RETIRED UNIFORM NUMBERS IN THE AMERICAN LEAGUE
Every Uniform Number Retired by Every American League Team | Baseball Almanac
Uniform numbers were used on a permanent basis by the Yankees and Indians in 1929, so that fans could tell who was who on the field. Those uniform numbers corresponded to the player's place in the lineup; those who batted leadoff wore number one, those who batted clean-up wore number four and so on.
This practice caught on and within a few years every team wore numbers. Shortly after it caught on, it began to change as numbers were retired by teams making the lineups impossible to complete thereby allowing players to wear other numbers not corresponding to the position in the lineup.
The following page is a comprehensive breakdown of every retired uniform number in the American League. Research by Baseball Almanac.
"For more than sixty years, Jim Kaat has been an important part of the fabric of the Minnesota Twins organization. With Kitty's storied career on the field as well as his accolades in the broadcast booth and his contributions in the community in mind, the Twins family is proud to bestow our highest honor with the retirement of his jersey – number 36. We are excited to celebrate his decades-long commitment to Twins Territory, as well as his much-deserved and long-awaited induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, this coming season." - Pohlad, Jim. Minnesota Twins Executive Chair. Press Release: Twins announce plans to retire Jim Kaat's number 36. 12 January 2022.
Retired Numbers in the American League
Every Number Retired by Every A.L. Team | N.L. Numbers |
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| Name | Retired Number | Position | Date |
| Jackie Robinson (All MLB) | 42 | 2B | 04-15-1997 |
| Name | Retired Number | Position | Date |
Baltimore Orioles Retired Numbers
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| Name | Retired Number | Position | Date |
| Eddie Murray | 33 | 1B | 06-07-1998 |
| Jim Palmer | 22 | P | 1985 |
| Cal Ripken, Jr. | 8 | SS | 09-09-2001 |
| Brooks Robinson | 5 | 3B | 1977 |
| Frank Robinson | 20 | OF | 1972 |
| Earl Weaver | 4 | M | 1982 |
| Name | Retired Number | Position | Date |
Boston Red Sox Retired Numbers
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| Name | Retired Number | Position | Date |
| Wade Boggs | 26 | 1B | 05-26-2016 |
| Joe Cronin | 4 | SS | 05-29-1984 |
| Bobby Doerr | 1 | 2B | 05-21-1988 |
| Carlton Fisk | 27 | C | 09-04-2000 |
| Pedro Martinez | 45 | P | 07-28-2015 |
| David Ortiz | 34 | DH | 06-24-2017 |
| Johnny Pesky | 6 | SS | 09-28-2008 |
| Jim Rice | 14 | OF | 07-28-2009 |
| Ted Williams | 9 | OF | 05-29-1984 |
| Carl Yastrzemski | 8 | OF | 08-06-1989 |
| Name | Retired Number | Position | Date |
Chicago White Sox Retired Numbers
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| Name | Retired Number | Position | Date |
| Luis Aparicio | 11 | SS | 08-14-1984 |
| Luke Appling | 4 | SS | 06-07-1975 |
| Harold Baines | 3 | OF | 08-20-1989 |
| Mark Buehrle | 56 | P | 06-24-2017 |
| Carlton Fisk | 72 | C | 09-14-1997 |
| Nellie Fox | 2 | 2B | 05-01-1976 |
| Ozzie Guillén | 13 | SS-M | 08-08-2026 |
| Paul Konerko | 14 | 1B | 05-23-2015 |
| Ted Lyons | 16 | P | 07-25-1987 |
| Minnie Minoso | 9 | OF | 05-08-1983 |
| Billy Pierce | 19 | P | 07-25-1987 |
| Frank Thomas | 35 | 1B | 08-29-2010 |
| Name | Retired Number | Position | Date |
Cleveland Guardians Retired Numbers
Click Guardians Retired Numbers For Franchise History In Alphabetical Order |
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| Name | Retired Number | Position | Date |
| Earl Averill | 3 | OF | 1975 |
| Lou Boudreau | 5 | SS | 1970 |
| Larry Doby | 14 | OF | 07-03-1994 |
| Bob Feller | 19 | P | 1957 |
| Mel Harder | 18 | P | 1990 |
| Bob Lemon | 21 | P | 06-20-1998 |
| Frank Robinson | 20 | M | 05-27-2017 |
| Jim Thome | 25 | 3B-1B | 08-18-2018 |
| Name | Retired Number | Position | Date |
Detroit Tigers Retired Numbers
Click Tigers Retired Numbers For Franchise History In Alphabetical Order |
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| Name | Retired Number | Position | Date |
| Sparky Anderson | 11 | M | 06-26-2011 |
| Ty Cobb | -- | OF | 2000 |
| Charlie Gehringer | 2 | 2B | 06-12-1983 |
| Hank Greenberg | 5 | 1B | 06-12-1983 |
| Willie Horton | 23 | OF | 07-15-2000 |
| Al Kaline | 6 | OF | 08-17-1980 |
| Jim Leyland | 10 | M | 08-03-2024 |
| Jack Morris | 47 | P | 08-12-2018 |
| Hal Newhouser | 16 | P | 07-27-1997 |
| Alan Trammell | 3 | SS | 08-26-2018 |
| Lou Whitaker | 1 | 2B | 08-06-2022 |
| Name | Retired Number | Position | Date |
Houston Astros Retired Numbers
Houston Astros Retired Numbers In Alphabetical Order |
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| Name | Retired Number | Position | Date |
| Jeff Bagwell | 5 | 1B | 08-26-2007 |
| Craig Biggio | 7 | 2B | 08-17-2008 |
| Jose Cruz | 25 | OF | 10-03-1992 |
| Larry Dierker | 49 | RHP | 05-19-2002 |
| Nolan Ryan | 34 | RHP | 09-29-1996 |
| Mike Scott | 33 | RHP | 10-03-1992 |
| Jim Umbricht | 32 | RHP | 04-12-1965 |
| Billy Wagner | 13 | LHP | 08-16-2025 |
| Don Wilson | 40 | RHP | 04-13-1975 |
| Jimmy Wynn | 24 | OF | 06-25-2005 |
| Name | Retired Number | Position | Date |
Kansas City Royals Retired Numbers
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| Name | Retired Number | Position | Date |
| George Brett | 5 | 3B | 05-14-1994 |
| Dick Howser | 10 | M | 07-03-1987 |
| Frank White | 20 | 2B | 05-02-1995 |
| Name | Retired Number | Position | Date |
Los Angeles Angels Retired Numbers
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| Name | Retired Number | Position | Date |
| Gene Autry | 26 | Owner | 1982 |
| Rod Carew | 29 | 2B-1B | 08-06-1991 |
| Jim Fregosi | 11 | SS-M | 1998 |
| Jimmie Reese | 50 | Coach | 08-02-1995 |
| Nolan Ryan | 30 | P | 06-16-1992 |
| Name | Retired Number | Position | Date |
Minnesota Twins Retired Numbers
Click Twins Retired Numbers For Franchise History In Alphabetical Order |
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| Name | Retired Number | Position | Date |
| Bert Blyleven | 28 | RHP | 07-16-2011 |
| Rod Carew | 29 | 2B-1B | 07-19-1987 |
| Kent Hrbek | 14 | 1B | 08-13-1995 |
| Jim Kaat | 36 | LHP | 07-16-2022 |
| Tom Kelly | 10 | MGR | 09-08-2012 |
| Harmon Killebrew | 3 | 3B-1B | 05-04-1975 |
| Joe Mauer | 7 | CA-1B | 06-15-2019 |
| Tony Oliva | 6 | OF | 07-14-1991 |
| Kirby Puckett | 34 | OF | 05-25-1997 |
| Name | Retired Number | Position | Date |
New York Yankees Retired Numbers
Click Logo For Team History In Alphabetical Order |
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| Name | Retired Number | Position | Date |
| Yogi Berra | 8 | C | 07-22-1972 |
| Bill Dickey | 8 | C | 07-22-1972 |
| Joe DiMaggio | 5 | OF | 04-18-1952 |
| Whitey Ford | 16 | P | 08-03-1974 |
| Lou Gehrig | 4 | 1B | 07-04-1939 |
| Ron Guidry | 49 | P | 08-23-2003 |
| Elston Howard | 32 | C | 07-22-1984 |
| Reggie Jackson | 44 | OF | 08-14-1993 |
| Derek Jeter | 2 | SS | 05-14-2017 |
| Mickey Mantle | 7 | OF | 06-08-1969 |
| Roger Maris | 9 | OF | 07-22-1984 |
| Billy Martin | 1 | 2B-M | 08-10-1986 |
| Don Mattingly | 23 | 1B | 08-31-1997 |
| Thurman Munson | 15 | C | 09-20-1980 |
| Paul O'Neill | 21 | RF | 08-21-2022 |
| Andy Pettitte | 46 | P | 08-23-2015 |
| Jorge Posada | 20 | C | 08-23-2015 |
| Mariano Rivera | 42 | P | 09-22-2013 |
| Phil Rizzuto | 10 | SS | 08-04-1985 |
| Babe Ruth | 3 | OF | 06-13-1948 |
| CC Sabathia | 52 | P | 09-25-2026 |
| Casey Stengel | 37 | M | 08-08-1970 |
| Joe Torre | 6 | M | 08-23-2014 |
| Bernie Williams | 51 | OF | 05-24-2015 |
| Name | Retired Number | Position | Date |
Sacramento Athletics Retired Numbers
Click Athletics Retired Numbers For Franchise History In Alphabetical Order |
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| Name | Retired Number | Position | Date |
| Dennis Eckersley | 43 | P | 08-13-2005 |
| Rollie Fingers | 34 | P | 1993 |
| Walter A. Haas, Jr. | WH | Owner | 1995 |
| Rickey Henderson | 24 | OF | 08-01-2009 |
| Catfish Hunter | 27 | P | 06-09-1991 |
| Reggie Jackson | 9 | OF | 05-22-2004 |
| Dave Stewart | 34 | P | 09-11-2022 |
| Name | Retired Number | Position | Date |
Seattle Mariners Retired Numbers
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| Name | Retired Number | Position | Date |
| Ken Griffey, Jr. | 24 | OF | 08-07-2016 |
| Randy Johnson | 51 | LHP | 05-02-2026 |
| Edgar Martinez | 11 | DH / 3B | 08-12-2017 |
| Ichiro Suzuki | 51 | RF | 08-08-2025 |
| Name | Retired Number | Position | Date |
Tampa Bay Rays Retired Numbers
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| Name | Retired Number | Position | Date |
| Evan Longoria | 3 | 3B | 07-11-2026 |
| Wade Boggs | 12 | 3B | 04-07-2000 |
| Don Zimmer | 66 | Executive | 04-06-2015 |
| Name | Retired Number | Position | Date |
Texas Rangers Retired Numbers
Click Logo For Team History In Alphabetical Order |
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| Name | Retired Number | Position | Date |
| Johnny Oates | 26 | M | 08-05-2005 |
| Adrian Beltre | 29 | 3B | 06-08-2019 |
| Ivan Rodriguez | 7 | C | 08-12-2017 |
| Nolan Ryan | 34 | P | 09-15-1996 |
| Michael Young | 10 | IF | 08-31-2019 |
| Name | Retired Number | Position | Date |
Toronto Blue Jays Retired Numbers
Click Logo For Team History In Alphabetical Order |
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| Name | Retired Number | Position | Date |
| Roberto Alomar | 12 | 2B | 07-31-2011 |
| Roy Halladay | 32 | RHP | 03-29-2018 |
| Name | Retired Number | Position | Date |
| Retired American League Numbers | Baseball Almanac | |||
Hank Aaron, Sparky Anderson, Wade Boggs, Rod Carew, Rollie Fingers, Carlton Fisk, Reggie Jackson, Greg Maddux, Willie Mays, Frank Robinson, Nolan Ryan, and Casey Stengel have each had their number retired by more than one Major League team!
Jackie Robinson was the first and only player whose uniform number — 42 — was retired by Major League Baseball (April 15, 1997) making it unwearable on every team present & in the future.
Did you know that the New York Yankees have retired twenty-two numbers — which is more than any other Major League Baseball team from either league?
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