaukee Brewers (1981-82, 1984-85)

World Series championships: 3(1972-74)

Career statistics: 944 games/114-188 won-loss record/2.90 earned run average

Bottom Line: Rollie Fingers

Rollie Fingers, San Diego Padres' relief pitcher posing

If Fingers had more than three productive seasons with the Brew Crew, that would be one thing. Or if he had been available in Game 7 of the 1982 World Series — a right forearm muscle tear prevented it — that would be another.

But neither happened. Hey, Rollie, guess what? You just made the list!

16. Tom Kelly

Position: Manager

Retired jersey number: 1 (Minnesota Twins)

Career: 16 seasons (1986-2001)

Teams: Twins (1986-2001)

World Series championships: 2 (1987, 1991)

Career statistics: 2,385 games./1,140-1,244-1 won-loss record

Bottom Line: Tom Kelly

Kelly lost more games than he won in 16 seasons at the helm. He ranks 13th in win percentage (.478) among Twins skippers with at least 100 career victories.

True, his teams won two World Series titles, but we would argue that the Metrodome had as much if not more to do with their success. Retire a piece of its Teflon roof, then we're good with this.

15. Billy Martin

Position: Manager

Retired jersey number: 1 (New York Yankees)

Career: 16 seasons (1969, 1971-83, 1985, 1988)

Teams: Minnesota Twins (1969), Detroit Tigers (1971-73), Texas Rangers (1973-75), Yankees (1975-79, 1983, 1985, 1988), Oakland Athletics (1980-82)

World Series championships: 1 (1977)

Career statistics: 2,267 games/1,253-1,013-1 won-loss record

Bottom Line: Billy Martin

The Bronx Bombers did well to retire this digit. But Billy bleepin’ Martin? Swiiiiiiiiiing and a miss!

Joe McCarthy should have been the No. 1 even though he never wore a jersey number in deference to his star players. Dude, the guy won seven World Series titles. That’s two more than the times that Martin was fired, for cripesakes.

14. Mike Scott

Position: Pitcher

Retired jersey number: 33 (Houston Astros)

Career: 13 seasons (1979-91)

Teams: New York Mets (1979-82), Astros (1983-91)

World Series championships: 0

Career statistics: 347 games/124-108 won-loss record/3.54 earned run average

Bottom Line: Mike Scott

Scott all but admitted what the rest of us knew for years when he told MLB Network, “I’ve thrown balls that are scuffed, but I haven’t scuffed every ball that I’ve thrown.”

Then again, every Astros retired number should come with this disclaimer: We’re the Astros, and we’re known to cheat our butts off.

13. Don Wilson

Position: Pitcher

Retired jersey number: 40 (Houston Astros)

Career: 9 seasons (1966-1974)

Teams: Astros (1966-74)

World Series championships: 0

Career statistics: 266 games/104-92 won-loss record/3.15 earned run average

Bottom Line: Don Wilson

If Wilson hadn’t left us prematurely at 29 years of age, we seriously doubt that his No. 40 would have ever been cancelled.

His Strat-O-Matic rookie card sure blew us away, though.

12. Jose Cruz

Position: Outfielder

Retired jersey number: 25 (Houston Astros)

Career: 19 seasons (1970-88)

Teams: St. Louis Cardinals (1970-74),Astros (1975-87), New York Yankees (1988)

World Series championships: 0

Career statistics: 2,353 games/.284 batting average/165 home runs

Bottom Line: Jose Cruz

Cruz and Mike Scott played with 1980s Astros teams that won one division title in five seasons. Yet both had their numbers retired for some reason.

Hey, when does Jim Pankovits get his turn?

11. Jim Fregosi

Position: Shortstop, third baseman

Retired jersey number: 1 (California Angels)

Career: 18 seasons (1961-78)

Teams: Angels (1961-71), New York Mets (1972-73), Texas Rangers (1973-77), Pittsburgh Pirates (1977-78)

World Series championships: 0

Career statistics: 1,902 games/.265 batting average/151 home runs

Bottom Line: Jim Fregosi

Philadelphia Phillies manager Jim Fregosi argues with crew

Fregosi was an original Angel and first young star in franchise history, but he never quite lived up to expectations.

His biggest contribution might have been this: He was traded to the New York Mets in return for a future Hall of Fame pitcher with the name of Nolan Ryan.

10. Fred Hutchinson

Stan Musial stands with manager Fred Hutchinson

Position: Manager

Retired jersey number: 1 (Cincinnati Reds)

Career: 12 seasons (1952-54, 1956-58, 1959-64)

Teams: Detroit Tigers (1952-54), St. Louis Cardinals (1956-58), Reds (1959-64)

World Series championships: 0

Career statistics: 1,666 games/830-827-6 won-loss record

Bottom Line: Fred Hutchinson

As a manager, Hutch ranked fifth in victories (443) in franchise history before cancer took his life. His biggest moment came in the 1961 season when the New York Yankees mistook his team for a pinata in the World Series.

The Hutch Award is given annually to the active Major League Baseball player who best exemplifies his “fighting spirit and competitive desire,” and we can’t think of a better way to honor him.

9. Bud Selig

Position: Team founder-owner

Retired jersey number: 1 (Milwaukee Brewers)

Career: 29 seasons (1970-98)

Teams: Brewers (1970-98)

World Series championships: 0

Career statistics: 1830-827-6 won-loss record

Bottom Line: Bud Selig

Bud Selig and Richard H. O'Connell admire a trophy

What a waste of a good number. Bud Lite was instrumental in the return of major league baseball to Brewtown, but let’s not forget that he and his family got shamelessly rich off it. He was the Steroids Commissioner who enabled the greatest scandal in modern baseball history, the doofus who oversaw the 2002 All-Star Game fiasco in his hometown.

Wait — it gets worse. There’s even a statue of the guy outside Miller Park.

8. Don Zimmer

Position: Coach-manager

Retired jersey number: 66 (Tampa Bay Rays)

Career: 29 seasons (1970-98)

Teams: San Diego Padres (1971), Montreal Expos (1972), Boston Red Sox (1972-74, 1992), New York Yankees (1983, 1986), Chicago Cubs (1984-86), New York Yankees (1986, 1996-2003), San Francisco Giants (1987), Colorado Rockies (1993-95), Rays (2004-2014)

World Series championships: 4 (1996, 1998-2000)

Career statistics as manager: 1,744 games/885-858-1 won-loss record

Bottom Line: Don Zimmer

Tampa Bay Rays, Don Zimmer watching batting practice

Who didn’t like the jowly Zimmer with all those teams over all those years? Except for Pedro Martinez and Boston Red Sox fans, we mean.

It’s just that we don’t like retired jersey numbers as lifetime achievement awards, that’s all.

7. Jimmie Reese

Position: Coach

Retired jersey number: 1 (Los Angeles Angels)

Career: 29 seasons (1970-98)

Teams: Brewers (1970-98)

World Series championships: 0

Career statistics: 1830-827-6 won-loss record

Bottom Line: Jimmie Reese

Reese served 23 years as a coach before the grand, very old man passed away at 93 years of age. Nobody hit a meaner fungo, we tell ya.

The venerable one deserved to be recognized for his service, but with few exceptions, shouldn’t retired jersey numbers be reserved for those who actually play the game at high levels?

6. Johnny Oates

Position: Manager

Retired jersey number: 26 (Texas Rangers)

Career: 11 seasons (1991-2001)

Teams: Baltimore Orioles (1991-94), Rangers (1995-2001)

World Series championships: 0

Career statistics as manager: 1,544 games/797-746-1 won-loss record

Bottom Line: Johnny Oates

The problem with franchises that have never won anything significant is that they feel compelled to pick somebody, anybody for the honor. Take Oates, whose teams won three division titles in seven seasons but were 1-9 in the postseason.

Among managers with 10-or-more appearances, that’s the worst win percentage in modern major league history. C’mon, Texas, you’re better than that!

5. Wade Boggs

Position: Third baseman

Retired jersey number: 12 (Tampa Bay Rays)

Career: 18 seasons (1982-99)

Teams: Boston Red Sox (1982-92), New York Yankees (1993-97), Tampa Bay Devil Rays (1998-99)

World Series championships: 0

Career statistics: 2,439 games,.328 batting average/118 home runs

Bottom Line: Wade Boggs

Former Tampa Bay Rays player Wade Boggs waves

We know the Rays always looking to find numbers to retire, but they gotta do better than geezers who played all of 213 games with them. The front office signed the 39-year-old has-been for one reason — to cash in on his pursuit of 3,000 career hits.

As mistress Margo Adams could attest, this wasn’t the first time that Chicken Man cheated and got away with it.

4. Casey Stengel

Position: Manager

Retired jersey number: 37 (New York Mets)

Career: 25 seasons (1934-36, 1938-43), New York Yankees (1949-60), Mets (1962-65)

Teams: Brooklyn Dodgers (1934-36), Boston Bees-Braves (1938-43), New York Yankees (1949-60), Mets (1962-65)

World Series championships: 7 (1950-53, 1956-58)

Career statistics as manager: 3,766 games/1,905-1,842–19 won-loss record

Bottom Line: Casey Stengel

New York Yankees manager Yogi Berra and New York Mets manager Casey Stengel interacting

At his peak, Stengel was among the most successful if least understood managers in baseball history. Then, he went to Queens and became one of the all-time worst.

Sorry, this retired number is no way to remember how the old man went out.

3. Billy Meyer

Position: Manager

Retired jersey number: 1 (Pittsburgh Pirates)

Career: 5 seasons (1948-52)

Teams: Pirates (1948-52)

World Series championships: 0

Career statistics as manager: 774 games/317-452-5 won-loss record

Bottom Line: Billy Meyer

Bing Crosby and Pittsburgh Pirates manager Billy Meyer pose

The Buccos nailed nine of their 10 retired numbers, although Hall of Famer Arky Vaughan was an obvious omission. But the one miss is beyond weird.

While Meyer was generally well-respected in baseball circles, a change in organizational philosophy left him with laughingstock clubs. His .412 career win percentage reflects as much — it’s 261st among the 266 managers with at least 500 games.

2. Jim Umbricht

Position: Pitcher

Retired jersey number: 32 (Houston Astros)

Career: 5 seasons (1959-63)

Teams: Pittsburgh Pirates (1959-61), Houston Colt .45s (1962-63)

World Series championships: 0

Career statistics as manager: 88 games/9-5 won-loss record/3.06 earned run average

Bottom Line: Jim Umbricht

Umbricht was an original Colt .45 and the only pitcher with a plus record in their first two seasons. His career would be a brief one, however — he died at 33 as a result of melanoma.

But as Astros star Jim Wynn pointed out in his autobiography, teammate Walt Bond also was a cancer victim at an early age but was not afforded the same honor. See, this is what can happen when it extends beyond on-field accomplishments.

1. Indians Fans

Retired jersey number: 1 (Cleveland Guardians)

Career: 121 seasons (1901-present)

World Series championships: 2 (1920, 1948)

Indians Fans

Sorry, but there has to be a greater reward for some of the most frustrated fans in all of pro sports. We're thinking a year off any purgatory time for each one that their team fails to win a World Series title.

That would be 73 and counting for those of you scoring at home. And for those who aren’t scoring at home, you have our sympathy.