OT - why do they have numbers?
 

OK - the Board is pretty slow right now, so I thought I'd throw this out. Why do major league baseball players wear numbers? They all have their names on the back of their uniforms. I can understand football, basketball and hockey players wearing numbers, since fouls, etc. are reported by number, but there's really nothing like that in baseball. Even in the scorebook, plays are recorded by position number, not uniform number. Any comments? Yeah - I know it's tradition, but besides that?

No, they don't.

Besides, the numbers are easier to see than the names.

But, on the line-up card, it's the name that counts.

I miss the days when the NHL stripes had their names on their shirts.

Mark:

I believe it was in the the early 1920's that the NY Yankees became the first team to put numbers on their jersies. If my memory is correct, the players numbers corresponded to their position in the batting order. To this day, the Yankees are the only team in MLB where the players do not have their name on the back of their jersies; I do not know if this applies to their minor league teams. I think that the Kansas City Athletics (owned by Charlie Finley at the time) was the first time to put players names on the back of their jersies.

MTD, Sr.

Not true. Take a look at the Red Sox home uniform.

Mark, I thought that too, but a quick Google search makes me wonder if that story was entirely true.

The part of the story that I do believe and that you omitted:
The Yankees used the numbers to encourage sales of programs. Fans had to pay the extra dime to find out who was batting.

Well, it would be silly to retire the names of the great ones.

BayStateRef:

I am an Indians fan. Why would I look at Red Sox home uniforms. :p

MTD, Sr.

Hmmm....
 

Maybe because you are a devoted Cleveland fan and the Indians have an away game in Boston and you wouldn't miss watching it on the television.....and hey, what's that? The Sox have no names on their home uniforms! ;)

You had no trouble stating a fact about the New York Yankees (not likely to be confused as the Indians) -- which is not factual. If your effort is to impress with your knowledge, then get the facts right. The S.F. Giants also do not have player names on home uniforms.

BayStateRef:

Take it easy on me. Our cable carries SportsTime Ohio which carries all of the Indians games, but I don't get to watch all of them. Why? I am married guys, :D. I made a statement based on various stories I have heard about numbers on uniforms. If the Red Sox don't have their names on their uniforms then I stand corrected. As far as the Giants are concerned I have no idea what is and is not on their uniforms.

Besides, I am a secondary Yankees fan after the Indians, :D. I am sure you are happy that the Red Sox finally excorsised "The Curse of the Bambino" but the Indians still have to deal with "The Rocky Calavito Curse".

MTD, Sr.

Admiration? Awe? Jealousy?

:D

ROFLMAO!!


MTD, Sr.

It's not a good day in Ohio sports, so we should perhaps show MTD a little sympathy.

Nevermind.

Yankees are the only team without name on both Home and Away uniforms. They do not need names on the uniforms. Everyone should know all of the Yankees. :D