What is Number 45 in Baseball?
Baseball is a sport with a long and storied history, and the numbers worn by players have become iconic symbols of the teams they represent. The number 45, in particular, is a number that has been worn by some of the greatest players to ever play the game, and it continues to be a popular number for current players.
The Meaning Behind Number 45
The number 45 is a traditional baseball number, with a long and storied history in the game. It is typically associated with power hitters, as it was worn by some of the most powerful hitters of all time, such as Hall of Famers Babe Ruth and Reggie Jackson.
Notable Players Who Have Worn Number 45
There have been many great players who have worn the number 45 throughout baseball history. Some of the most notable players include:
- Babe Ruth – One of the greatest players of all time, Ruth wore the number 45 for the majority of his career.
- Reggie Jackson – Jackson wore the number 45 while playing for the New York Yankees from 1977-1981.
- Pedro Martinez – Martinez wore the number 45 for the majority of his career, including his time with the Boston Red Sox.
- Mariano Rivera – Rivera wore the number 45 while playing for the New York Yankees from 1995-2013.
- Albert Pujols – Pujols has worn the number 45 since joining the Los Angeles Angels in 2012.
Current Players Who Wear Number 45
Number 45 is still a popular number for current players, with many of the top players in the league donning the number. Some of the most notable current players who wear the number include:
- Aaron Judge – Judge has worn the number 45 since joining the New York Yankees in 2017.
- Kris Bryant – Bryant has worn the number 45 since joining the Chicago Cubs in 2015.
- Giancarlo Stanton – Stanton has worn the number 45 since joining the New York Yankees in 2017.
- Marcus Stroman – Stroman has worn the number 45 since joining the Toronto Blue Jays in 2014.
- Max Scherzer – Scherzer has worn the number 45 since joining the Washington Nationals in 2015.
Number 45 in Minor League Baseball
Number 45 is also a popular number in Minor League Baseball. It is one of the more common numbers worn by Minor League players, and many of the top prospects in the game have worn the number. Some of the most notable Minor League players who have worn the number include:
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – Guerrero Jr. has worn the number 45 since joining the Toronto Blue Jays organization in 2015.
- Bryce Harper – Harper wore the number 45 while playing in the Minor Leagues for the Washington Nationals in 2012.
- Yoan Moncada – Moncada has worn the number 45 since joining the Chicago White Sox organization in 2016.
- Cody Bellinger – Bellinger has worn the number 45 since joining the Los Angeles Dodgers organization in 2015.
- Fernando Tatis Jr. – Tatis Jr. has worn the number 45 since joining the San Diego Padres organization in 2016.
Number 45 in Other Sports
In addition to baseball, the number 45 has also been worn by some of the greatest athletes in other sports. Some of the most notable athletes who have worn the number include:
- Michael Jordan – Jordan wore the number 45 while playing for the Chicago Bulls from 1995-1998.
- Tom Brady – Brady wore the number 45 while playing for the New England Patriots from 2000-2008.
- LeBron James – James has worn the number 45 since joining the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018.
- Peyton Manning – Manning wore the number 45 while playing for the Indianapolis Colts from 1998-2010.
- Kobe Bryant – Bryant wore the number 45 while playing for the Los Angeles Lakers from 2006-2007.
Conclusion
Number 45 has had a long and storied history in baseball, worn by some of the greatest players to ever play the game. It is still a popular number for current players, with many of the top players in the game wearing the number. It is also a popular number in Minor League Baseball and other sports, with some of the greatest athletes in those sports wearing the number.
References
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/45_(number)
- mlb.com/news/who-wore-what-numbers-in-mlb-history
- si.com/nfl/2017/08/31/tom-brady-jersey-number-45-patriots
- basketball-reference.com/players/j/jamesle01.html
- cbssports.com/mlb/players/playerpage/1059158/giancarlo-stanton