NOW YOU KNOW
New York Yankee retired uniform numbers:
1--Billy Martin
For the record:
12:00 a.m. Aug. 17, 2001 FOR THE RECORD
Los Angeles Times Friday August 17, 2001 Home Edition Part A Part A Page 2 A2 Desk 1 inches; 21 words Type of Material: Correction
Baseball--In Wednesday’s sports section, a list of retired New York Yankee uniform numbers omitted Roger Maris’ No. 9, which was retired in 1984.
3--Babe Ruth
4--Lou Gehrig
5--Joe DiMaggio
7--Mickey Mantle
8--Yogi Berra, Bill Dickey
10--Phil Rizzuto
15--Thurman Munson
16--Whitey Ford
23--Don Mattingly
32--Elston Howard
37--Casey Stengel
44--Reggie Jackson
*
Note: The Yankees have retired every uniform number between 1 and 10 except for 2, 6, and 9.
Why have these numbers remained available? Mainly because the Yankees have never had any great players wear those numbers.
Players who have worn those numbers over the years include Tony Lazzeri, who was probably the best player to wear No. 6, Mark Koenig, Steve Sax, Wayne Tolleson, Rafael Santana, Gary Thomasson and a host of other journeymen players.
The Yankees were the first team to permanently wear numbers, and started this tradition in 1929.
The initial distribution on numbers on the Yankees was made according to the player’s position in the batting order.
Therefore, in 1929, leadoff hitter Earle Combs wore No. 1, Koenig No. 2, Ruth No. 3, Gehrig No. 4, Bob Meusel No. 5, Lazzeri No. 6, Leo Durocher No. 7, Johnny Grabowski No. 8 and Benny Bengough No. 9.
Source: www.yankees.com
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