Who Wore 44 In Baseball?

Who Wore 44 in Baseball? Well, quite a few players have donned the number 44 throughout baseball history. Here’s a look at some of the most notable ones.

Sammy Sosa

Sammy Sosa is a retired Dominican Republic professional baseball right fielder. He played with four Major League Baseball teams over his 18-year career. Sosa is best known for his time with the Chicago Cubs. He became the only player in MLB history to hit 60 or more home runs in a season three times. He was the NL MVP in 1998.

Chicago Cubs

Sosa was born in the Dominican Republic and came up through the Texas Rangers’ organization before being traded to the Chicago Cubs in 1992. He quickly became one of the most popular players in baseball, reaching the 60-homer mark for the first time in 1998. Sosa continued to put up huge numbers over the next several seasons, culminating in his second NL MVP award in 1999. From 1998 to 2002, Sosa averaged 64 homers and 143 RBIs while hitting . 308. He also had four straight seasons with at least 40 stolen bases.

During that five-year stretch, Sosa was one of baseball’s biggest stars. He was a primal force at the plate who could also steal 40 bases a season. In an era defined by home runs, Sosa’s 609 over that five-year stretch were second only to Barry Bonds’ 634.

600 Home Runs

Sammy Sosa, nicknamed “Slammin’ Sammy”, is a Dominican former professional baseball right fielder. Sosa played with four Major League Baseball teams over his 18-year career. He is best remembered for his time with the Chicago Cubs, with whom he spent 13 seasons. Sosa hit 609 home runs during his career, the seventh most in baseball history, and was named the National League MVP in 1998. The only player to hit more home runs than Sosa was Barry Bonds.

Sosa’s career began humbly, as he was signed by the Texas Rangers for only $3,500 in 1986 as a free agent from San Pedro de Macorís in the Dominican Republic. He came up through the Rangers’ farm system before being traded to the White Sox in 1989 as part of the Harold Baines trade. After playing sparingly for them that year and getting off to a slow start in 1990 (hitting only .233), he was traded along with Wilson Álvarez and Scott Fletcher to the Cubs for George Bell before the 1991 season began.

In 1992, Sosa batted .260 with 15 homers and 70 RBI; he also displayed his highlight reel ability in center field on occasion when injuries forced manager Don Zimmer to put him there. Cubs first baseman Mark Grace said “the ball looked like an aspirin tablet coming off Sammy’s bat”. While he continued to improve steadily thereafter (he batted .304 with 25 homers and 86 RBI in 1993), some Chicago baseball writers were beginning to suggest that perhaps first base or even left field might be a better position for him because of his strong throwing arm but sub-par range in center field; this would eventually prove prophetic as he would win NL MVP honors as a right fielder.

Reggie Jackson

Reggie Jackson was an outfielder who played 21 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City / Oakland Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, and California Angels. He was nicknamed “Mr. October” for his clutch hitting in the postseason with the Athletics and the Yankees. Jackson helped the Yankees win three consecutive World Series championships in 1977 and 1978 and a fourth title in 1981. He also helped the Athletics win three consecutive World Series championships in 1972, 1973, and 1974. Jackson hit 563 career home runs and was an American League (AL) All-Star for 14 seasons.

New York Yankees

In 1977, the Yankees acquired Jackson from the Oakland Athletics. Jackson helped lead the Yankees to a World Series title in 1977 and was named the series MVP. He also helped the team win back-to-back World Series titles in 1978 and 1979. Jackson hit 47 home runs in 1980, setting a then-Yankees record. He retired from baseball in 1987.

563 Home Runs

Reggie Jackson hit 563 home runs during his 21-year career in Major League Baseball. He played for the Kansas City / Oakland Athletics, the Baltimore Orioles, the New York Yankees, and the California Angels. Jackson was a 14-time All-Star and won three World Series with the Oakland A’s and two with the New York Yankees. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1993.

Dave Winfield

Dave Winfield, who played for five teams during his Major League Baseball career, was best known for his time with the New York Yankees. Winfield wore #44 throughout his career with the Yankees, and became the first player in team history to have his number retired.

San Diego Padres

Dave Winfield made his Major League debut with the San Diego Padres on June 19, 1973, wearing uniform number 44. He played with the Padres for six seasons, through 1978. Winfield was part of a young Padre team that included players such as first baseman Nate Colbert and second baseman Bobby Tolan. The Padres had a winning record in 1974 and made it to the National League Championship Series (NLCS) that year, but lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 1975, the Padres won their first division title and made it back to the NLCS, but lost to the Cincinnati Reds. The Padres won another division title in 1976, but lost to the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLCS. They made it back to the NLCS in 1977, but once again lost to the Dodgers. Winfield was traded to the New York Yankees after the 1978 season.

3,110 Hits

Dave Winfield is a former professional baseball player. He played Major League Baseball (MLB) for 22 seasons as a right fielder, and also had a brief career as a designed hitter and left fielder. He is currently an executive vice president with the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA). Winfield has 3,110 hits and 465 home runs in his MLB career.

Hank Aaron

Hank Aaron, nicknamed “Hammer” or ” Hammerin’ Hank”, is a retired American Major League Baseball (MLB) right fielder. He served as the Atlanta Braves’ senior vice president from 2002 to 2007, and was the team’s general manager from 1989 to 1991. In 1999, he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.

Atlanta Braves

Hank Aaron, nicknamed “Hammer” or “Hammerin’ Hank”, is a retired American Major League Baseball (MLB) right fielder. He served as the senior vice president of the Atlanta Braves Major League Baseball team from 2002 until his death in 2021. After retiring from playing baseball, Aaron held numerous front office positions with the Braves, including executive vice president and general manager. In 2021, he was inducted into both the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown and the Milwaukee Braves Wall of Honor.

755 Home Runs

On April 8, 1974, Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves broke Babe Ruth’s record by hitting his 715th career home run. It was a momentous achievement for the slugger, who had been Pursuing the record for more than a decade. Aaron retired from major league baseball in 1976 with 755 home runs, a record that would stand until 2001, when it was eclipsed by Barry Bonds.