Who Wore Number 44 in Baseball?

A blog about the history of the number 44 in baseball.

Number 44 in Baseball

The number 44 has been worn by some great baseball players over the years. Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, and Reggie Jackson are just a few of the players who have donned the number 44. Let’s take a look at some of the other players who have worn this number.

Jackie Robinson

Jackie Robinson, who wore number 42, is a legend in baseball. He was the first African American to play in Major League Baseball (MLB) in the modern era. He broke the color barrier in 1947 and became one of the greatest players in the history of the game. He was a six-time All-Star, won the National League Rookie of the Year Award in 1947, and was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.

Hank Aaron

Hank Aaron is a retired American baseball right fielder who played 21 seasons in the Major Leagues, from 1954 through 1976. Aaron is considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time. He held the MLB record for career home runs for 33 years, and he is still the all-time leader in RBIs with 2,297.

Reggie Jackson

Reginald Martinez “Reggie” Jackson (born May 18, 1946) is an American former professional baseball right fielder who played 21 seasons for the Kansas City / Oakland Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Jackson was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1993.

Other Players Who Wore Number 44

Jackie Robinson is the most famous player to wear number 44 in baseball, as he was the first African American player in Major League Baseball. However, there have been other players who have worn the number 44 throughout baseball history.

Willie Mays

Willie Mays, nicknamed “The Say Hey Kid”, is a retired American baseball player who spent the majority of his 22-season career playing for the New York/San Francisco Giants, before finishing with the New York Mets. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979, his first year of eligibility.

Mays was called up to the Major Leagues at age 20 in 1951 and remained with the Giants until he was traded to the Mets in 1972. Between his time in Manhattan and Candlestick Park, Mays won two National League (NL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awards, was a 24-time All-Star selection (tied for second all time), participated in 12 World Series as a Giant (winning two), and is widely regarded as one of the greatest baseball players of all time.

Roberto Clemente

Roberto Clemente was a baseball legend who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates for 18 seasons. He was born on August 18, 1934 in Barranquitas, Puerto Rico, and died tragically in a plane crash on December 31, 1972 while attempting to deliver supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. Clemente was a 12-time All-Star and won the National League MVP award in 1966. He also won 12 Gold Glove Awards and led the Pirates to victory in the 1971 World Series. Clemente was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1973, and his number (21) was retired by the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Billy Williams

Billy Williams wore number 44 throughout his 18-year career with the Cubs. He was a 6-time All-Star and won the NL Rookie of the Year in 1961. Williams was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987.

Why Number 44 is Retired

Number 44 is a retired number in Major League Baseball. It was retired in 1997 by the Chicago White Sox in honor of Hall of Famer Hank Aaron. The number has also been retired by the Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, and San Francisco Giants.

Jackie Robinson’s Impact

Many people know that Jackie Robinson was the first black man to play in Major League Baseball, but few know the true extent of his impact on the game. Not only did he help to break the color barrier in baseball, but he also changed the way the game was played. He was an outstanding athlete and a brilliant strategist, and his style of play revolutionized the sport.

Before Jackie Robinson came along, baseball was a slow, methodical game. Pitchers threw a lot of innings, and batters tried to make contact and get on base. But Jackie Robinson changed all that. He was incredibly fast, and he had a tremendous ability to hit for power. He also had a keen understanding of the game, and he used this knowledge to his advantage. He would often steal bases or take extra bases when no one was expecting it. His style of play was exciting and electrifying, and it helped to bring fans back to the game.

Jackie Robinson’s impact on baseball went far beyond his own playing career. He paved the way for generations of black players who came after him, and he helped to change the face of America’s favorite pastime. For that reason, his number 44 is retired by every Major League team.

Hank Aaron’s Impact

Although he was an All-Star for 21 seasons and a World Series champion with the Milwaukee Braves in 1957, Aaron is best known for breaking Babe Ruth’s hallowed home run record in 1974. He retired two years later with 755 homers, a mark that would stand until Barry Bonds surpassed it in 2007. In 1999, baseball fans voted Aaron the sport’s greatest living player in recognition of his lifetime achievements, which also include three Gold Glove Awards and the National League MVP Award in 1957.

Reggie Jackson’s Impact

Reggie Jackson is one of the most successful and popular Major League Baseball players of all time. He played for 21 seasons with 5 different teams, winning 3 World Series titles. He was a 14-time All-Star and was voted the American League Most Valuable Player in 1973. He also won 2 World Series MVP Awards.

Since his retirement in 1987, no other player has worn number 44 in Major League Baseball. In 2004, the Yankees retired Jackson’s number in a ceremony at Yankee Stadium. Jackson remains the only player to have his number retired by the Yankees.

Jackson’s impact on baseball is still felt today. He was one of the first African American superstars in baseball and helped break down barriers for future generations of black players. He was also one of the most popular players of his era, helping to increase baseball’s popularity in the 1970s and 1980s.