List of Major League Baseball retired numbers

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Major League Baseball (MLB) and its participating clubs have retired various uniform numbers over the course of time, ensuring that those numbers are never worn again and thus will always be associated with particular players or managers of note. 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 first team to permanently adopt the practice was the New York Yankees of 1929. By 1932, all 16 major league clubs were issuing numbers, and by 1937, the leagues passed rules requiring it.

Plaques of numbers retired by the New York Yankees in Monument Park at Yankee Stadium

The Yankees' original approach was to simply assign the numbers 1 through 8 to the regular starting lineup in their normal batting order. Hence, Babe Ruth wore number 3 and Lou Gehrig number 4. The first major leaguer whose number was retired was Gehrig, in July 1939, following his retirement due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which became popularly known in the United States as Lou Gehrig's Disease.

Since then, over 150 other people have had their numbers retired, some with more than one team. This includes managers and coaches, as MLB is the only one of the major North American professional leagues in which the coaching staff wear the same uniforms as players. Three numbers have been retired in honor of people not directly involved on the playing field – all three for team executives. Some of the game's early stars, such as Ty Cobb and Christy Mathewson, retired before numbers came into usage. Teams often celebrate their retired numbers and other honored people by hanging banners with the numbers and names. Early stars, as well as honored non-players, will often have numberless banners hanging along with the retired numbers. Because fewer and fewer players stay with one team long enough to warrant their number being retired, some players believe that getting their number retired is a greater honor than going into the Baseball Hall of Fame. 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!"[1] Santo would be inducted into the Hall of Fame in July 2012, nearly two years after his death, after being voted in by the Veterans Committee.

List of all-time retired numbers

Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame
Ford C. Frick Award winner
Honored as a broadcaster for the franchise
Number retired league-wide
Never played, managed, or coached for that particular franchise
Number retired by a team for multiple players
More information No., Player or other figure ...
No. Player or other figure Team Date
1Richie AshburnPhilliesAugust 24, 1979
1Bobby DoerrRed SoxMay 21, 1988
1Fred HutchinsonRedsOctober 19, 1964
1Billy MartinYankeesAugust 10, 1986
1Billy MeyerPirates1954
1Pee Wee ReeseDodgersJuly 1, 1984
1Bud Selig[Notes 1]BrewersApril 6, 2015
1Ozzie SmithCardinalsSeptember 26, 1996
1Lou WhitakerTigersAugust 6, 2022
2Nellie FoxWhite SoxMay 1, 1976
2Charlie GehringerTigersJune 12, 1983
2Derek JeterYankeesMay 14, 2017
2Tommy LasordaDodgersAugust 15, 1997
2Red SchoendienstCardinalsMay 11, 1996
3Earl AverillGuardiansJune 8, 1975
3Harold BainesWhite SoxAugust 20, 1989
3Harmon KillebrewTwinsMay 4, 1975
3Evan LongoriaRaysJuly 12, 2026
3Dale MurphyBravesJune 13, 1994
3Babe RuthYankeesJune 13, 1948
3Bill TerryGiantsApril 5, 1983
3Alan TrammellTigersAugust 26, 2018
4Luke ApplingWhite SoxJune 7, 1975
4Joe CroninRed SoxMay 30, 1984
4Lou GehrigYankeesJuly 4, 1939
4Ralph KinerPiratesSeptember 19, 1987
4Paul MolitorBrewersJune 11, 1999
4Mel OttGiantsJuly 17, 1948
4Duke SniderDodgersJuly 6, 1980
4Earl WeaverOriolesSeptember 19, 1982
5Jeff BagwellAstrosAugust 26, 2007
5Johnny BenchRedsAugust 11, 1984
5Lou BoudreauGuardiansJuly 9, 1970
5George BrettRoyalsMay 14, 1994
5Joe DiMaggioYankeesApril 18, 1952
5Hank GreenbergTigersJune 12, 1983
5Brooks RobinsonOriolesApril 14, 1978
5David WrightMetsJuly 19, 2025
6Bobby CoxBravesAugust 12, 2011
6Steve GarveyPadresApril 16, 1988
6Al KalineTigersAugust 17, 1980
6Stan MusialCardinalsSeptember 29, 1963
6Tony OlivaTwinsJuly 14, 1991
6Johnny PeskyRed SoxSeptember 28, 2008
6Joe TorreYankeesAugust 23, 2014
7Craig BiggioAstrosAugust 17, 2008
7Mickey MantleYankeesJune 8, 1969
7Joe MauerTwinsJune 15, 2019
7Iván RodríguezRangersAugust 12, 2017
8Joe MorganRedsJune 6, 1998
8Willie StargellPiratesSeptember 6, 1982
8Yogi BerraYankeesJuly 22, 1972
8Bill DickeyYankeesJuly 22, 1972
8Cal Ripken Jr.OriolesOctober 6, 2001
8Carl YastrzemskiRed SoxAugust 6, 1989
9Reggie JacksonAthleticsMay 22, 2004
9Roger MarisYankeesJuly 21, 1984
9Bill MazeroskiPiratesAugust 7, 1987
9Minnie MiñosoWhite SoxMay 8, 1983
9Enos SlaughterCardinalsSeptember 6, 1996
9Ted WilliamsRed SoxSeptember 1960
10Sparky AndersonRedsMay 28, 2005
10Dick HowserRoyalsJuly 3, 1987
10Chipper JonesBravesJune 28, 2013
10Tom KellyTwinsSeptember 8, 2012
10Tony La RussaCardinalsMay 11, 2012
10Jim LeylandTigersAugust 3, 2024
10Phil RizzutoYankeesAugust 4, 1985
10Ron SantoCubsSeptember 28, 2003
10Michael YoungRangersAugust 31, 2019
11Sparky AndersonTigersJune 26, 2011
11Luis Aparicio[Notes 2]White SoxAugust 14, 1984
11Jim FregosiAngelsAugust 1, 1998
11Carl HubbellGiants1944
11Barry LarkinRedsAugust 25, 2012
11Edgar MartínezMarinersAugust 12, 2017
11Paul WanerPiratesJuly 21, 2007
11Ryan ZimmermanNationalsJune 18, 2022
12Wade BoggsRaysApril 7, 2000
13Dave ConcepciónRedsAugust 25, 2007
13Billy WagnerAstrosAugust 16, 2025
14Ernie BanksCubsAugust 22, 1982
14Ken BoyerCardinalsMay 20, 1984
14Jim BunningPhilliesApril 16, 2001
14Larry DobyGuardiansJuly 3, 1994
14Gil HodgesMetsJune 9, 1973
14Gil HodgesDodgersJune 4, 2022
14Kent HrbekTwinsAugust 13, 1995
14Paul KonerkoWhite SoxMay 23, 2015
14Jim RiceRed SoxJuly 28, 2009
14Pete RoseRedsJune 26, 2016
15Dick AllenPhilliesSeptember 3, 2020
15Thurman MunsonYankeesAugust 3, 1979
16Whitey FordYankeesAugust 3, 1974
16Dwight GoodenMetsApril 14, 2024
16Ted LyonsWhite SoxJuly 25, 1987
16Hal NewhouserTigersJuly 27, 1997
17Dizzy DeanCardinalsSeptember 22, 1974
17Todd HeltonRockiesAugust 17, 2014
17Keith HernandezMetsJuly 9, 2022
18Mel HarderGuardiansJuly 28, 1990
18Ted KluszewskiRedsJuly 18, 1998
18Darryl StrawberryMetsJune 1, 2024
19Bob FellerGuardiansDecember 28, 1956
19Jim GilliamDodgersOctober 10, 1978
19Tony GwynnPadresSeptember 4, 2004
19Billy PierceWhite SoxJuly 25, 1987
19Robin YountBrewersMay 29, 1994
20Lou BrockCardinalsSeptember 9, 1979
20Luis GonzalezDiamondbacksAugust 7, 2010
20Monte IrvinGiantsJune 26, 2010
20Jorge PosadaYankeesAugust 22, 2015
20Frank RobinsonOriolesMarch 10, 1972
20Frank RobinsonRedsMay 22, 1998
20Frank RobinsonGuardiansMay 27, 2017
20Mike SchmidtPhilliesMay 26, 1990
20Don SuttonDodgersAugust 14, 1998
20Pie TraynorPiratesApril 18, 1972
20Frank WhiteRoyalsJuly 2, 1995
21Roberto ClementePiratesApril 6, 1973
21Bob LemonGuardiansJune 20, 1998
21Paul O'NeillYankeesAugust 21, 2022
21Warren SpahnBravesDecember 11, 1965
22Will ClarkGiantsJuly 30, 2022
22Jim PalmerOriolesSeptember 1, 1985
23Willie HortonTigersJuly 15, 2000
23Don MattinglyYankeesAugust 31, 1997
23Ryne SandbergCubsAugust 28, 2005
23Ted SimmonsCardinalsJuly 31, 2021
24Walter AlstonDodgersJune 5, 1977
24Ken Griffey Jr.MarinersAugust 6, 2016[Notes 3]
24Rickey HendersonAthleticsAugust 1, 2009
24Whitey HerzogCardinalsJuly 31, 2010
24Willie MaysGiantsMay 12, 1972
24Willie MaysMetsAugust 27, 2022
24Tony PérezRedsMay 27, 2000
24Jimmy WynnAstrosJune 25, 2005
25Barry BondsGiantsAugust 11, 2018
25José CruzAstrosOctober 3, 1992
25Andruw JonesBravesSeptember 9, 2023
25Jim ThomeGuardiansAugust 18, 2018
26Gene Autry[Notes 4]AngelsAugust 3, 1982
26Wade BoggsRed SoxMay 26, 2016
26Johnny OatesRangersAugust 5, 2005
26Billy WilliamsCubsAugust 13, 1987
27Carlton FiskRed SoxSeptember 4, 2000
27Catfish HunterAthleticsJune 9, 1991
27Juan MarichalGiantsJuly 10, 1983
28Bert BlylevenTwinsJuly 16, 2011
29Adrián BeltréRangersJune 8, 2019
29Rod CarewTwinsJuly 19, 1987
29Rod CarewAngelsAugust 6, 1991
29John SmoltzBravesJune 8, 2012
30Orlando CepedaGiantsJuly 11, 1999
30Nolan RyanAngelsJune 16, 1992
31Ferguson JenkinsCubsMay 3, 2009
31Greg MadduxCubsMay 3, 2009
31Greg MadduxBravesJuly 17, 2009
31Mike PiazzaMetsJuly 30, 2016
31Dave WinfieldPadresApril 14, 2001
32Steve CarltonPhilliesJuly 29, 1989
32Roy HalladayBlue JaysMarch 29, 2018
32Elston HowardYankeesJuly 21, 1984
32Sandy KoufaxDodgersJune 4, 1972
32Jim UmbrichtAstrosApril 12, 1965
33Eddie MurrayOriolesJune 7, 1998
33Mike ScottAstrosOctober 3, 1992
33Honus WagnerPiratesFebruary 16, 1952
33Larry WalkerRockiesSeptember 25, 2021
34Rollie FingersBrewersAugust 9, 1992
34Rollie FingersAthleticsJuly 5, 1993
34Roy HalladayPhilliesAugust 8, 2021
34David OrtizRed SoxJune 23, 2017
34Kirby PuckettTwinsMay 25, 1997
34Nolan RyanRangersSeptember 15, 1996
34Nolan RyanAstrosSeptember 29, 1996
34Dave StewartAthleticsSeptember 11, 2022
34Fernando ValenzuelaDodgersAugust 11, 2023
35Randy JonesPadresMay 9, 1997
35Phil NiekroBravesAugust 6, 1984
35Frank ThomasWhite SoxAugust 29, 2010
36Jim KaatTwinsJuly 16, 2022
36Jerry KoosmanMetsAugust 28, 2021
36Gaylord PerryGiantsJuly 23, 2005
36Robin RobertsPhilliesMarch 21, 1962
37Casey StengelMetsSeptember 2, 1965
37Casey StengelYankeesAugust 8, 1970
39Roy CampanellaDodgersJune 4, 1972
40Danny MurtaughPiratesApril 7, 1977
40Don WilsonAstrosApril 13, 1975
41Eddie MathewsBravesJuly 26, 1969
41Tom SeaverMetsJuly 24, 1988
42Mariano Rivera[Notes 5]YankeesSeptember 22, 2013
42Jackie RobinsonDodgersJune 4, 1972
42Jackie RobinsonAll MLBApril 15, 1997
42Bruce Sutter[Notes 5]CardinalsSeptember 17, 2006
43Dennis EckersleyAthleticsAugust 13, 2005
44Hank AaronBrewersOctober 3, 1976
44Hank AaronBravesApril 15, 1977
44Reggie JacksonYankeesAugust 14, 1993
44Willie McCoveyGiantsSeptember 21, 1980
45Bob GibsonCardinalsSeptember 1, 1975
45Pedro MartínezRed SoxJuly 28, 2015
46Andy PettitteYankeesAugust 23, 2015
47Tom GlavineBravesAugust 6, 2010
47Jack MorrisTigersAugust 12, 2018
49Larry DierkerAstrosMay 19, 2002
49Ron GuidryYankeesAugust 23, 2003
50Jimmie ReeseAngelsAugust 2, 1995
51Trevor HoffmanPadresAugust 21, 2011
51Randy JohnsonDiamondbacksAugust 8, 2015
51Randy JohnsonMarinersMay 2, 2026
51Ichiro SuzukiMarinersAugust 9, 2025
51Bernie WilliamsYankeesMay 24, 2015
53Don DrysdaleDodgersJuly 1, 1984
56Mark BuehrleWhite SoxJune 24, 2017
66Don ZimmerRaysApril 6, 2015
72Carlton FiskWhite SoxSeptember 14, 1997
85August Busch, Jr.[Notes 6]CardinalsApril 13, 1984
455Cleveland fans[Notes 7]GuardiansMay 29, 2001
HAASWalter A. Haas, Jr.[Notes 8]Athletics1995
KSMKeli McGregor[Notes 9]RockiesSeptember 28, 2010
NYChristy Mathewson[Notes 10]GiantsAugust 17, 1986
NYJohn McGraw[Notes 11]GiantsAugust 17, 1986
PGrover Cleveland Alexander[Notes 12]PhilliesApril 6, 2001
PChuck Klein[Notes 13]PhilliesApril 6, 2001
PEd Delahanty[Notes 14]PhilliesMay 1, 2025
PBilly Hamilton[Notes 15]PhilliesMay 1, 2025
PSam Thompson[Notes 16]PhilliesMay 1, 2025
SHEAWilliam Shea[Notes 17]MetsApril 8, 2008
SLRogers Hornsby[Notes 18]Cardinals1997
🎤Jack Buck[Notes 19]Cardinals2002
🎤Jaime Jarrín[Notes 20]DodgersSeptember 21, 2018
🎤Vin Scully[Notes 21]DodgersMay 3, 2017
🎤Russ Hodges[Notes 22]Giants
🎤Jon Miller[Notes 23]GiantsMay 3, 2017
🎤Lon Simmons[Notes 24]Giants2004
🎤Ralph Kiner[Notes 25]MetsJuly 16, 2010
🎤Bob Murphy[Notes 26]MetsApril 5, 2023
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  1. Team founder and former MLB Commissioner. Number selected symbolically.
  2. Aparicio's number was temporarily unretired with his approval for fellow Venezuelan shortstop Omar Vizquel. Vizquel played the 2010 and 2011 seasons with the White Sox.
  3. Date of formal ceremony; number retirement took effect at the start of the 2016 MLB season. The number was also retired for all Mariners minor league affiliates at that time.
  4. Team founder. The number represents the "26th man"—At the time of the number's retirement, Major League Baseball rosters were limited to 25 players prior September 1, when rosters expanded to 40.
  5. Number was already retired league-wide.
  6. Served as president, chairman, or CEO of the Cardinals from the team's purchase by Anheuser-Busch in 1953 until his death in 1989. The number represents his age at the time the number was retired in 1984.
  7. Number was selected symbolically. The number 455 was retired in honor of the fans after the Cleveland Indians sold out 455 consecutive games.
  8. Athletics owner Walter A. Haas, Jr. was honored by having his "HAAS displayed in a manner similar to a retired number.
  9. Rockies president Keli McGregor was honored by having his initials "KSM" displayed in a manner similar to a retired number after his death.
  10. Christy Mathewson played in the era before uniform numbers were used. He was honored for his tenure with the then-New York Giants with the letters "NY" displayed in a manner similar to a retired number.
  11. John McGraw played in the era before uniform numbers were used. He was honored for his tenure with the then-New York Giants with the letters "NY" displayed in a manner similar to a retired number.
  12. Grover Cleveland Alexander only played in the era before uniform numbers were used. Alexander was honored with a Phillies letter "P" logo displayed in a manner similar to a retired number.
  13. Chuck Klein first played in the era before uniform numbers were used. He later frequently changed his number. Instead of retiring a number, Klein was honored with a Phillies letter "P" logo displayed in a manner similar to a retired number.
  14. Ed Delahanty only played in the era before uniform numbers were used. Delahanty was honored with a Phillies letter "P" logo displayed in a manner similar to a retired number.
  15. Billy Hamilton only played in the era before uniform numbers were used. Hamilton was honored with a Phillies letter "P" logo displayed in a manner similar to a retired number.
  16. Sam Thompson only played in the era before uniform numbers were used. Thompson was honored with a Phillies letter "P" logo displayed in a manner similar to a retired number.
  17. William Shea was the attorney who was in large part responsible for the creation of the Mets in 1961. The team's second home, Shea Stadium, was named for him. He was honored with the name "SHEA" displayed in a manner similar to a retired number.
  18. Rogers Hornsby played most of his career in the era before uniform numbers were used. He wore number 4 with the Cardinals late in his career. Hornsby was honored with the letters "SL" displayed in a manner similar to a retired number.
  19. Broadcaster Jack Buck was honored by the Cardinals with a microphone displayed in a similar manner to a retired number.
  20. Broadcaster Jaime Jarrín was honored by the Dodgers with a microphone displayed in a similar manner to a retired number.
  21. Broadcaster Vin Scully was honored by the Dodgers with a microphone displayed in a similar manner to a retired number.
  22. Broadcaster Russ Hodges was honored by the Giants with a microphone displayed in a similar manner to a retired number.
  23. Broadcaster Jon Miller was honored by the Giants with a microphone displayed in a similar manner to a retired number.
  24. Broadcaster Lon Simmons was honored by the Giants with a microphone displayed in a similar manner to a retired number.
  25. Ralph Kiner was honored by the Mets as a broadcaster with a microphone displayed in a similar manner to a retired number.
  26. Broadcaster Bob Murphy was honored by the Mets with a microphone displayed in a similar manner to a retired number.

List of pending number retirements

More information No., Player or other figure ...
No. Player or other figure Team Date
3Evan LongoriaRaysJuly 12, 2026[2]
13Ozzie GuillénWhite SoxAugust 8, 2026[3]
15Carlos BeltránMetsSeptember 19, 2026[4][5]
21Jeff KentGiantsAugust 29, 2026[6]
52CC SabathiaYankeesSeptember 26, 2026[7]
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Former retired numbers

It is very rare for a team to reissue a retired number and usually requires a special circumstance, such as the person for whom the number was retired returning to the team in a player, coach or manager role. Harold Baines provides one example of this when he returned to the White Sox multiple times.[8] The White Sox also re-issued Luis Aparicio's number 11, with his permission, to fellow countryman Omar Vizquel in 2010–11.[9]

In cases of franchise relocation, the handling of existing retired numbers is at the discretion of team management. The team may decide to continue honoring the retired numbers (as did the San Francisco Giants), or it may choose to make a "fresh start" and reissue the numbers (as the Washington Nationals have done).

The Cincinnati Reds returned Willard Hershberger's number 5 to circulation two years after his death. Cincinnati later re-retired the number to honor Johnny Bench.

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.[10]

More information No., Player or other figure ...
No. Player or other figure Team Date
5Carl Barger[Notes 1]MarlinsApril 5, 1993
5Willard Hershberger[Notes 2]Reds1940
8Gary Carter[Notes 3]ExposJuly 31, 1993
10Andre Dawson[Notes 3]ExposJuly 6, 1997
10Rusty Staub[Notes 3]ExposMay 15, 1993
12Roberto Alomar[Notes 4]Blue JaysJuly 31, 2011
30Tim Raines[Notes 3]ExposJune 19, 2004
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  1. Placed into circulation in 2012 when the Marlins moved to their new park and decided to honor Barger instead with a plaque at the stadium. The first player to receive the number was Logan Morrison. Barger was the team's first president but died in December 1992, four months before the team's first game. The Marlins chose to retire #5 because it was the number worn by Barger's favorite player, Joe DiMaggio.
  2. The Reds retired Hershberger's #5 after his death in 1940 but returned it to circulation two years later. Cincinnati later re-retired the number 5 for Johnny Bench.
  3. The Montreal Expos retired numbers in honor of four players (Carter #8, Dawson #10, Staub #10, Raines #30). When the franchise relocated to Washington, D.C., after the 2004 season, the newly christened Washington Nationals chose not to recognize any uniform number retired while in Montreal. On October 18, 2005, the NHL's Montreal Canadiens honored the departed team by raising an Expos commemorative banner listing the retired numbers to the rafters of Montreal's Bell Centre.
  4. The Toronto Blue Jays retired Alomar’s #12 on July 31, 2011. However, on April 30, 2021 in light of an investigation of Alomar being in violation of MLB policy after being alleged to have engaged in sexual misconduct in 2014, the Blue Jays removed Alomar's banner and cut ties with him. The number was used again for the first time on July 31, 2023, when Jordan Hicks claimed the number after being traded to the team.[11][12]

Retired in honor of multiple players

The following numbers have been retired in honor of multiple players:

Retired by multiple teams

A handful of players who had notable careers for multiple teams have had their numbers retired by each team.[20]

  • Frank Robinson's #20 was retired by the Reds, Orioles and the then-Indians.
  • Rod Carew's #29 was retired by the Twins and Angels.
  • Hank Aaron's #44 was retired by the Braves and Brewers.
  • Reggie Jackson had his #9 retired by the Athletics, and his #44 retired by the Yankees.
  • Rollie Fingers' #34 was retired by the Athletics and Brewers.
  • Carlton Fisk had his #27 retired by the Red Sox, and his #72 retired by the White Sox.
  • Greg Maddux's #31 was retired by the Cubs and Braves.
  • Nolan Ryan had his #30 retired by the Angels, while his #34 is retired by the Astros and Rangers.
  • Wade Boggs's #12 was retired by the then-Devil Rays, and his #26 is retired by the Red Sox.
  • Roy Halladay's #32 was retired by the Blue Jays, and his #34 is retired by the Phillies.
  • Jackie Robinson’s #42 has been retired by every team in MLB, due to him breaking the color barrier in baseball.
  • Gil Hodges' #14 was retired by the Mets and Dodgers.
  • Willie Mays' #24 was retired by the Giants and Mets.
  • Randy Johnson's #51 has been retired by the Diamondbacks and Mariners.

Excluding Jackie Robinson, only Frank Robinson and Nolan Ryan have had their number(s) retired by three teams. Managers Casey Stengel and Sparky Anderson have also had numbers retired by two teams. Stengel's #37 was retired by the Yankees and Mets. Anderson's #10 was retired by the Reds, and his #11 was retired by the Tigers.[21]

Alternative methods of recognition

A number of teams have formal or informal policies of only retiring numbers of players inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, although there is no league-wide uniformity and teams sometimes break their own guidelines.[22][23] 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) walls of fame (Giants and Phillies), a Ring of Honor (Nationals), or Level of Excellence (Blue Jays). In addition, several teams have kept certain numbers out of circulation since a player left but have not formally retired them.[24][25] The Rangers introduced another means of honoring former players while preparing to open their current home of Globe Life Field in 2020. In December 2019, a few months before the park's opening, the team announced that all of its retired numbers would be incorporated into the park's posted dimensions.[26]

The Montreal Expos franchise retired jerseys in honor of four players but returned the numbers to use upon moving to Washington, D.C., to begin play as the Washington Nationals in 2005, becoming the only MLB team with no retired numbers other than Jackie Robinson's No. 42. In 2010, the Nationals established a "Ring of Honor" which, as of 2026, includes three of those Expos players (Gary Carter, Andre Dawson, and Tim Raines), along with the Expos' last and Nationals' first manager, Frank Robinson; Nationals players Iván Rodríguez, Jayson Werth, and Ryan Zimmerman; original Washington Senators (1901–1960) players Joe Cronin, Rick Ferrell, Goose Goslin, Bucky Harris, Walter Johnson, Heinie Manush, Sam Rice, Harmon Killebrew, and Early Wynn, as well as owner Clark Griffith; expansion Washington Senators (1961–1971) player Frank Howard; and Homestead Grays players Cool Papa Bell, Ray Brown, Josh Gibson, Buck Leonard, Cumberland Posey, and Jud Wilson.[27][28][29][30] The Nationals retired their first number, Zimmerman's No. 11, in 2022.[31]

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. As of 2026, they are the only franchise with no retired numbers, aside from Robinson's #42.[32]

In August 2024, the Minnesota Twins retired the letter W as a tribute to their origin as the Washington Senators during the 100-year anniversary of the Senators' World Series-winning team.

Numbers kept out of circulation

Some teams have not formally retired certain numbers but nonetheless kept them out of circulation. For example, the Los Angeles Dodgers' current policy is only to retire the numbers of longtime club members if they are inducted into the Hall of Fame; the lone exception was longtime Dodger player and coach Jim Gilliam, whose #19 was retired when he died of a cerebral hemorrhage during the Dodgers' 1978 postseason run. Nevertheless, the Dodgers informally kept Fernando Valenzuela's #34 out of circulation since he last played for the team in 1990.[33] In 2023, the Dodgers retired his number.[34] The Dodgers have not issued Don Newcombe's #36 since his death in 2019.[35] The Dodgers have also not issued Justin Turner's #10 since his departure following the 2022 season, as well as Clayton Kershaw's #22 after his 2025 retirement.[36]

The Arizona Diamondbacks have not issued Paul Goldschmidt's #44 since they traded him in 2018.[37]

The Atlanta Braves have not re-issued Freddie Freeman's #5 since leaving the team after 2021.

The Baltimore Orioles have not re-issued numbers 7, 44, and 46 since the deaths of Cal Ripken Sr., Elrod Hendricks, and Mike Flanagan, respectively. The team placed a moratorium on the three numbers in their honors.[38] However, in 2024, Craig Kimbrel became the first Oriole to wear 46 since Flanagan's death in 2011, and Jackson Holliday was given permission by the Ripken family to wear #7 ahead of his major league debut in April. Additionally, the Orioles have not issued number 10 since outfielder Adam Jones' final game with the club in 2018.[39]

The Boston Red Sox have not re-issued uniform numbers 15 (Dustin Pedroia), 21 (Roger Clemens), 33 (Jason Varitek) and 49 (Tim Wakefield) since those players left the Red Sox or ended their careers.[40] Varitek later reclaimed #33 upon joining the Red Sox coaching staff in 2021 until his departure in early 2026. The Red Sox have also not issued #24 since David Price switched his number from #24 to #10 prior to the 2019 season, with Price saying that he wanted to switch out of respect for Dwight Evans, who spent 18 years with the Red Sox, and is a member of the team's Hall of Fame.[41]

The Chicago Cubs have not issued Anthony Rizzo's #44 since they traded him in 2021.[42] The Cubs have also not issued Kerry Wood's #34 since his retirement in 2012, except for Jon Lester when he joined the team in 2015. Lester's previous uniform number of #31 was already retired by the Cubs, and so after receiving Wood's blessing, Lester wore #34 from 2015 to 2020.[43] Additionally, following their reconciliation in 2024, the Cubs have also taken Sammy Sosa's #21 out of circulation.[44]

The Chicago White Sox have not issued hitting coach Charley Lau's #6 since his death in 1984, except to Lau disciple Walt Hriniak, who was the White Sox hitting coach from 1989-1995. The White Sox have also not issued Ozzie Guillén's #13 since leaving as the team's manager in 2011, with the team announcing that they will retire Guillen's number on August 8, 2026.[45]

The Cincinnati Reds took Joey Votto's #19 out of circulation after he left the team in 2023.[46]

The Colorado Rockies have not re-issued Carlos Gonzalez's #5 since he left the team after 2018, or Nolan Arenado's #28 since his trade from the team in 2021.[47]

The Detroit Tigers did not re-issue Justin Verlander's #35 since they traded him in 2017 until his return in 2026. The Tigers also took Miguel Cabrera's #24 out of circulation following his 2023 retirement.[48][49]

The Kansas City Royals have not issued Ned Yost's #3 since his retirement in 2019, or Alex Gordon's #4 since his retirement in 2020. The #29, worn by Dan Quisenberry, who died in 1998, has not been issued since Mike Sweeney, who wore the number beginning in 1995, left the team in 2007.[50] The Royals have also not issued Yordano Ventura's #30 since 2021, when Danny Duffy switched to the number to honor his former teammate, who passed away in 2017.[51]

The Los Angeles Angels have not re-issued Nick Adenhart's #34, after he was killed in a car accident on April 9, 2009, except for Noah Syndergaard, who requested and received the number when he joined the team in 2022. He stated that he wanted to wear his old Mets’ number as a tribute to Adenhart.[52] The Angels did not re-issue Tim Salmon's #15 following his retirement in 2006 until 2023.[53] The team has withheld Tyler Skaggs' #45 since he died in July 2019.[54] For the remainder of the 2019 season, they put 45 on the mound instead of an advertisement.[55]

The Miami Marlins have not issued José Fernández’s #16 since his death in September 2016.[56]

The Milwaukee Brewers have not issued Jim Gantner’s #17 or Ryan Braun's #8 since their retirements.[57]

On Opening Day of the 2012 season, the New York Mets unveiled a memorial "Kid 8" logo to honor the late Gary Carter. In 2026, Nick Morabito became the first Met to wear #8 since Carter's election to the Hall of Fame in 2003. However, the number was issued in error, with Morabito switching to #55 the following day.[58] The Mets have also not issued #48 since the departure of Jacob deGrom.[59]

The Philadelphia Phillies are keeping three numbers out of circulation: Chase Utley's #26, Jimmy Rollins' #11, and Ryan Howard's #6.[60]

The Pittsburgh Pirates have not issued manager Chuck Tanner's #7 since the 2013 season, except for Isiah Kiner-Falefa when he joined the team in 2024. Through his mother's lineage, Kiner-Falefa is the second cousin twice removed of Baseball Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner, whose #4 is retired by the Pirates.[61]

The San Francisco Giants are currently keeping four numbers out of circulation: Tim Lincecum's #55, Buster Posey's #28, Madison Bumgarner's #40, and former manager Bruce Bochy's #15.[25] Additionally, Justin Verlander is the only player to wear #35 for the Giants following Brandon Crawford's departure after the 2023 season. However, Verlander did so after receiving Crawford's blessing, and following Verlander's departure, the number has once again been removed from circulation.[62]

The Seattle Mariners have kept Jay Buhner's #19 out of circulation since his retirement in 2001, Félix Hernández's #34 since his retirement in 2019, and Kyle Seager's #15 since his retirement in 2021. Manager Lou Piniella's #14 has not been worn by a player since he left the team in 2002.[63]

The St. Louis Cardinals did not reissue Albert Pujols's #5 from his first departure after the 2011 season until his return to the team in 2022. Since both his and Yadier Molina's retirements at the end of that season, the Cardinals have again kept the number out of circulation. Adam Wainwright's #50 was also taken out of circulation after his 2023 retirement. Fan favorite Willie McGee has not had his #51 issued since he retired in 1999, except for when Bud Smith briefly wore the number in 2001.[64]

The Toronto Blue Jays have not issued José Bautista's #19 since his departure from the team in 2017, except in 2019 when Alen Hanson briefly wore the number.[65]

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.[66]

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.[24] The Cardinals first re-issued the number in 2021 spring training to pitcher Zack Thompson, who would go on to make his major league debut the following season wearing the number.[67] The Rockies then re-issued the number in 2023 to pitcher Tommy Doyle. The Astros have still not re-issued #57 following Kile's passing.

Number retired by Major League Baseball

(Left): The number 42 worn by Robinson on a plaque at Monument Park; (right): Mariano Rivera was the last player to wear the 42 on his shirt

Normally the individual clubs are responsible for retiring numbers. On April 15, 1997, MLB took the unusual move of retiring a number for all teams. 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. This meant that no future player on any major league team could wear number 42, although players wearing #42 at the time were allowed to continue wearing it (Mariano Rivera was the last active player to be grandfathered in, retiring after the 2013 season).[68]

Starting in the 2007 season, the 60th anniversary of Robinson's MLB debut, players and coaches have all worn the number 42 as a tribute to Robinson on Jackie Robinson Day, April 15.

There is a lobby to have uniform #21 retired in all of baseball to honor Roberto Clemente.[69]

Similar honors

Players who pre-date uniform numbers

Four teams have honored players who played before the advent of uniform numbers by placing their names among those of players whose numbers have been retired:

Broadcasters

The Ralph Kiner memorial logo (black), found adjacent to the New York Mets' retired numbers at Citi Field, 2018
  • Bob Murphy and Ralph Kiner New York Mets; The radio booth at both Shea Stadium and Citi Field are named for Murphy. The television booth at Citi Field is named for Kiner, who continued to broadcast some home games for the Mets until his death in early 2014. In addition, a special memorial logo honoring Kiner, depicting a microphone along with his name and the years 1922–2014, was displayed at Citi Field on the left field wall adjacent to, but not as a part of, the Mets' retired numbers, from 2014 to 2016. In the 2016 Mets yearbook, a sidebar in an article on Mike Piazza's upcoming number retirement implies that Kiner has been "retired" a la William A. Shea.[72] This was reinforced when the Mets' retired numbers were moved to the roof facade during the 2016 season to accommodate Mike Piazza's #31; Kiner's "number" was placed adjacent to the Shea and Jackie Robinson numbers, no longer separated from the others.
  • Jack Buck St. Louis Cardinals; honored with a drawing of a microphone on the wall with the retired numbers.
  • Lon Simmons, Russ Hodges, and Jon Miller San Francisco Giants; honored with stylized old-style radio microphone displayed in place of a number.
  • Marty Brennaman, Waite Hoyt, and Joe Nuxhall Cincinnati Reds; honored with microphones by the broadcast booth.
  • Jerry Coleman San Diego Padres; a "star on the wall" in reference to his trademark phrase "You can hang a star on that one!" The star is painted in gold on the front of the press box down the right field line, accompanied by Coleman's name in white. Upon Coleman's death in 2014, the broadcast booth at Petco Park was named in his honor.
  • Harry Kalas and Richie Ashburn Philadelphia Phillies; At Citizens Bank Park, the restaurant built into the base of the main scoreboard is named "Harry the K's" in Kalas's honor. After Kalas's death, the Phillies' TV-broadcast booth was renamed "The Harry Kalas Broadcast Booth". It is directly next to the radio-broadcast booth, which is named "The Richie 'Whitey' Ashburn Broadcast Booth". They both also have statues at Citizens Bank Park (though Ashburn is in uniform for his statue).
  • Ernie Harwell Detroit Tigers; honored with his name alongside the retired players on the Left-Centerfield Brick wall in Comerica Park and a statue & portrait at the stadium's front entrance. Honored with the Media Center named after him also.
  • Bob Uecker – "50 Years in Baseball" along with Uecker's name is next to the Brewers retired numbers at American Family Field.
  • Tom Cheek Toronto Blue Jays; honored with a spot on the Rogers Centre's "Level of Excellence" bearing his name and, in place of a jersey number, 4,306 – his streak of consecutive regular-season broadcasts.
  • Harry Caray and Jack Brickhouse Chicago Cubs: Caray is remembered inside and outside of Wrigley Field. A statue of him leading the crowd in "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" is near the bleacher entrance (originally at the corner of Addison Street and Sheffield Avenue), and a caricature of him adorns his former WGN-TV broadcast booth. Brickhouse's catch phrase, "Hey hey!" is memorialized in large red letters on each foul pole. (Brickhouse also has a statue on Michigan Avenue.)
  • Dave Niehaus Seattle Mariners; the press box at T-Mobile Park was renamed the "Dave Niehaus Media Center" on April 8, 2011, prior to the Mariners' home opener against the Cleveland Indians. In addition, a part of First Avenue NW outside the stadium was renamed Dave Niehaus Way, and the wall in deep right-center field also has a microphone with a Dave Niehaus graphic. There is the Dave Niehaus Statue on the Main Concourse at Section 105.[73]
  • Vin Scully and Jaime Jarrín Los Angeles Dodgers; in 2001, the Dodgers honored Scully by naming the press box at Dodger Stadium the "Vin Scully Press Box". However, on January 29, 2016, the Los Angeles City Council in a unanimous vote, renamed Elysian Park Avenue to Vin Scully Avenue, changing the address of Dodger Stadium to 1000 Vin Scully Ave.[74]. In 2022, the Spanish announcers' press box at Dodger Stadium was renamed the "Jaime Jarrín Spanish Broadcast Booth" in honor of Jarrín, who retired that season.
  • Arch McDonald and Bob Wolff Washington Senators: MacDonald and Wolff's names are on the Washington Nationals' Ring of Honor at Nationals Park.
  • Bill King Oakland Athletics; the Athletics named their broadcast facilities the "Bill King Broadcast Booth" after King's death in 2005.

Owners and contributors

Umpires

See: Umpire (baseball) § Numbers retired by the National and American Leagues

See also

References

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