Subject: Honorary Retired Numbers
Posted by: BxBarracuda
Date: Aug 30 14
Baseball is the best example for this thought, and perhaps the New York Yankees specifically, but it can be used for all teams over all sports.
The more teams retire numbers the less numbers there are left to be used by clubs for as long as the sport is played. Whether it should be or not, it matters to players what numbers they where, as proved by payments players who change teams will payout to get the number they had the season before. The single digit numbers for every day players in baseball are also the numbers talented players hope they receive when they get to the big leagues. Baseball players can also be the most "superstitious" as shown by various rally routines which can infect dugouts during games when streaks are happening, and the number a player wears could, even though maybe it shouldn't, effect the mental aspect of their game.
There are some greats that deserve to have their numbers retired forever, but in the spirit of leaving some numbers for those that come after, as well as honoring a player who distinguished themselves for a team, maybe there should be a new classification for players that meant a lot to a team.
This new category would be Honorary retired numbers, which would last for the lifetime of the player that is being honroed, and if a team wants to recognize a current player for his on and off the field persona, they could ask the player whose number was Honorarily retired, if they would be comfortable with that current player wearing their uniform.
This gives distinction to the Honorary player and give a young player an earned distinction and perhaps a role model to emulate both on and off the field.
Posted by: BxBarracuda
Date: Aug 30 14
Baseball is the best example for this thought, and perhaps the New York Yankees specifically, but it can be used for all teams over all sports.
The more teams retire numbers the less numbers there are left to be used by clubs for as long as the sport is played. Whether it should be or not, it matters to players what numbers they where, as proved by payments players who change teams will payout to get the number they had the season before. The single digit numbers for every day players in baseball are also the numbers talented players hope they receive when they get to the big leagues. Baseball players can also be the most "superstitious" as shown by various rally routines which can infect dugouts during games when streaks are happening, and the number a player wears could, even though maybe it shouldn't, effect the mental aspect of their game.
There are some greats that deserve to have their numbers retired forever, but in the spirit of leaving some numbers for those that come after, as well as honoring a player who distinguished themselves for a team, maybe there should be a new classification for players that meant a lot to a team.
This new category would be Honorary retired numbers, which would last for the lifetime of the player that is being honroed, and if a team wants to recognize a current player for his on and off the field persona, they could ask the player whose number was Honorarily retired, if they would be comfortable with that current player wearing their uniform.
This gives distinction to the Honorary player and give a young player an earned distinction and perhaps a role model to emulate both on and off the field.
3 replies. On page 1 of 1 pages. 1
Anton 
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Yes, it often matters to a player what number they wear. It does for me. I only feel comfortable wearing one number, and when I don't, I don't feel the same. But, it isn't the end of the season or career. Like in every other aspect of baseball, you have to make adjustments. As far as players requesting single digit numbers, I don't see it that much anymore. More times than not, players will request the basher numbers like 24, 44, or 32. To your point, it is not a good idea at all. First of all, do you have any idea how hard a player's life is going to be if he wears Jeter's #2 after he retires? Besides the fans heckling mercilessly, the player would have massive shoes to fill, and there is already a huge amount of pressure on a Major Leaguer to produce. Then there is the fact that a lot of baseball players are respectful when it comes to history and won't even consider wearing Jeter's number while playing for New York. Secondly, it will be a very long time until one team retires 76 numbers and would be forced to give a player a retired number. Right now, the Yankees only have 17 individual numbers retired. Make it 18 when Jeter retires. Pettite might get his number retired too, so let us make it 19. They would still have to go through over 50 more numbers until they run out of options. I don't think it will ever happen. yeah, I know you said while that player is alive. But, what would you do when Jeter dies? Make his #2 available? Players still won't wear it. And what about Mickey Mantle or Babe Ruth? Because they died before this rule would go into effect, their numbers would remain off limits while players today would have to give up theirs one day? If a player is good enough to have his number retired by a team, then it should stay retired forever. Reply #1. Aug 30 14, 11:45 AM |
BxBarracuda
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Jeter wouldn't fit the category of a player to be made an Honorary retired number, he would be a straight out retired number. But maybe a player like Bernie Williams, or Andy Petitte like you mention, would fit that category. Reply #2. Aug 30 14, 12:15 PM |
| BxBarracuda
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My thought wouldn't get rid of retired numbers for the greats, it's an additional thought to tradition of retired numbers, it would be more to give recognition to the good players that may have meant a lot to a team. Reply #3. Aug 30 14, 12:18 PM |
3 replies. On page 1 of 1 pages. 1
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