List of Major League Baseball retired numbers
The use of numbers on uniforms to better identify one player from another, and hence to boost sales of scorecards, was tried briefly by the Cleveland Indians of 1916, but this failed.
The Yankees' original approach was to simply assign the numbers 1 through 8 to the regular starting lineup in their normal batting order.
Ron Santo, upon his number 10 being retired by the Chicago Cubs on the last day of the 2003 regular season, enthusiastically told the Wrigley Field crowd as his #10 flag was hoisted, "This is my Hall of Fame!
[2] The White Sox also re-issued Luis Aparicio's number 11, with his permission, to fellow countryman Omar Vizquel in 2010–11.
When the Florida Marlins moved to their current stadium, LoanDepot Park, and were rebranded as the Miami Marlins, the number 5, which had been retired for the team's late first president Carl Barger, was returned to circulation because player Logan Morrison requested permission to wear the number to honor his father.
[14][15] As an alternative to retiring numbers, many teams have established other means of honoring former players, such as team-specific Halls of Fame (Angels, Astros, Athletics, Braves, Brewers, Cardinals, Guardians, Mariners, Mets, Orioles, Padres, Rangers, Reds, Red Sox, and Twins) or Walls of Fame (Giants and Phillies), a Ring of Honor (Nationals) or Level of Excellence (Blue Jays).
[16][17] The Rangers introduced a third means of honoring former players while preparing to open their current home of Globe Life Field in 2020.
The Miami Marlins had previously retired #5 in honor of their first team president, the late Carl Barger, but returned it to use entering the 2012 season when they relocated to the venue now known as LoanDepot Park.
The San Francisco Giants are currently keeping four numbers; Tim Lincecum's #55, Buster Posey's #28, Madison Bumgarner's #40, and former manager Bruce Bochy's #15, out of circulation.
The Toronto Blue Jays have not issued Jose Bautista's #19 since his departure from the team in 2017, except in 2019 when Alen Hanson briefly wore the number.
On Opening Day of the 2012 season, the New York Mets unveiled a memorial "Kid 8" logo to honor the late Gary Carter.
The Baltimore Orioles have not re-issued numbers 7, 44, and 46 since the passing of Cal Ripken Sr., Elrod Hendricks, and Mike Flanagan respectively.
After Darryl Kile's death in 2002, the teams he played for (Colorado Rockies, Houston Astros, and St. Louis Cardinals) took his #57 out of circulation.
Fan favorite Willie McGee has not had his #51 issued since he retired in 1999 except for when Bud Smith wore the number in 2001.
The Philadelphia Phillies are currently keeping three numbers; Chase Utley's #26, Jimmy Rollins' #11, and Ryan Howard's #6, out of circulation.
The Washington Nationals have not issued Max Scherzer's #31 since his trade from the team in 2021, or Stephen Strasburg's #37 since his final appearance in 2022 and then official retirement in 2024.
The Angels have also not re-issued Tim Salmon's #15 since his retirement at the end of the 2006 season or Tyler Skaggs #45 since he died on July 1, 2019, although it is not in use anymore.
On the 50th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the baseball color line, his number 42 was retired throughout the majors, at the order of Commissioner Bud Selig.
