Another fun one is Joe Medwick's number 77 with the Dodgers in 1940-41, alluding to his NJ record 77 points in a HS basketball game.
Also, something I learned in investigating a Carl Hubbell baseball card "error" is that players were assigned numbers in the 1934 ASG that they pinned over their team-issued jersey numbers. If you look carefully at photos from the game, you will see these number flaps. I've collected some of the photos in this article: https://www.hobbynewsdaily.com/post/the-slick-est-cameo-in-all-star-history
There's a long tradition of Venezuelan players (mostly but not exclusively shortstops) wearing #13 as well, going back to Davey Concepcion: Ozzie Guillen, Omar Vizquel, Edgardo Alfonzo, Asdrubal Cabrera, Salvador Perez, Ronald Acuña Jr...
Always thought it both admirable and ironic that Alex Rodriguez chose 13. Admirable because it showed he wasn't superstitious, and it's a pretty stupid superstition. Ironic because so much of his spectacular career is controversial, maybe that #13 had something to do with it!
Dave Heaverlo was a middle of the pen type reliever for the Giants and A's in the '70s. When he first made the Giants, he kept his non-roster number, 60. I have a memory of him saying it made him feel like a pulling guard, which I figured was a good thing for him, but I can't find any evidence of that quote so I might be making it up or remembering it wrong. Numbers higher than 55 were very rare in those days. He also shaved his head, which was also rare. I bet he was kind of an interesting guy!
Another fun one is Joe Medwick's number 77 with the Dodgers in 1940-41, alluding to his NJ record 77 points in a HS basketball game.
Also, something I learned in investigating a Carl Hubbell baseball card "error" is that players were assigned numbers in the 1934 ASG that they pinned over their team-issued jersey numbers. If you look carefully at photos from the game, you will see these number flaps. I've collected some of the photos in this article: https://www.hobbynewsdaily.com/post/the-slick-est-cameo-in-all-star-history
Wow, fantastic information. Thank you!
There's a long tradition of Venezuelan players (mostly but not exclusively shortstops) wearing #13 as well, going back to Davey Concepcion: Ozzie Guillen, Omar Vizquel, Edgardo Alfonzo, Asdrubal Cabrera, Salvador Perez, Ronald Acuña Jr...
Ah, that's great. I wish I'd known that. Thank you.
Fun read.
Always thought it both admirable and ironic that Alex Rodriguez chose 13. Admirable because it showed he wasn't superstitious, and it's a pretty stupid superstition. Ironic because so much of his spectacular career is controversial, maybe that #13 had something to do with it!
Olumide Oyedeji also donned the 00 for the Orlando Magic. I never knew that an MLB player had done it!
Dave Heaverlo was a middle of the pen type reliever for the Giants and A's in the '70s. When he first made the Giants, he kept his non-roster number, 60. I have a memory of him saying it made him feel like a pulling guard, which I figured was a good thing for him, but I can't find any evidence of that quote so I might be making it up or remembering it wrong. Numbers higher than 55 were very rare in those days. He also shaved his head, which was also rare. I bet he was kind of an interesting guy!
Also, Manny notably wore 99 with the Dodgers.
My favorite baseball number is 9, worn by Graig Nettles, my favorite baseball player. 👍🏻🙂✌🏻