Who is 99 in Baseball?
Baseball is a beloved sport that is enjoyed by millions of fans around the world. It is filled with traditions, superstitions, and heroes. One of the most iconic figures in baseball is number 99, which is worn by a select few players in the sport’s history.
What is the Significance of the Number 99?
The number 99 is not common in baseball, as most teams choose to retire the numbers of their most iconic players. It is a special number, however, and is often associated with greatness. The number 99 is associated with some of the greatest players to ever play the game, such as Willie Mays, Reggie Jackson, and Ken Griffey Jr.
Who Has Worn Number 99?
The number 99 has been worn by a variety of players throughout the years. Here are some of the most prominent players to have worn the iconic number:
- Willie Mays: Willie Mays is one of the greatest players of all time. He wore the number 99 for the San Francisco Giants from 1951 to 1972. He was a 15-time All-Star, a two-time World Series champion, and a 24-time Gold Glove Award winner.
- Reggie Jackson: Reggie Jackson is considered to be one of the best players of the 1970s and 1980s. He wore the number 99 for the Oakland Athletics from 1967 to 1975. He was a 14-time All-Star, a five-time World Series champion, and a two-time MVP.
- Ken Griffey Jr.: Ken Griffey Jr. is one of the most popular players of all time. He wore the number 99 for the Seattle Mariners from 1989 to 2010. He was a 13-time All-Star, a 10-time Gold Glove Award winner, and an MVP.
- Barry Bonds: Barry Bonds is one of the most controversial players of all time. He wore the number 99 for the San Francisco Giants from 1993 to 2007. He was an eight-time All-Star, a seven-time Gold Glove Award winner, and a seven-time MVP.
- Jose Reyes: Jose Reyes is one of the most exciting players of his generation. He wore the number 99 for the New York Mets from 2003 to 2011. He was a six-time All-Star, a four-time Silver Slugger Award winner, and a one-time stolen base leader.
- Steve Garvey: Steve Garvey is one of the most popular players of the 1970s and 1980s. He wore the number 99 for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1969 to 1982. He was a 10-time All-Star, a four-time Gold Glove Award winner, and a two-time MVP.
- Aramis Ramirez: Aramis Ramirez is one of the best players of his generation. He wore the number 99 for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1998 to 2003. He was a three-time All-Star, a two-time Silver Slugger Award winner, and a one-time RBI leader.
- Jacoby Ellsbury: Jacoby Ellsbury is one of the most exciting players of his generation. He wore the number 99 for the Boston Red Sox from 2007 to 2013. He was a two-time All-Star, a two-time Gold Glove Award winner, and a one-time stolen base leader.
Why Do Players Choose to Wear Number 99?
Players often choose to wear the number 99 for a variety of reasons. Some players may choose to wear the number as a tribute to one of their favorite players who wore it in the past, while others may choose it as a way to stand out from the crowd. Some players may even simply choose the number because they like the way it looks.
What is the Future of Number 99?
As the number of players wearing the number 99 is quite small, it is unlikely that it will become a common number in the future. That being said, it is still an iconic number that is associated with some of the greatest players in baseball history.
What Other Players Have Worn Number 99?
In addition to the players listed above, the number 99 has been worn by a variety of other players throughout the years. Here are some of the other players who have worn the number 99:
- Don Baylor: Don Baylor wore the number 99 for the California Angels from 1977 to 1982. He was a six-time All-Star, a three-time Silver Slugger Award winner, and a one-time MVP.
- Bernie Williams: Bernie Williams wore the number 99 for the New York Yankees from 1991 to 2006. He was a five-time All-Star, a four-time Gold Glove Award winner, and a one-time Silver Slugger Award winner.
- Ryne Sandberg: Ryne Sandberg wore the number 99 for the Chicago Cubs from 1982 to 1997. He was a nine-time All-Star, a 10-time Gold Glove Award winner, and a one-time MVP.
- Ozzie Smith: Ozzie Smith wore the number 99 for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1981 to 1996. He was a 15-time All-Star, a 13-time Gold Glove Award winner, and a one-time Silver Slugger Award winner.
- Dave Parker: Dave Parker wore the number 99 for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1973 to 1983. He was a seven-time All-Star, a three-time Gold Glove Award winner, and a two-time MVP.
- Dave Winfield: Dave Winfield wore the number 99 for the San Diego Padres from 1973 to 1980. He was a 12-time All-Star, a six-time Gold Glove Award winner, and a one-time MVP.
- Garry Maddox: Garry Maddox wore the number 99 for the Philadelphia Phillies from 1973 to 1986. He was a eight-time All-Star, a eight-time Gold Glove Award winner, and a one-time Silver Slugger Award winner.
What Other Sports Have Players Worn the Number 99?
The number 99 is not just associated with baseball. In fact, the number has been worn by players in a variety of other sports, such as hockey and basketball.
- Hockey: Wayne Gretzky is arguably the most iconic player to ever wear the number 99 in hockey. He wore the number for the Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues, and New York Rangers from 1979 to 1999. He was a nine-time All-Star, a four-time Stanley Cup champion, and a one-time Hart Memorial Trophy winner.
- Basketball: Kobe Bryant is one of the most iconic players to ever wear the number 99 in basketball. He wore the number for the Los Angeles Lakers from 1996 to 2016. He was an 18-time All-Star, a five-time NBA champion, and a one-time MVP.
What Other Numbers Have Been Retired in Baseball?
In addition to the number 99, a variety of other numbers have been retired in baseball. Here are some of the other numbers that have been retired in the sport:
- 1 (Retired for Jackie Robinson)
- 3 (Retired for Babe Ruth)
- 4 (Retired for Lou Gehrig)
- 5 (Retired for Joe DiMaggio)
- 8 (Retired for Yogi Berra)
- 42 (Retired for Jackie Robinson)
Conclusion
The number 99 is an iconic number in baseball that is associated with greatness. It has been worn by some of the greatest players to ever play the game, such as Willie Mays, Reggie Jackson, and Ken Griffey Jr. It is also a number that has been worn by players in other sports, such as hockey and basketball.