In any sport, the jersey number of the players is very important. From soccer, basketball, football, to baseball, the jersey number of the players becomes a kind of identity. Recently, star right fielder Aaron Judge revealed that 99 was not his first choice for his jersey number, and he couldn’t wear his favorite number on his back.
The importance of jersey number is so high that sometimes when a player retires from the game, their respective teams also retire their jersey number. Players like Barry Bonds, Derek Jeter, Babe Ruth, and David Ortiz are a few to name whose jersey number has been retired in MLB.
Aaron Judge wanted 13 as his jersey number
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Make no mistake. @TheJudge44 potentially being named a Yankees captain would be an incredible honor he couldn't even fathom, but it wouldn’t change his approach either way. 💯 pic.twitter.com/6q0HN8P7mQ
— R2C2 (@R2C2) February 19, 2022
Aaron Judge is probably the biggest star at the Yankees. He has been playing for the pinstripes for more than five years now. While on the ballpark, Judge dons jersey number 99 on his back. However, many fans might not know, but the Yankees’ star wanted to drop his iconic jersey number for jersey number 13. Yes, recently when the Yankees star appeared on CC Sabathia’s podcast, he revealed that he wanted to wear number 13.
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“I didn’t know what I was gonna do. Yeah, I was trying to see what numbers are open,” Aaron Judge said. I thought about 13 and I can’t do that now.”
Notably, jersey number 13 belonged to the New York Yankees legend Alex “A-Rod” Rodriguez when he used to play for the pinstripes. And when A-Rod retired in the 2016 season, the Yankees didn’t allow anyone to have it. However, after five years of keeping off-limits, the Yankees allowed Joey Gallo to have it in the 2021 season.
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New York Yankees are the team with the most number of players whose jersey numbers have been retired. Until now, the Yankees have retired jersey numbers of Derek Jeter, Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, and Joe DiMaggio, among other players.