Retiring numbers in sports is stupid?

Question

Think about it, does Alex Rodriguez not deserve #3 as much as Babe Ruth did? By the end of his career A-Rod will likley have as good of stats maybe better than the Bambino(don't even mention character the Babe was no angel). Yet A-Rod had to change his # because of that c**p. Also every team only has 100 numbers to use, and some teams have used up more than 10% of thier numbers. Also most of those numbers are undesirable, how many athletes want to wear 82, 71, 95, etc. Eventually this is going to grow into a problem as time goes on, athletes will only get better and better. If Babe Ruth's 3 can never be used again then A-Rod's 13 will have to go also. Now what do you do when the next Yankee super star comes along that wants to wear 3? Players can be honored with a banner and thier name on it, or a bronzed statue outside the stadium. Retiring a number though in a way kind of makes them bigger than the game, and I don't think that's right no matter how good you are or were.

Answer 1

I get your Point #3 From the Yankees Babe Ruth , is retired because he started the whole Yankees Franchise , he won for the Yankees was successful

and Alex the way he is going his Number is going to get retired, and people still debate if he is a real Yankee, that's people opinion

and Well when you come in the Yankees Organization you understand that #1,#3#4,5,7,8,9,10 and etc are retired and that's just the way it is

Answer 2

It doesn't matter that Alex Rodriguez could put up better numbers than Babe Ruth. No one has the foresight to say that someone younger is going to be a better player. Retiring a number is a way of acknowledging a player's contributions to a team. And to me, it's a nice tribute. Besides, most teams aren't going to run out of available numbers because number retirements usually happen for very special players.

Besides, the No. 3 has been retired for more than six decades, long before A-Rod was even born. Why would A-Rod care now?  I'm sure he's happy being with the Yankees and he's less concerned about not being able to wear his favorite number.

By the way, the Yankees are the only team that may have a number problem down the line because they've retired the most numbers of any team. Other squads have only about 5 or 6 numbers retired. (I think the Cardinals have the second most retired numbers.) And I don't see the current Yankees griping about not being able to wear single-digit numbers because they're all retired or about to be.

Answer 3

i disagree with you.

teams aren't gonna run out of numbers

and if a new star comes along then i think

he'll understand the reason why he can't wear a certain

number.

Answer 4

You obviously don't appreciate the history of the game.  You're right, no one is bigger than the game and I doubt that anyone, outside of their own favorite team, care one bit about the number on their uniform.  

What teams do by retiring a players number is to show their appreciation for a notable and often outstanding career.  It's a way to never forget, not only the name, but the number he wore representing his team.

We often compare great players with retired great players and I think that's unfair.  What they did off the field should not be part of the equation.  No body said any of this great players were angels.  It's what they did on the field that is being recognized.  They may not be bigger than the game but without them and the history they created, the game would not be what it is today.

Answer 5

Teams with the most retired numbers (actual retired numbers, not including pre-number players similarly honored). Also, #42 is retired league-wide in honor of Jackie Robinson; only two teams have retired #42 for a specific player, the Dodgers (for Robinson) and the Cardinals (for Bruce Sutter). So, technically, this reduces the available numbers by -1 for all other teams, except the Yankees, where Mariano Rivera wears it today (and they'll likely retire it for him in time, as (a) it costs them nothing and (b) he'll deserve it).

Yankees -- 15 (for 16 players).

Dodgers -- 10.

Cardinals -- 10.

Astros -- 9 (including Biggio's #7, which will be retired in August).

Pirates -- 9.

White Sox -- 8.

Giants -- 8.

Reds -- 8 (For nine players/managers, and which does not include Rose's #14, which is virtually retired; only Pete Jr. has worn it since.)

Jersey numbers came into use in the late 1920s, every team getting into the act by the mid-30s. So that's about 75-80 years of history for seven of the eight teams listed above, little more than one retired number per decade except for the Yankees, who as an organization like getting carried away with things. And then there's the Astros, already prolific at retiring jerseys before 50 seasons of play are behind them, and frankly some of the choices were not very good. But even for the Astros, it's not remotely approaching being a problem.

Count on the Yankees someday retiring #2 (Jeter), #6 (Torre), and #42 (which won't matter against availability).

I do think some teams hand out this honor without sufficient merit, but it is their right to do so.

Answer 6

there not going to run out of numbers. If they need to they will let them use 3 digit numbers. Plus not all of the teams retire as many numbers as the Yankees.

Answer 7

I dont think it is stupid, but I do think the Yankees take it too far. There is no need to retire as many numbers as they do.