numbers

And NFL referees?

I suspect it is merely a means of identification ... probably to keep those rascals from trying to get on the field to substitute for a player ...

Alot of times these numbers are not made available for players because as one HS coach told a certain Lefty who is at Yale now that the number was his playing # and that the player need choose another. Last time i check they are done playing and need to move on. Why not use intials M= Manager C= coach #'S SHOULD BE LEFT FOR ACTIVE PLAYER imho

baseball is all about tradition.........when numbered jerseys came into baseball many managers and coaches were also players.........If you need examples.......Rogers Hornsby, Ty Cobb, Nap Lajoie.....Frank Robinson and Pete Rose

If there was a chance they would play they were numbered.....The old saying rings true..........you cant tell the players without a program.......and the program listed the player and coaches by numbers.....

As to a coach taking a number from a player....there is no rule in baseball that disallows a coach and a player having the same number.........there would be no confusion if they do.....and as a matter of fact I know of a number of college coaches who do this.....

quote:

Last time i check they are done playing and need to move on. Why not use intials M= Manager C= coach #'S SHOULD BE LEFT FOR ACTIVE PLAYER imho

try to see it this way...........Lets say your college coach has been a player and coach for 30 years........on the college and possibly pro level....he has championship appearances and titles over the years....... you are an incoming freshman..........what right have you earned to HIS number???

We all have an attachment to "Our" number....(even umpires)......Dont state your case for "your number" until you have done something to deserve it....

When joining a new chapter, I have a number selection in mind......

"My" number is 5.........and since many things in baseball are senority based as a new member I cant ask anyone to give up that number.....

So I have a list

5 (my number)
55 (my football number)
51 (my Football Heros number (butkus))
36 (my brothers number)
21 (my fathers number)
18 (my sons number)

all are special to me........just my .02

I am always amazed at how important numbers are to players and fans. My son is no different, he has to have some kind of variation of the number 7. In that he is a big guy (6'4", 235) he is always seeking the biggest uniform. So he figured several years ago that he could not always get the number 7.

His solution was to get a number where the two numbers added together are 7; hence, now he is 25, in high school 34 and he has been 16 once and 43 once.

quote:

Originally posted by RYNO:
Alot of times these numbers are not made available for players because as one HS coach told a certain Lefty who is at Yale now that the number was his playing # and that the player need choose another. Last time i check they are done playing and need to move on. Why not use intials M= Manager C= coach #'S SHOULD BE LEFT FOR ACTIVE PLAYER imho

Aren't they part of the team too?

Having gone up north to see the Ivy career home run record broken, your post caught my interest.

Looking at the illustrious two years of Indie ball and a good run in college that the coach bases his claim on, I think deference to the future would have been a better choice.

While watching, I heard a very strange idea being promoted as the wave of future pitching in many circles. Starting staffs would be all righties with a few leftys for occasional relief roles.

What a shame it would be if this catches on (the Yankees tried it a few years ago). Bad idea that looks to further dillute the game at all levels.