retired numbers
Permanently shelved jerseys
Retired numbers are jersey numbers permanently removed from use by a sports team to honor exceptional players or other significant figures.
When a number is retired, no future player on that team may wear it: The Yankees retired number 42 for Mariano Rivera.
The practice originated in baseball but has spread across professional and college sports.
Some numbers are retired league-wide: Jackie Robinson's 42 is retired across all of Major League Baseball.
- jerseyKnitted pullover garment
- tributeOffering of respect
- sports legendCelebrated athletic great
- franchiseLicensed business operation
- memorialThing preserving remembrance
ceremony · athlete · Hall of Fame · legacy · roster · locker room · honoree · unretired · recognition · banner · commemoration · rafters · symbolism · hoisting · numeral · preservation · championship · achievement
- sports historyOlympic history, Olympic records, Olympics, Olympic Games, Olympic training
- Baseball HistoryBabe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, Lou Gehrig, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron
- Hockey HistoryStanley Cup, Original Six, Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky, Montreal Canadiens
- NHL TeamsStanley Cup, playoffs, goalie, defenseman, forward
- YankeesDerek Jeter, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio
- numbersone, two, four, three, 0