Who Wore Number 42 in Baseball and Why?

Did you know that Jackie Robinson wasn’t the only player to wear number 42 in baseball? Learn about the other players who donned the number and why it’s such an important part of baseball history.

Jackie Robinson

Jackie Robinson, the first black man to play in Major League Baseball, wore the number 42. He was born in Cairo, Georgia in 1919 and became one of the most famous baseball players of all time. He broke the color barrier in baseball and was an All-Star player for six years. He was also the National League MVP in 1949.

First African American player in MLB

Jackie Robinson was the first African American player in Major League Baseball (MLB). He broke the color barrier in 1947, when he was signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers. He played for 10 seasons with the Dodgers, and was named the National League Rookie of the Year in 1947 and the National League MVP in 1949. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.

Robinson’s number, 42, was retired by all Major League Baseball teams in 1997. In 2004, MLB instituted a annual ” Jackie Robinson Day” on which every player on every team wears number 42.

Wore number 42 in honor of Robinson

When Major League Baseball began to allow African American players in the 1940s, Jackie Robinson was one of the first to break the color barrier. In 1947, he became the first black player in MLB history. As a result of his exemplary character and on-field talent, Robinson was not only one of baseball’s first black superstars, but also one of its most respected players. In recognition of his achievements, MLB retired Robinson’s jersey number, 42, across all major league teams in 1997.

Robinson’s number 42 was chosen by Major League Baseball to honor the man who changed the game forever. Jackie Robinson’s daughter, Sharon Robinson, said that her father would be “very proud” that his jersey number is now worn by players of all races and backgrounds. “It’s a great tribute to my dad,” she said, “and it speaks to his commitment to giving everyone an opportunity to play this great game.”

Mariano Rivera

Mariano Rivera was the last player to wear number 42 before it was retired throughout baseball in honor of Jackie Robinson. Rivera was born in Panama and was signed by the New York Yankees in 1990. Rivera is considered by many to be the greatest relief pitcher in baseball history. Here are a few reasons why.

Last MLB player to wear number 42

Mariano Rivera is the last MLB player to wear the number 42 on his uniform. The number was retired throughout the league in 1997 to honor Jackie Robinson, who broke baseball’s color barrier in 1947. Since Robinson’s number is retired, no player is allowed to wear it.

Wore number 42 in honor of Robinson

Mariano Rivera wore the number 42 on his jersey in honor of Jackie Robinson, who was the first African American player in Major League Baseball. Robinson’s number was retired by every team in MLB in 1997, the 50th anniversary of his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers. The number 42 was also retired by the New York Yankees in Mo’s honor in 2013.

Other players who wore number 42

Jackie Robinson famously wore number 42 when he broke the color barrier in baseball. But he was not the only player to don the number. In 1997, Major League Baseball retired the number 42 in honor of Robinson. Click through the gallery to see some of the other players who wore number 42.

Darryl Strawberry

Darryl Strawberry was one of the most feared hitters of his generation. He was a power hitter who hit for both average and power. He was also a very good fielder. Strawberry was born in 1962 in Los Angeles, California. He played for the Dodgers, Mets, and Yankees. In his career, he hit 335 home runs and had 1,000 RBIs. Strawberry was a six-time All-Star and won the World Series three times.

Moises Alou

Moises Alou played right field for the Montreal Expos, Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs, New York Mets, and San Francisco Giants. He is a six-time All-Star. He was the National League batting champion in 1994 and won the Silver Slugger Award three times. Alou also won the NL Championship Series MVP award in 1997.

Alou was born in 1966 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. His father, Felipe, was also a Major League Baseball player. Alou signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates as an international free agent in 1985. He made his Major League debut with the Pirates in 1991 but was traded to the Montreal Expos during the 1992 season.

Alou played for the Expos from 1992 until 2003 when he was traded to the Houston Astros. He then played for the Chicago Cubs from 2004 to 2006 before being traded to the New York Mets. In 2007, he returned to the San Francisco Giants where he played until his retirement in 2009.

Why number 42 is no longer worn in MLB

In 1997, Major League Baseball retired the number 42 worn by Jackie Robinson in honor of his achievements as the first African American player in the majors. All players currently wearing number 42 were grandfathered in and allowed to continue wearing the number. However, no new players have been allowed to wear number 42 since 1997.

Retired in honor of Jackie Robinson

In 1997, Major League Baseball retired the number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson, the first black player in the league. Every team and every player wore 42 during Jackie Robinson Day on April 15, 1997. The following year, any player who was wearing 42 at the time it was retired was grandfathered and allowed to continue to wear the number. Mo Vaughn, then of the Boston Red Sox, was the last player to wear 42 before it was permanently retired.