Retired Numbers

In 1929, the New York Yankees became the first team to make numbers a permanent part of the uniform. Other teams quickly adopted the idea and, by 1932, uniform numbers became standard for all teams. The initial distribution of numbers on the Yankees was made according to the players position in the batting order. Therefore, in 1929, leadoff hitter Earle Combs wore #1, Mark Koenig #2, Babe Ruth #3, Lou Gehrig #4, Bob Meusel #5, Tony Lazzeri #6, Leo Durocher #7, Johnny Grabowski #8, Benny Bengough #9, Bill Dickey #10 (Grabowski, Bengough and Dickey shared the catching duties). When a player has made contributions beyond compare to the team and the game, it has become customary throughout sports for a team to retire that player's uniform number, thereby giving them a permanent place in team history. With the New York Yankees rich history, there have been 15 Yankee uniform numbers retired, honoring 16 players for their impact on the game and the team.

Billy Martin Born May 16, 1928     Died Dec. 25, 1989 Yankee Years:     Player - 1950-1957     Manager - 1975-1979, 1983, 1985, 1988 Positions: 2B, 3B, SS, OF Career Avg: .242 Babe Ruth Born July 11, 1895     Died Aug. 16, 1948 Yankee Years: 1920-1934 Positions: P, OF, 1B Career Avg: .342 Career ERA: 2.28 Lou Gehrig Born June 19, 1903     Died June 2, 1941 Yankee Years: 1923-1939 Positions: 1B, OF, SS Career Avg: .340 Joe DiMaggio Born Nov. 25, 1914     Died March 8, 1999 Yankee Years: 1936-1951 Positions: OF, 1B Career Avg: .325 Mickey Mantle Born Oct. 20, 1931     Died Aug. 13, 1995 Yankee Years: 1951-1968 Positions: OF, 1B, 2B, SS Career Avg: .298   Bill Dickey Born June 6, 1907     Died Nov. 12, 1993 Yankee Years:     Player - 1928-1946     Manager - 1946 Positions: C Career Avg: .313 Yogi Berra Born May 12, 1925     Yankee Years:     Player - 1946-1963     Manager - 1964, 1984-1985 Positions: C, OF, 1B, 3B Career Avg: .285 Roger Maris Born Sept. 10, 1934     Died Dec. 14, 1985 Yankee Years: 1960-1966 Positions: OF Career Avg: .260 Phil Rizzuto Born Sept. 25, 1917     Yankee Years: 1941-1956 Positions: SS, 2B Career Avg: .273 Thurman Munson Born June 7, 1947     Died Aug. 2, 1979 Yankee Years: 1969-1979 Positions: C, DH, OF, 1B, 3B Career Avg: .292 Whitey Ford Born Oct. 21, 1928     Yankee Years: 1950-1967 Positions: P Career ERA: 2.75 Don Mattingly Born April 20, 1961     Yankee Years: 1982-1995 Positions: 1B, DH, OF, 3B, 2B Career Avg: .307 Elston Howard Born Feb. 23, 1929     Died Dec. 14, 1980 Yankee Years: 1955-1967 Positions: C, OF, 1B Career Avg: .274 Casey Stengel Born July 30, 1890     Died Sept. 29, 1975 Yankee Years:     Manager - 1949-1960 Yankees Win/Loss Record: 1149-696 (.623) Career Win/Loss Record: 1905-1842 (.508) Reggie Jackson Born May 18, 1946     Yankee Years: 1977-1981 Positions: OF, DH Career Avg: .262 Ron Guidry Born Aug. 28, 1950     Yankee Years: 1975-1988 Positions: P, OF Career ERA: 3.29 Career Avg: .000 (0 official AB's)