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The Best MLB Players To Have Their Numbers Retired

Updated July 22, 2019 7.4k votes 200 voters 1.3k views175 items

List RulesVote up the best MLB players to have their legendary number retired for all time.

These are the best MLB players to have their numbers retired by the team where they made the biggest impact. Not every player in the MLB gets their number retired, it is an honor bestowed upon the best players of a franchise. The Yankees have the most retired jerseys, with 22 numbers never to be worn again by a Yankees player. Does that mean that Babe Ruth or another Yankee will make it to the top of the list? While all of these baseball players are great at the game, having your number retired does not automatically get you into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Players on this list that have been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame are noted. The one MLB retired number that is effective league-wide is Jackie Robinson’s number 42. Every player, manager, and coach wears the number 42 on Jackie Robinson Day, April 15.

Look below to see all the numbers retired in the MLB and if your favorite player has had their number retired. Then vote up the players that you think played the game the best. This list does not have current players because they are still using their numbers and it does not have numbers that were retired for coaches, managers, or owners. This list is for players only and will determine the best MLB players to have had their number retired.

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Babe Ruth
Right fielder, Outfielder
Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Pigtown, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
Teams: Boston Red Sox, Boston Braves, New York Yankees
Number: 3

Years With Franchise: Boston Red Sox (1914–1919), New York Yankees (1920–1934), Boston Braves (1935)

Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

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2
104
24
Willie Mays
Center fielder
Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Westfield, Alabama, United States of America
Number: 24

Years With Franchise: New York / San Francisco Giants (1951–1952, 1954–1972)
New York Mets (1972–1973)

Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

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3
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32
Jackie Robinson
Second baseman
Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Cairo, Georgia, United States of America
Bats: Right-handed
Teams: Brooklyn Dodgers
Number: 42

Years With Franchise: Brooklyn Dodgers (1947–1956)

Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

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24
Lou Gehrig
First baseman
Nationality: United States of America,Germany
Birthplace: Yorkville, New York City, New York, United States of America
Bats: Left-handed
Teams: New York Yankees
Number: 4

Years With Franchise: New York Yankees (1923–1939)

Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

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Hank Aaron
Right fielder, Outfielder
Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Mobile, Alabama, United States of America
Bats: Right-handed
Teams: Milwaukee Brewers, Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Braves
Number: 44

Years With Franchise: Milwaukee / Atlanta Braves (1954–1974), Milwaukee Brewers (1975–1976)

Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

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Mickey Mantle
Outfielder, First baseman
Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Spavinaw, Oklahoma, United States of America
Bats: Ambidexterity
Teams: New York Yankees
Number: 7

Years With Franchise: New York Yankees (1951–1968)

Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

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Ted Williams
Outfielder, Left fielder
Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: San Diego, California, United States of America
Bats: Left-handed
Teams: Boston Red Sox
Number: 9

Years With Franchise: Boston Red Sox (1939–1942, 1946–1960)

Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

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Warren Spahn
Starting pitcher, Pitcher
Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Buffalo, New York, United States of America
Teams: San Francisco Giants, Boston Braves, Milwaukee Braves, New York Mets
Number: 21

Years With Franchise: Boston / Milwaukee Braves (1942, 1946–1964), New York Mets (1965), San Francisco Giants (1965)

Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

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9
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13
Roy Campanella
Catcher
Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Teams: Brooklyn Dodgers
Number: 39

Years With Franchise: Brooklyn Dodgers (1948–1957)

Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

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12
Minnie Miñoso
Outfielder, Left fielder
Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Havana, Cuba
Teams: Chicago White Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, Cleveland Indians, Washington Senators
Number: 9

Years With Franchise: Cleveland Indians (1949, 1951), Chicago White Sox (1951–1957), Cleveland Indians (1958–1959), Chicago White Sox (1960–1961), St. Louis Cardinals (1962), Washington Senators (1963), Chicago White Sox (1964, 1976, 1980)

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Ernie Banks
First baseman, Shortstop
Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Dallas, Texas, United States of America
Teams: Chicago Cubs
Number: 14

Years With Franchise: Chicago Cubs (1953–1971)

Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

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Sandy Koufax
Pitcher
Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States of America
Teams: Los Angeles Dodgers, Brooklyn Dodgers
Number: 32

Years With Franchise: Brooklyn / Los Angeles Dodgers (1955–1966)

Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

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13
79
30
Roberto Clemente
Right fielder
Birthplace: San Antón
Teams: Pittsburgh Pirates
Number: 21

Years With Franchise: Pittsburgh Pirates (1955–1972)

Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

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Joe DiMaggio
Center fielder
Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Martinez, California, United States of America
Teams: New York Yankees
Number: 5

Years With Franchise: New York Yankees (1936–1942, 1946–1951)

Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

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15
54
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Duke Snider
Outfielder, Center fielder
Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States of America
Number: 4

Years With Franchise: Brooklyn / Los Angeles Dodgers (1947–1962), New York Mets (1963), San Francisco Giants (1964)

Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

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#10 of 174 The Greatest Center Fielders of All Time#3 of 175 The Best Los Angeles Dodgers of All Time
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Honus Wagner
Shortstop
Nationality: United States of America, Germany
Birthplace: Chartiers Township, Pennsylvania
Teams: Louisville Colonels, Pittsburgh Pirates
Number: 33

Years With Franchise: Louisville Colonels (1897–1899), Pittsburg / Pittsburgh Pirates (1900–1917)

Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

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Nolan Ryan
Pitcher
Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Refugio, Texas, United States of America
Teams: Texas Rangers, Houston Astros, California Angels, New York Mets
Number: 30, 34

Years With Franchise: New York Mets (1966, 1968–1971), California Angels (1972–1979), Houston Astros (1980–1988), Texas Rangers (1989–1993)

Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

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Stan Musial
Outfielder, Left fielder
Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Donora, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Teams: St. Louis Cardinals
Number: 6

Years With Franchise: St. Louis Cardinals (1941–1944, 1946–1963)

Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

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Pete Rose
Manager, Outfielder
Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
Teams: Philadelphia Phillies, Montreal Expos, Cincinnati Reds
Number: 14

Years With Franchise: Cincinnati Reds (1963–1978), Philadelphia Phillies (1979–1983), Montreal Expos (1984), Cincinnati Reds (1984–1986)

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Roger Maris
Right fielder, Outfielder
Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Hibbing, Minnesota, United States of America
Teams: Kansas City Athletics, St. Louis Cardinals, Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees
Number: 9

Years With Franchise: Cleveland Indians (1957–1958), Kansas City Athletics (1958–1959), New York Yankees (1960–1966), St. Louis Cardinals (1967–1968)

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Tony Gwynn
Right fielder, Outfielder
Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California
Teams: San Diego Padres
Number: 19

Years With Franchise: San Diego Padres (1982–2001)

Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

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Ken Griffey, Jr.
Designated hitter, Outfielder
Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Donora, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Bats: Left-handed
Teams: Chicago White Sox, Seattle Mariners, Cincinnati Reds
Number: 24

Years With Franchise: Seattle Mariners (1989–1999), Cincinnati Reds (2000–2008), Chicago White Sox (2008), Seattle Mariners (2009–2010)

Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

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Derek Jeter
Shortstop
Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: Pequannock, New Jersey
Bats: Right-handed
Teams: New York Yankees
Number: 2

Years With Franchise: New York Yankees (1995–2014)

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Cal Ripken, Jr.
Shortstop, Third baseman
Nationality: United States of America, Germany
Birthplace: Havre de Grace, Maryland, United States of America
Teams: Baltimore Orioles
Number: 8

Years With Franchise: Baltimore Orioles (1981–2001)

Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

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Yogi Berra
Manager, Outfielder
Nationality: United States of America
Birthplace: The Hill, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
Teams: New York Yankees, New York Mets
Number: 8

Years With Franchise: New York Yankees (1946–1963), New York Mets (1965)

Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

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