Why is jeter wearing 42

Every major league player, manager and coach is issued a No. And that multiplies to roughly No. Robinson debuted as a starter at first base. So then, why not have only the starting first basemen wear No. Wanna show off? Then make an annual all-games pregame ceremony of the donations. Unless, of course, MLB would be more eager to announce how much is spent, every April 15, to outfit everyone — even those who sit the entire game with their backs to the walls of the dugouts or bullpens — in No.

Bob Lemon, , Lemon's name on this list might surprise some because his No. But Lemon wore four numbers during his career, including No. A Hall of Fame pitcher, he's also the most accomplished Indians player on this list. Pete Center, , Center pitched four years in Cleveland, going He wore both No.

Ralph Weigel, Weigel was a catcher who only played in six games for the Indians in , and he also wore No. He lasted three years in the majors. Ron Nischwitz, Nischwitz was a pitcher and joined the Indians after two seasons in Detroit. He was in 14 appearances during his only season in Cleveland. Sonny Siebert, Siebert, a pitcher, wore five different numbers with six teams during a year career.

He wore No. In , he was given No. Sunday night, the Yankees will become the fifth team to retire the No. Currently, there are four teams who don't have anyone wearing No. That leaves 21 clubs. Of those 21, there are 10 players on their man rosters who wear No. Not surprisingly, seven of those 10 play his old position. The Angels' Andrelton Simmons didn't get to wear No.

The Reds' Zack Cozart wanted No. The Royals' Alcides Escobar said he picked the number for the usual reason -- he loved how Jeter played the game. The Mets' Gavin Cecchini is not currently in the majors, but when he was the team's No. Cecchini is listed with the No. Twins second baseman Brian Dozier , who was a shortstop as a rookie in , wears No.

Astros third baseman, Alex Bregman , has No. Then there's the case of former White Sox star Harold Baines. On July 29, , he was traded from the Sox to the Rangers.

Baines had been an extremely popular player for the Sox, and fan outcry after the trade was severe, so team management decided to retire his No. The number retirement took place on Aug. Baines was only 30 years old at the time, which made him probably the youngest MLB player ever to have his number retired.

If anyone would like to do the research to confirm this, please feel free. But here's the kicker: Baines ended up playing two additional stints with the Sox -- in and in -- and his number was "unretired" for him each time. It was brought out of mothballs yet again when he joined the team's coaching staff in He continues to wear No.

Are you aware of any other active players who've had their uniform numbers retired? If so, you know what to do.

Paul Lukas looks forward to stumping people years from now by asking them, "What did Derek Jeter and Mike Singletary have in common? Want to learn about his Uni Watch Membership Program , be added to his mailing list so you'll always know when a new column has been posted, or just ask him a question?

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