Jackie Robinson, the first black player in the modern era of Major League Baseball, had his number 42 retired league-wide in 1997. The only other exception to this retirement is on April 15, the anniversary of Robinson’s MLB debut, when all uniformed personnel (players, managers, coaches, umpires) wear 42.

In 1997, Major League Baseball honored Jackie Robinson by making his No. 42 the first uniform number to be retired across the sport.

As Benjamin Hoffman explained for the New York Times baseball blog, 42 is just one of Robinson’s numbers: 42 represents just his time with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Playing football while at U.C.L.A., Robinson wore 28, but for the Bruins basketball team he switched to 18.

42. In a ceremony before the April 15, 1997, game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Mets at Shea Stadium, Selig declared that No. 42 – Robinson’s number with the Brooklyn Dodgers – would be permanently retired throughout Major League Baseball.

Once he was just 90′ away from home plate, pitchers had much more to worry about. You referred to the pitcher fumbling the ball. If it was during his windup and delivery, it would create a balk, thus awarding Robinson home plate.

In April 1997, MLB retired the uniform number 42 league-wide to honor the 50th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the baseball color line, although Rivera was among 13 players allowed to keep the number per a grandfather clause. Rivera finished the regular season with 43 saves in 52 opportunities and a 1.88 ERA.

Jackie Robinson

OF Johnny Wyrostek (1946-47) . . . Whitey wore #1 his entire career, Phillies, Cubs (1960-61) and Mets (1962). Number retired on April 6, 2001 when Jim Bunning threw out the ceremonial first ball on the 30th anniversary of the inaugural game at Veterans Stadium, a game he started and won.

While Franco was an All-Star and posted above-average hitting statistics throughout his career, he is best known for being the oldest regular position player in MLB history.

Travis Jankowski

Ranking the Phillies’ all-time best players, beginning with No. 100 to 76

• Hugh Mulcahy. P, 1935-47.
• Ricky Bottalico. P, 1994-98, 2001-02.
• Gary Matthews. OF, 1981-83.
• Al Orth. P, 1895-1901.
• Jack Sanford. P, 1956-58.
• Charlie Buffinton. P, 1B, OF, 1887-89.
• Turk Farrell. P, 1956-61.
• 100. Hector Neris. P, 2014-present.

Roy Halladay

The Phillies will recognize former star Dick Allen, who passed away on Dec. 7, 2020, by wearing a patch with his number on their jerseys. “In September 2020, prior to Dick Allen’s death, the Phillies paid tribute to his storied career by retiring No. 15, making it only the seventh number to be retired by the Phillies.

Dick Allen

16 patches to honor Whitey Ford. It’s photo day for the Yankees down at George M. Steinbrenner Field today, and it looks like the team will have a new addition to their uniforms for 2021.

CAREER: The name Albert “Red” Schoendienst is synonymous with Cardinals baseball. After all, he wore the uniform for 45 seasons as a player, coach and manager and was involved with the organization for a total of 67 years. In 1953, Schoendienst put together his finest season.

Bob Gibson Patch WHITE

Lou Brock