Open Thread: Uniform numbers and nothing else
ByEvery one in a while I run across one of those “on this date in history” items that involves the Yankees. As I traipsed around the internet today, I ran across a pretty significant one. On January 21, 1920, the Yankees announced that their players would wear uniform numbers. No other team in baseball did this at the time. Instead of letting players pick, they had numbers assigned based on batting order position. Hence, Babe Ruth got 3, and Lou Gehrig eventually got 4.
While the format for handing out numbers changed — players choose now — I’m glad nothing else did. It’s kind of neat that the Yankees don’t have their names on the backs of their jerseys. It’s also good for fans, who can buy one overpriced authentic jersey and wear it through multiple players. It worked out real well for those who bought Jason Giambi jerseys. Not so much, though, for people like my buddy Jon who bought a Sheffield jersey.
Oh, and just because we haven’t yet mentioned it, the Pirates DFA’d former Yankee Anthony Claggett to make room for former Yankee Octavio Dotel. Claggett is the second former Yankee the Pirates have DFA’d this week. Steven Jackson is the other. They released Eric Hacker in November, and he has since signed a minor league deal with the Giants.
In local sports, the Rangers visit Philly and the Panthers face the Islanders. No local basketball, though NBA fans will probably want to watch the Lakers at Caveliers at 8 on TNT. Big East basketball fans can catch Seton Hall at Louisville on ESPN or ESPN2.
And now, your open thread.
127 Comments»
RAB Info
The Founders
Mike Axisa, Ben Kabak, Joe Pawlikowski
Editor-In-Chief
Mike Axisa Archives | Email
Managing Editors
Ben Kabak Archives | E-mail
Joe Pawlikowski Archives | E-mail
Contributing Editors
Larry Koestler (Archives)
Moshe Mandel (Archives)
Eric Schultz (Archives)
Weekend Writers
Hannah Ehrlich (Archives)
Matthew Warden (Archives)
Special Contributor
J.R. O'Grady (Archives)
Technical Consultant
Jay Gordon
Subscribe to RAB by RSS
Follow @RiverAveBlues
Search RAB
Yankees News from YESNetwork.com
- Yankees-Blue Jays finale rained out
- Yankees continue to dominate Blue Jays, improve to 8-1 in the season series
- With a strong start against the Blue Jays, David Phelps makes a case for himself as a regular starer
- Cano homers twice to help Yankees beat Blue Jays for the eighth time
- Yankees acquire Reid Brignac from Rockies
- Kuroda proving he's one of baseball's best
- Joe Girardi's confidence helping Yankees rookies seize their opportunity
- Postgame Notebook: Yanks holding out for a Hiro
- Kuroda pitches eight scoreless innings to carry Yankees past Blue Jays in series opener
- Managing a steady stream of injuries, Girardi's creative lineups powering Yankees
Banner Design By
The Tyler Austin Watch
You kidding me Joe?! Your buddy Jon and myself are very proud of our
Gary SheffieldBrett Gardner jerseys!Just tell everyone it’s a Lefty Gomez authentic.
Is it Sunday yet?
Bet my paycheck on the Colts
I’d take it if I had a paycheck to put up!
I think the Jets find some way to pull it off and it ends up being MIN v. NYJ in the bowl
Which would be funny because I’ve spent most of the season predicting a Colts-Saints Superbowl
any money on that or just a broad prediction?
if there is money, I hope that works out for you.. even though I really want to see how all the Sanchez haters would respond to him making it to the bowl.
No money.
Damn,Becca,you just gonna let Sam call you a broad like that?(<—-starting trouble…)
If the Jets win, it won’t be because of Sanchez, that’s for sure. It’s not out of the realm of possibility, don’t get me wrong. If Peyton doesn’t show up, the Jets will win. Peyton is (and I can’t stand him) the best quarterback in the league. “Revis Island” is a non-issue to a quarterback of his caliber.
The Jets can definitely win that game. No doubt. But It’s about Peyton, not so much about Sanchez and the Jets, IMHO.
Are they really ‘haters’ though? A-Rod has haters. Mark Sanchez has people who realistically rate him poorly because he’s a rookie QB who hasn’t figured things out and will cost his team games in which he’s forced to pass for yardage or first downs that guys like Manning, Brees, etc. would call a brisk warmup.
Sanchez being in the super bowl wouldn’t erase his horrible season.
That would be the most unwatchable Super Bowl in its history–for me.
Worse than say … a Red Sox v. Mets World Series?
Eh, my hatred of the Sox would make me want to watch them get crushed. Even if it means the Mets get the dubya.
Yes.
Red Sox:Jets works for me as a comp to how I’d feel about the Colts losing but there’s no one in the NL I shudder to watch win the way I do for Favre.
(I might have only been 22 months old but 1986 is hilarious in hindsight.)
rugby still assigns numbers by position.
in college mine was 18…that’s the second substitute’s first substitute.
sign clagget and jackson to fill igawa’s spot since he’ll be our hot new loogy!
any interest in Brandon Jones, dfa Braves?
he was claimed by the Pirates
2 hours of Jersey Shore action and new Burn Notice. New Office, Community, Parks & Rec and Fringe. Dammit why cant they spread all this out over the week.
Manhunters!!!!!
Jersey Shore: Great Reality TV show or Greatest Reality TV show ever?
Nothing like beating up the beat for 2 full hours including a reunion and watching The Situation and The Hulk fight over an unattractive girl.
It’s pretty much the same as the real world in my opinion. Real world San diago was my show!
Really? Even I haven’t stooped that low.
But Sammi has such an interesting, exciting personality…
Central Florida Time Warner has all the Thursday night shows on Demand in hi-def, so that means, drinking for me tonite. Cheap women and expensive Gin, or vice versa.
Expensive women and cheap gin will give you a cheaper doctor’s bill.
Nothing will beat the last Cavs-Lakers game that took place in L.A. and featured the fans throwing their foam fingers on the court because they couldn’t believe their team was losing.
Man I was looking forward to seeing Tracy McGrady and his 46 minutes of total playing time as the starter in the All Star game.
Is it me or do Cavs-Lakers play more times than an EC/WC team should?
It’s you.
if it was up to the NBA, they would play 50 times a year.
Speaking of numbers, while My Man 100 Grand has already taken #14, the following players added this offseason will still need to be assigned numbers (in order of expected playing time):
Javier Vazquez
Nick Johnson
Jamie Hoffmann
(gap)
Romulo Sanchez
Boone Logan
(gap)
Kevin Russo
Ivan Nova
Reegie Corona
Eduardo Nuñez
Hector Noesi
Any ideas on who takes what number? Vazquez has rocked 23 and 33 in the past, but they’re both taken/retired. Nick’s old #36 is currently in use by Edwar, so maybe that’s still “available”. The rest are Up In The Air (starring George Clooney and Vera Farmiga). Also, Juan Miranda may switch from #72 to something less Spring-Training-y.
Give Boone Logan 86. It will be appropriate.
Maybe Hoffmann will wear 35?
Too soon.
Please, no. I still haven’t gotten over Moose’s retirement. I can’t take another 35 yet.
12, 14, 17, 22, 28, 31, 38, 39, 41
All numbers of players on last year’s team that no longer play for the Yankees.
Prediction: Javy takes 22, Don’t-Hassle-The-Hoff takes 41, and NJ takes 38. Grand Master Flash already claimed 14, I believe.
Oh yeah, forgot that part. So scratch 14 off the list.
I’m still recovering from the last 41.
53 too.
You left out HazMat’s 55 and Damon’s 18.
Damon may return, but HazMat’s obviously not.
man that was a huge oversight.
The uniforms were issued in 1929, not 1920.
Uniform numbers, of course. It would have been uncomfortable to play without uniforms. Adrian Beltre accidents waiting to happen.
I could get behind a no-uniform exhibition game.
Kinky.
I demand uniformless cheerleaders.
This is baseball, Tommie. Your cheerleaders have no place here.
/checks score on lingerie football
http://florida.marlins.mlb.com.....rmaids.jsp (safe)
So that’s where all the Yankees’ money is going…
Interesting news. Kelvin DeLeon has joined my “Bring Melvin to America” page on Facebook. 100 members strong.
“Asesino de los Suenos” is coming.
I almost want to join Facebook just to join that group.
Do it so I can stalk you.
You know long-distance stalking just can’t work out, JMK.
Hey, I travel for business…
Running from the law counts as “work travel”? Interesting
Do you think actual players in the Yankee organization know who Melvin is?
I’m sure the ones who played with him do.
I wasn’t trying to be sarcastic, I was legitimately wondering. But yes thank you Mr. in Sunny Daytona.
I’m sorry if I came off snarky, it wasn’t intentional.
no worries. i thought i came off sarcastic on the first one
Mo said in a recent interview that he’s not retiring until Melvin is in the Bronx.
That’s…certainly an interesting profile picture he’s got.
And any chance that’s the real Jesus Montero?
Five albums for deserted island: Jimi Hendrix Electric Ladyland, Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon, The Who Who’s Next, Rolling Stones Exile on Main Street, Grateful Dead Skull and Roses
So…..we’re on this island in 1978, right?
Or today, Just my taste, to me no progess in music since Jimi died, Voodoo Chile best riff ever
slight return or the long jam one? I like the long one better but they’re both great.
So…..we’re on this island in 1978, right?
No. 1977.
My five albums are five copies of Geronimo Jackson’s magnum opus, “Magna Carta”.
/semi-obscure-reference’d
You’re livin’ in the past, man!
No great music since
How progressive-minded. I haven’t read a book or seen a movie that’s come out since 1978 either, ’cause you know, nothing good has come out since then.
Leave the cave and get some sunlight. (I’ll send you directions from my garden apartment.)
Can’t think of a movie better than Casablanca either and that was 1941…LOL
chinatown, apocalypse now, both godfathers, american beauty, one flew over the cuckoo’s nest, five easy pieces, cool hand luke. all made after casablanca, all comparably amazing. The 70s were a sick movie decade
Not a single Animal Crackers in my Soup by the oh-so natural Shirley Temple?
Abbey Road, Kind of Blue, Illmatic, In Rainbows, Ok Computer. And i’d still be miserable. Expand the list to about 300 and then maybe i’d be ok
jesus that feels so cramped. I’d need pretty much everything by the Beatles, Radiohead, Pat Metheny, Miles Davis, and then a lot of Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Hendrix, Elliott Smith, Christian Scott, A Tribe Called Quest, Nas (earlier stuff), and soooooooo many others. I think if i were stuck on a deserted island with only 5 albums, i’d swim to the US.
So Montero has gotten Manny Ramirez and Miguel Cabrera comps int he past few days. Glorious.
Let’s hope he’s not boozing or roiding.
heh.. He’s not even 21 yet.
all the more reason to hope he isn’t
40 Mil for the Cone Zone. Not bad at all.
Too bad he has to wait till September to come back.
I’m sure the 8 month vacation during which he can do guest spots on whatever TV shows he wants and never has to work will be dreadful
Ha well obviously it’s good for him. I was talking about my late night needs.
Feguson Jenkins, stop your bitching.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....id=4846734
Seriously, I’m so sick of all these old-timers.
Haha he acted like McGwire killed people.
Bold statement
In his day the mound was higher. It’s probably safe to say there would have been less home runs.
he ever say anything about Gaylord Perry?
Is that Sleeps counter right? I was hoping ST would be closer
out of curiousity, say Jesus got a 40 man call up this year and the Yankees clinch the AL East while he is up. Does he get to celebrate with champagne even though technically he isn’t at the legal limit?
(Honestly though because I already know Jesus can do what he wants when he wants.)
Jesus does not drink champagne. The locker room will be drenched in red wine.
The locker room will be drenched in water…Which Jesus will TURN INTO wine…[Fixed]
Yankees clinch by August.
Problem solved.
Boy they really mailed in tonight’s episode of The Office, huh?
Fuckers.
Seriously..
Am I going to be mad that I DVR’d it? I’ve hated most of this season.
One of those shows where there’s a line of dialogue that opens the door to play clips of old episodes for 5 minutes.
Ugh, clip shows are the fucking worst. As I’ve said before on in re: the show, they need to think about ending it.
I’m hoping whoever buys Dunder Mifflin is funny as hell.
anyone else here like the show supernatural?
Saw this question posed on ESPN.com:
Would you rather have LBJ’s next 10 years or Kobe’s previous 10?
Kobe’s.
4 rings.
Do Kobe’s 10 come with Shaq for 8 years?
Seriously? How would anyone possibly take Kobe?
Reading fail. My bad. Thought it said Kobe’s next ten.
LBJ.
He’s going to Brooklyn to play alongside John Wall and Bosh.
And play in East Rutherford for 2-3 years of that contract? No chance.
Is Julianne Moore supposed to be doing a boston accent? It’s fucking terrible.
Can a corner coming out of college really be called “shutdown.” This kid Haden out of Florida is being touted as such. Its kinda annoying considering how good WRs in the NFL are.
Haden would be an awesome addition to a weak Gmen secondary.
Is he a first rounder? Good CB’s are useless when they have to cover for 10 seconds on every play. I’d rather a bigass fuckin DT or an impact MLB.
Man the Lakers are fucking stacked.
Kobe Bean
Gasol
Artest
Bynum
Odom
I wouldn’t go that far. Even though he’s a douche, .293/.352/.447 with GG defense in center is pretty good.
Oops, wrong spot.
Anybody else feel like we have granderson at a bargain after seeing the contract victorino just signed, or am I alone in my belief that grandy is a superior player?
Victorino can’t hold Granderson’s jock. Except when it comes to being Hawaiian, of course.
in a related manner, The Flyin Hawaiian is a pretty sweet nickname
I wouldn’t go that far. Even though he’s a douche, .293/.352/.447 with GG defense in center is pretty good.
Victorino is a good player, absolutely. Granderson could be among the best players in the league if he can hit lefties.
3 yrs at 7.7 per(aav)? Yeah, he’s a bargain.
Seton Hall basketball is a bad joke.
/I’m allowed to say that, I’m an alumnus
There are things other than Jersey Shore going on tonight?
Burn Notice season premiere was legit.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH Conan is the fucking man. 4.8 million dollar sketch.
uh…. just eat good food and work out.