Uniform number (Major League Baseball) facts for kids

Uniform numbers are used to tell and identify different baseball players's and coach's. Over time, numbers can have a much more meaning to the player and fans. A number can be symbolic of a player's legacy, and has resulted in all kinds of superstition (or rumors). Uniforms numbers are put on the backs of baseball uniforms.

Retired numbers in Major League Baseball

Many teams retire numbers of important players who used to play for their team. Retiring a number means that nobody on that team can use that number anymore. Players' numbers are not retired while they are still playing baseball.

The number "42" was retired by all of Major League Baseball in 1997 because it was used by Jackie Robinson, who was the first black player in Major League Baseball. Players who were already wearing #42 were allowed to keep using the number, but nobody else could use it. As of 2010, New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera was the last player using #42.

Images for kids

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  Hank Aaron wore uniform number 44 with the Atlanta Braves.

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  José Méndez of the Cuban Stars, seen with a uniform number on his left sleeve during a game in Chicago (1909)

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  Players of the Cleveland Indians wearing uniforms with numbers on their left sleeves in 1916. The Indians were the first team to introduce numbered uniforms in the MLB

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  Players' equipment and accessories often also include their uniform numbers, as seen on Ross Detwiler's glove.

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  Pitchers on the 2018 New York Mets wearing uniform numbers which are characteristically all greater than 30.

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  In 1939, Lou Gehrig's #4 (here displayed at Yankee Stadium) become the first number to be retired in the history of the MLB

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  Jackie Robinson of the Brooklyn Dodgers wearing a uniform with his distinctive #42 in 1954