Every uniform number ever, ranked by value

This article was initially revealed in July 2020, and was up to date in December 2022.

Let’s get into one thing enjoyable. Let’s discuss uniform numbers. Not essentially the gamers carrying these numbers, as you’ve got actually seen many lists of prior to now. (Like: “Ozzie Smith was the best No. 1, and Henry Aaron was the best No. 44,” and so forth.) No, let’s speak concerning the numbers themselves. Which numbers have been the best? Maybe it is No. 27. Or No. 44. How about 3? Maybe, it is 3. There are 101 completely different choices, counting 0 and 00 individually. See? We informed you: Fun.

In order to seek out out, let’s swing over to Baseball-Reference.com and dig into their uniform quantity database. Let’s see what number of Wins Above Replacement every uniform quantity has piled up over the century or so that numbers have been in place. (That final half is necessary; after an preliminary temporary experiment or two within the 1910s and ’20s, the ’29 Yankees had been the primary to decide to it full-time, that means most of Babe Ruth’s finest years are usually not included right here, coming as they did with no uniform quantity. He solely wore the legendary No. 3 for six seasons, throughout which era he accrued 48.9 WAR, lower than a 3rd of his profession complete of 162.7 WAR.)

As far as we all know, nobody’s ever accomplished this earlier than. Unfortunately, there’s probably not any such factor as a report of per-game uniform numbers — even when there have been you do not actually need to cut up WAR on a per-game foundation — and in addition some gamers have had a number of numbers in a season. That’s going to make this one thing extra of a “very good estimate” than “an exact accounting,” however let’s put two guidelines into place to account for that:

• If a participant will get traded and adjustments numbers in a season, every quantity will get the suitable WAR credit score. (Example: In 2008, Manny Ramirez piled up 2.5 WAR carrying No. 24 for the Red Sox, then 3.5 WAR carrying No. 99 for the Dodgers after being traded in July. We can cut up the identical credit score for No. 24 [2.5 WAR] and No. 99 [3.5 WAR] right here.)

• If a participant switches numbers inside a season for a similar group, the quantity he wore most in his profession receives the complete credit score. (Example: In 1951, Willie Mays briefly wore No. 14 for his first few weeks earlier than altering to his now-iconic No. 24. Because he wore 24 essentially the most throughout his profession, that quantity will get full credit score for the season, whereas 14 will get nothing.)

Perfect? No, however shut sufficient, and after operating the numbers on that, we now have a listing of 101 digits. That’s proper: 101, as a result of we’re counting each 0 and 00 individually. Thanks to then-Yankee Miguel Yajure, who turned the primary participant to ever put on No. 89 when he debuted in 2020, there isn’t any longer any such factor as an unused quantity. Every single attainable quantity has had not less than one participant put on it on the sphere.

Take that listing of 101 numbers ordered by worth, and it seems like this. This is the official all-time rating. Those are some iconic digits on the high, earlier than you get into Spring Training numbers close to the underside.

Or: how about this view? Aside from “the best players, and the most players, usually wear the lowest numbers,” which you already knew, have a look at what number of gamers are truly afraid of carrying No. 13. Look at how worth declines beginning at No. 25, then begins to utterly crumble after No. 50, earlier than a slight uptick at 99. Look at a graph that’s truly exhibiting you uniform numbers, ranked, by WAR.

There are tales in every of these numbers. How did we get there? Who was most necessary whereas carrying every quantity? Let’s break it down into teams, based mostly on the principles we outlined above. (All numbers present by means of the top of the 2022 Major League season.)

This, we can’t stress sufficient, is a listing of uniform numbers. Don’t say you were not warned. Enjoy.

No. 5
1,989 WAR
Notable names: Albert Pujols, George Brett, Jeff Bagwell, Brooks Robinson, Johnny Bench, Joe DiMaggio

To be sincere, we had been stunned by this, since most pitchers do not put on single-digit numbers, and so we figured a quantity that each hitters and pitchers would put on can be on the high. Then once more, No. 5 is a complete murderers’ row. In addition to these legends already named, there’s Lou Boudreau, Hank Greenberg, Nomar Garciaparra, Freddie Freeman and on and on. Forty-nine completely different gamers put up not less than 10 WAR carrying No. 5. Henry Aaron did not, however 1.4 WAR of his legendary profession counts right here anyway, as a result of he wore it for his rookie season in 1954 earlier than switching to his now-iconic 44.

No. 6
1,881 WAR
Notable names: Stan Musial, Al Kaline, Sal Bando, Willie Wilson, Tony Oliva, Steve Garvey

The half-dozen does not have fairly the star energy that 5 does, however it’s even deeper; 57 completely different gamers put up not less than 10 WAR with the 6, together with Marcus Stroman, one of many few single-digit pitchers. Did you already know Musial briefly wore 19 in Spring Training? Did you already know Mickey Mantle truly wore 6 for months as a rookie? Neither did we.

No. 7
1,842 WAR
Notable names: Mickey Mantle, Iván Rodríguez, Craig Biggio, Kenny Lofton, Joe Mauer, J.D. Drew

There cannot be many extra iconic combos of participant and quantity than Mantle and seven, proper?

No. 11
1,837 WAR
Notable names: Edgar Martinez, Barry Larkin, Luis Aparicio, Toby Harrah, Carl Hubbell

That’s 4 Hall of Famers listed there, plus Paul Waner and Lefty Gomez spent a part of their careers with 11 as nicely. Through 2022, that is the deepest quantity, as 57 completely different gamers — from Martinez at 68.4 WAR to Bill Mueller at 10.1 WAR — have posted not less than 10 WAR within the one-one, greater than another quantity.

No. 24
1,835 WAR
Notable names: Willie Mays, Rickey Henderson, Ken Griffey Jr., Miguel Cabrera, Dwight Evans

Now we’re speaking, as far as all-time stars go. But Henderson solely spent about two-thirds of his profession within the two-four (for instance, he wore No. 35 the yr he stole 130 bases), so the complete worth of his profession is not utilized right here. That’s additionally true of Griffey (who wore 30, 3 and 17 after leaving Seattle), Manny Ramirez, and Barry Bonds, who wore 24 as a Pirate earlier than turning to 25 with the Giants, since Mays owns the 24 for San Francisco.

No. 21
1,760 WAR
Notable names: Roger Clemens, Warren Spahn, Roberto Clemente, Sammy Sosa, Arky Vaughan

The first quantity to get an enormous enhance from pitchers. Three all-time inner-circle legends high this listing, although it will have ranked even higher had Clemens not worn 12 after which 22 for the Yankees and Astros. He contributed 101 WAR to 21 with Boston and Toronto, then 38.5 extra WAR to 22, by our formulation.

Today, the quantity is finest remembered for Clemente, who briefly wore No. 13 in 1955 after arriving within the Majors, then rapidly took the 21 that he’d put on for the remainder of his profession.

No. 15
1,754 WAR
Notable names: Dick Allen, Carlos Beltrán, Tim Hudson, Dustin Pedroia, Red Ruffing, Thurman Munson

Allen, the 1964 NL Rookie of the Year and ’72 AL Most Valuable Player, briefly wore 32 initially of his profession and 60 on the finish, however he is recognized most with 15, and he stays considered one of historical past’s most underrated gamers.

No. 25
1,720 WAR
Notable names: Barry Bonds, Jim Thome, Rafael Palmeiro, Buddy Bell, Tommy John, Mark McGwire

Remember, that is solely accounting for Bonds’ time with San Francisco, since he was 24 (and briefly 7) with Pittsburgh.

No. 4
1,693 WAR
Notable names: Lou Gehrig, Mel Ott, Luke Appling, Duke Snider, Paul Molitor

When uniform numbers first got here into existence, they had been typically assigned in accordance with lineup spot, which is why you see just a few cleanup hitters atop the listing right here. Gehrig was already 111 homers into his profession by the point the Yankees even beginning carrying numbers, although, so this is not his full profession worth.

No. 10
1,687 WAR
Notable names: Chipper Jones, Lefty Grove, Ron Santo, Ron Cey, Andre Dawson

No. 22
1,684 WAR
Notable names: Clayton Kershaw, Jim Palmer, Will Clark, Brad Radke, Andrew McCutchen

With one other good season in 2022, Kershaw handed Palmer on the No. 22 WAR listing, and he’ll be there for years to come back, as a result of nobody’s even shut. Of course, Juan Soto — who made certain to maintain it when he was traded from Washington to San Diego — has loads of time but to make up the hole.

No. 19
1,661 WAR
Notable names: Robin Yount, Tony Gwynn, Joey Votto, Bob Feller, Billy Pierce

“When [clubhouse manager Whitey Wietelmann] handed it to me, it was No. 19, stated Gwynn, reminiscing about his Major League debut. “When I used to be checked out it, I used to be simply joyful it was decrease than 53, which is the quantity I wore in Spring Training.”

No. 16
1,651 WAR
Notable names: Hal Newhouser, Whitey Ford, Dwight Gooden, Ted Lyons, Frank Viola

No. 9
1,643 WAR
Notable names: Ted Williams, Reggie Jackson, Enos Slaughter, Minnie Miñoso, Graig Nettles

You’d suppose {that a} listing headlined by Williams would rank greater, however he is carrying this group by himself, as he alone is price almost 10% of all No. 9 WAR ever. Jackson was a legend as nicely, in fact, however a few third of his worth got here carrying 44, and after Slaughter, this one rapidly turns into a listing of superb gamers, not all-time greats.

No. 3
1,614 WAR
Notable names: Jimmie Foxx, Alan Trammell, Alex Rodriguez, Harmon Killebrew, Willie Davis

“Where’s the Babe?” you yell incredulously. He’s within the high 10, however once more, the Yankees did not add numbers till 1929, by which era he was already 34 years outdated and 470 homers into his profession.

No. 17
1,598 WAR
Notable names: Todd Helton, Lance Berkman, Mark Grace, Dizzy Dean, Shohei Ohtani

Grace wore 17 for many of his 13 seasons with the Cubs, however it’s fairly clear he isn’t going to be essentially the most well-known North Sider with the quantity. No matter what else occurs, that is at all times going to be Kris Bryant. Worldwide, nevertheless, that is the quantity that tens of millions see on Ohtani’s again.

No. 23
1,593 WAR
Notable names: Ryne Sandberg, Ted Simmons, Don Mattingly, Robin Ventura, Luis Tiant

It stays entertaining that when you had been to look at a replay of the well-known “Pine Tar Game” in 1983, you may see a younger Mattingly there … carrying No. 46, as he did briefly initially of his profession.

No. 8
1,559 WAR
Notable names: Carl Yastrzemski, Cal Ripken, Jr., Joe Morgan, Gary Carter, Yogi Berra, Willie Stargell

This one begins out sizzling — simply have a look at all these Hall of Famers — earlier than falling off considerably. Berra and fellow Yankee Hall of Fame catcher Bill Dickey every wore 8 in pinstripes; it was retired in honor of every of them in 1972.

No. 1
1,544 WAR
Notable names: Ozzie Smith, Lou Whitaker, Pee Wee Reese, Richie Ashburn, Bobby Doerr

Sometimes, numbers tackle a character, and that is fairly clear true with the No. 1, which is sort of universally worn by speedy center infielders or defensively gifted middle fielders, befitting the origins of uniform numbers as matching lineup positions. It’s not a hard-and-fast rule, as a result of the highly effective Carlos Correa sported it throughout his time in Houston, however you are extra prone to discover a Jarrod Dyson or Garry Templeton than you’re a Ruth or Gehrig right here.

No. 28
1,526 WAR
Notable names: Bert Blyleven, Cesar Cedeno, Wilbur Wood, Buster Posey, Nolan Arenado

Sometimes there’s a terrific story behind a quantity, and typically, as Arenado famous, it is simply what occurs. “There’s actually no reason,” he stated. “In spring training, my first big league camp, they give rookie guys 80 and big numbers like that, but I got 28, and it was a low number, so it was a cool thing. And that’s just why I wear it.”

No. 2
1,518 WAR
Notable names: Derek Jeter, Charlie Gehringer, Troy Tulowitzki, Nellie Fox, Red Schoendienst

No. 12
1,514 WAR
Notable names: Roberto Alomar, Mark Langston, Steve Finley, Dusty Baker, Alfonso Soriano

No. 27
1,498 WAR
Notable names: Mike Trout, Juan Marichal, Vladimir Guerrero, Kevin Brown, Giancarlo Stanton, Carlton Fisk

This one simply “feels” like an iconic baseball quantity, and for these names listed, it’s. Trout has taken over possession of the lead right here, and he’ll most likely personal it for the complete remainder of baseball historical past.

No. 20
1,489 WAR
Notable names: Mike Schmidt, Frank Robinson, Don Sutton, Jorge Posada, Lou Brock, Josh Donaldson

Schmidt wore No. 22 for his temporary 13-game cup of espresso in 1972, however when outfielder Roger Freed was traded to Cleveland after the season, Schmidt claimed his iconic No. 20 for his rookie season in 1973, and wore it for the remainder of his profession — aside from a complicated highway journey in 1982 the place the group apparently forgot to pack Schmidt’s jersey and he needed to put on bullpen pitcher Hank King’s 37 . 

No. 18
1,487 WAR
Notable names: Mel Harder, Johnny Damon, Ben Zobrist, Gene Tenace, Jason Kendall

Let’s safely assume you do not bear in mind Mel Harder. He spent 20 seasons pitching for Cleveland, from 1928-47, then was their pitching coach from ’48 by means of ’63. For almost 4 many years, you can discover Harder lively and in uniform for a similar group. More not too long ago, 18 has grow to be identified within the Majors as being the favored variety of Japanese pitchers, as Hiroki Kuroda, Kenta Maeda, Hisashi Iwakuma, Daisuke Matsuzaka and Yusei Kikuchi have all worn it.

No. 14
1,472 WAR
Notable names: Pete Rose, Ernie Banks, Jim Bunning, Ken Boyer, Jim Rice

Rose performed 24 seasons, and wore No. 14 for every of these seasons. Like many others, although, it was a happenstance. He’d worn No. 27 throughout his first Spring Training with the Reds in 1963, however when he confirmed up for Opening Day of that season, there was a 14 in his locker. Why? “Because I was a second baseman,” Rose stated in 2016 when the Reds retired his 14, “and 27 wasn’t a good number for a second baseman, so I got 14.” These issues aren’t at all times scientific, are they.

No. 29
1,384 WAR
Notable names: Adrián Beltré, Rod Carew, John Smoltz, Mickey Lolich, Ken Singleton

This explicit creator’s favored quantity.

No. 30
1,330 WAR
Notable names: Tim Raines, Willie Randolph, Orlando Cepeda, Mel Stottlemyre, Nolan Ryan

Ryan solely wore 30 for the Mets and Angels, under no circumstances for the Astros or Rangers, with whom he spent 14 seasons carrying 34.

No. 31
1,308 WAR
Notable names: Greg Maddux, Fergie Jenkins, Chuck Finley, Dave Winfield, Mike Piazza

No. 33
1,239 WAR
Notable names: Larry Walker, Eddie Murray, José Canseco, Ron Hunt, Jim Barr

“He wears number 33 and he was married on Nov. 3 at 3:33 and his phone number has as many threes in it as he can get the phone company to give him, and he takes three swings in the batter’s box before he hits, six if he feels tight, or nine or 12, any multiple of three.”

No. 35
1,195 WAR
Notable names: Phil Niekro, Mike Mussina, Frank Thomas, Justin Verlander, Cole Hamels, Rickey Henderson

Why does Verlander put on 35? He’s been asking for it since school at Old Dominion, partly due to his childhood affinity for “the Big Hurt,” Thomas.

No. 26
1,132 WAR
Notable names: Wade Boggs, Chase Utley, Billy Williams, Amos Otis, Boog Powell

Boggs wore the 26 for his 11 seasons with Boston, however took No. 12 when he moved on to the Yankees and Devil Rays.

No. 34
1,129 WAR
Notable names: David Ortiz, Kirby Puckett, Félix Hernández, Fernando Valenzuela, Nolan Ryan

Ortiz had No. 27 in Minnesota, and there wasn’t precisely a thriller as to why he claimed 24 when he moved to Boston in 2003. It was to honor Puckett, who completed his Twins profession simply earlier than Ortiz began his personal.

No. 32
1,123 WAR
Notable names: Steve Carlton, Sandy Koufax, Roy Halladay, Milt Pappas, Jon Matlack

This one might not price fairly as excessive as some others, however 32 simply seems like a baseball quantity, does not it?

No. 36
1,107 WAR
Notable names: Gaylord Perry, Robin Roberts, Jerry Koosman, Jim Kaat, Tom Gordon

Perry was nothing if not loyal to his quantity. He briefly wore numbers 22, 28, and 25 in his first two years as a Giant, then claimed the 36 in 1963. He’d then play for seven extra groups after leaving the Giants, and, when he might get it, he’d put on 36 for every considered one of them.

No. 44
1,090 WAR
Notable names: Henry Aaron, Willie McCovey, Roy Oswalt, Paul Goldschmidt, Jake Peavy

Aaron was the primary and solely participant to put on No. 44 for the Atlanta Braves, carrying it over with the group from Milwaukee, and he was the primary participant to have his quantity retired by two groups when the Brewers did so in 1977.

No. 41
998 WAR
Notable names: Tom Seaver, Eddie Mathews, John Lackey, Darrell Evans, Pat Hentgen

Seager is so synonymous with 41, the one quantity he wore for any of the 4 groups he performed for, that in 2022, his hometown of Fresno, Calif., honored him by renaming a part of Highway 41 the “Tom Seaver Memorial Highway.”

No. 13
987 WAR
Notable names: Alex Rodriguez, Omar Vizquel, Dave Concepción, Lance Parrish, Manny Machado

The unfortunate 13, not less than within the eyes of some gamers. It’s not a coincidence that as we’re within the midst of a glut of excessive 30s and mid 40s right here, 13 stands out like a sore thumb. Vizquel, in addition to fellow Venezuelan shortstop Ozzie Guillen, every claimed they wore 13 to honor Concepción, a 9 time All-Star who was the shortstop on the Big Red Machine Cincinnati groups of the 70s. Machado had a wholly completely different purpose: His favourite quantity was 3 rising up, and his favourite participant was Chipper Jones, so his 3, plus Jones’ 10 … 13.

No. 37
911 WAR
Notable names: Dave Stieb, Kenny Rogers, Keith Hernandez, Stephen Strasburg

Note that that is solely St. Louis Hernandez. When he was traded to the Mets in 1983, they’d already retired 37 for Casey Stengel, so Hernandez took 17.

No. 40
881 WAR
Notable names: Bartolo Colon, Madison Bumgarner, Frank Tanana, Andy Benes, Rick Sutcliffe

Bumgarner saved his 40 with Arizona, having made a cope with reliever Andrew Chafin after signing with the D-backs to retain his quantity from his glory days with San Francisco.

No. 39
837 WAR
Notable names: Dave Parker, Roy Campanella, Mike Greenwell, Kevin Kiermaier

Parker wore 39 for six groups over 19 seasons, however he is best-known for doing it with the Pirates. In 2018, then-Pirates pitcher Chad Kuhl stated that he “felt bad taking 39 because of Dave Parker,” and that he “tried to change it, but they said it was too late to change it.”

No. 38
822 WAR
Notable names: Curt Schilling, Carlos Zambrano, Gary Nolan, Rick Aguilera

As of 2022, reliever Joe Smith, a 15-year-veteran, had carried the three-eight with him from Cleveland to the Angels to the Blue Jays to Houston and at last to Minnesota.

No. 45
813 WAR
Notable names: Bob Gibson, Pedro Martínez, Steve Rogers, John Candelaria

How does a quantity led by these two legendary aces not rank greater? Because past them, it is comparatively skinny. Also included on the Top 10 listed below are Kelvim Escobar and Stan Bahnsen, and you do not know who Stan Bahnsen is.

No. 48
805 WAR
Notable names: Rick Reuschel, Torii Hunter, Sam McDowell, Jacob deGrom, Travis Hafner

Hunter had worn 48 for the primary 16 years of his profession, however it was owned by Rick Porcello when the outfielder signed with Detroit after the 2012 season. Porcello, a New Jersey native, traded it to Hunter in trade for a donation to a Hurricane Sandy reduction program.

No. 43
782 WAR
Notable names: Dennis Eckersley, Johnny Antonelli, Raúl Mondesí, Gary Peters, Ken Forsch

Eckersley wore No. 37 as a younger pitcher for Cleveland, however when he was traded to Boston in 1975, “Spaceman” Bill Lee already owned it. As the Athletic detailed, 43 was issued by the clubhouse supervisor, which Eckersley would put on for the remainder of his profession, aside from his Cubs debut in 1984, which had him carrying 40 earlier than he was capable of change again.

No. 46
768 WAR
Notable names: Andy Pettitte, Jim Maloney, Kevin Gross, Burt Hooton, Ryan Dempster, Craig Kimbrel

Paul Goldschmidt, the 2022 NL MVP, wore 44 with Arizona, however he took 46 upon his commerce to the Cardinals, saying that it was the closest quantity to 44 obtainable, as a result of 44 was taken on the time and 45 was retired for Bob Gibson. 

No. 49
753 WAR
Notable names: Ron Guidry, Tom Candiotti, Charlie Hough, Tim Wakefield, Larry Dierker

Forty-nine: The official variety of knuckleballers all over the place.

No. 47
711 WAR
Notable names: Tom Glavine, Jack Morris, Bruce Hurst, Howie Kendrick, Johnny Cueto

Glavine was handed 47 seemingly at random in his first Spring Training. “I used to be simply joyful it wasn’t the opposite method round, joyful it wasn’t a 74,” he later joked.

No. 51
549 WAR
Notable names: Randy Johnson, Ichiro Suzuki, Bernie Williams, Willie McGree, Trevor Hoffman

Johnson wore 51 with Seattle from 1989-98 — save for a quick sport with 15 right here and 34 there — after which Ichiro wore it as a Mariner from 2001-12. That’s almost a quarter-century, with one group, on the backs of two legends. Not a foul run for the five-one within the Pacific Northwest.

No. 50
513 WAR
Notable names: Mookie Betts, Adam Wainwright, Jamie Moyer, Sid Fernandez, J.R. Richard 

Betts was as soon as requested why he wears 50. “I keep No. 50 because no one wants it,” he stated. OK then. He’s already the best participant ever to put on it.

OK, it is time to lightning spherical this by exhibiting all the 51st-through-Seventy fifth-ranked numbers collectively right here. As you’d count on by this level, we’re beginning to get into numbers that simply aren’t worn that usually, although there are nonetheless some exceptions to this rule.

Lots of 50s, 60s and 70s right here, as you’d count on. This a part of the listing is led by No. 42, however it’s the one quantity that is assured to fall down, not go up, as a result of it is in fact retired sport-wide in honor of Jackie Robinson. (While it’s worn by each participant every April 15 on Jackie Robinson day, these one-day WAR totals do not get included in our list-making.)

Despite the less-popular numbers right here on this group, there’s nonetheless plenty of enormous stars to have worn them.

Mark Buehrle, for instance, put up 60 WAR in his 56, and Johan Santana posted 52 WAR in his 57. Jonathan Papelbon (23.3 WAR) was a robust 58, and Livan Hernandez, Bronson Arroyo, and Chan Ho Park all discovered success in 61. Orel Hershiser gained the 1988 NL Cy Young carrying his No. 55. Many years later, Skip Schumaker additionally wore 55, because of a reminiscence he’d had of an interplay with Hershiser when Schumaker was simply six years outdated.

No. 54 is very fascinating as a result of it is a pitcher’s quantity, and solely a pitcher’s quantity. The high 35 names on our No. 54 listing are arms, till you get to Junior Félix, an outfielder who wore it for a single season as a rookie for the 1989 Blue Jays.

What’s most fascinating about this group are the 2 numbers which are just a little completely different — 99 and 0. For years, 99 was an outcast, worn briefly by gamers you do not bear in mind (Darren Clarke in 2007), or gamers who reveled in being completely different (Turk Wendell on and off from 1997-2004, Ramirez with the Dodgers and White Sox in 2008-10).

But over the previous few seasons, two star-caliber gamers — Hyun-jin Ryu, then Aaron Judge — have had nice success within the nine-nine, serving to it to shoot up these scores. You’ve seen it on Taijuan Walker, and Alex Verdugo. It’s not bizarre anymore.

As for the 0, be aware that that is completely different than the 00. Former outfielder Mallex Smith explains that he selected it as a result of he has “zero cares” about how others really feel about him, which we respect, however many of the 0s do it as a play on their very own names, contemplating it not a “zero” a lot as an “O.” That started with Al Oliver, and others like Adam Ottavino, Oddibe McDowell, Junior Ortiz and Rey Ordóñez have adopted go well with.

Le’s end this off with the ultimate group …

And, in fact, we attain the top of the road. Through 2022, solely six gamers have put up even 5 WAR in considered one of these numbers.

You can even see right here that the double-zero is rarer than the common zero; though Bobby Bonds, Jack Clark and Don Baylor all wore it briefly — very briefly — nobody’s donned it since Brian Wilson with the Dodgers in 2014.

Voiselle, a Forties-era pitcher, wore 96, an unheard-of quantity again in these days, for an excellent purpose: To honor his hometown: Ninety Six, South Carolina.

As we stated: Every quantity, a narrative.