Best Uniform Numbers
I’ve spent a lot of time tracking Texas Rangers uniform numbers. I’ve gotten some attention for it as well from people of note connected to the Rangers (such as Eric Nadel, Victor Rojas (both on air), & TR Sullivan (online)). I’m proud of that. If you’ve never checked out my uniform number history section of the website, please do. As I said, I’ve spent a lot of time on it, but if you have some info that I do not (with proof), I’d love to hear from you.
But I seem to have developed a reputation as the “Uniform Number guy” for the Texas Rangers, because earlier today John Moore tweeted out that I should do a list of “All time Rangers” for every uniform number. I saw that tweet in the morning before breakfast, and dammit – I was out to breakfast with my wife this morning, and all I could think of was uniform numbers. So thanks John. ;)
Anyway, I decided to have a go this afternoon, and what I’ve done is go down all the uniform numbers and pick out the Rangers player that I think is the best at that number. A few caveats about the research for the list first…
- I’m doing players only, not coaches/managers. I don’t have a something I can point to and say why – it’s just what I want to do. Just wanted players only.
- I’m going with a number most associated with a player. For example, Mike Young wore #2 in his first year, but is known for #10. Likewise Rafael Palmeiro wore #3 his first year, then was known for #25.
- Texas Rangers only, not doing Washington Senators.
- The numbers I use will be in season only, Spring Training won’t factor into this.
Another issue is the higher numbers. Once you get above 60 you get numbers that have like one guy ever wearing it in season – so he gets it by default.. Above 70, and you start having numbers where nobody has ever worn the number in season. Then finally it stops in the 80’s, as there were just a couple above 80. I mean if I counted spring training I could cover it, but there was nobody in he 90’s in season, so it stops at #88, which is the highest number worn in season (oddly by two players). I do recall Joe Beimel in 2015 intentionally wanted 97, but he didn’t make the team, which would have been the first in season 90+. Anyway, here goes the list:
00 – Al Oliver
01 – Elvis Andrus
02 – Marcus Semien
03 – Alex Rodriguez
04 – Darryl Hamilton
05 – Ian Kinsler
06 – Tom Grieve
07 – Ivan Rodriguez
08 – Jack Daughterty
09 – Pete O’Brien
10 – Michael Young
11 – Toby Harrah
12 – Rougned Odor
13 – Joey Gallo
14 – Julio Franco
15 – Larry Parrish
16 – Dean Palmer
17 – Nelson Cruz
18 – Mitch Moreland
19 – Juan Gonzalez
20 – Jeff Burroughs
21 – Ruben Sierra
22 – Will Clark
23 – Jose Guzman
24 – Tom Goodwin
25 – Rafael Palmeiro
26 – George Wright
27 – Frank Catalanotto
28 – Darren Oliver
29 – Adrian Beltre
30 – Neftali Feliz
31 – Fergie Jenkins
32 – Rick Helling
33 – Kevin Millwood
34 – Nolan Ryan
35 – John Wetteland (yeah, I know)
36 – Bobby Witt
37 – Kenny Rogers
38 – Ryan Glynn
39 – Scott Feldman
40 – Jeff Russell
41 – Kevin Brown
42 – Doc Medich (Jackie didn’t play here)
43 – Mike Venafro
44 – Danny Darwin
45 – Derek Holland
46 – Robbie Ross
47 – Kevin Reimer
48 – Colby Lewis
49 – Charlie Hough
50 – Frank Francisco
51 – Matt Bush
52 – Ed Vosberg
53 – Joaquin Benoit
54 – Matt Harrison
55 – Brian Downing
56 – Danny Patterson
57 – Dustin Nippert
58 – Brian Shouse
59 – Jeff Zimmerman
60 – Julio Santana
61 – Robinson Chirinos
62 – Jose LeClerc
63 – Anthony Bass
64 – AJ Griffin
65 – Yohander Mendez
66 – Josh Sborz
67 – Demarcus Evans
68 – Joe Barlow
69 – Nobody EVER assigned this
70 – Ezequiel Durán
71 – Sam Freeman
72 – Jonathan Hernández
73 – Kyle Cody
74 – Sam Huff
75 – Wes Benjamin
76 – Tyson Miller
77 – Andy Ibanez
78 – Leody Taveras
79 – John King
80 – Nobody wore 80 in season
81 – Nobody wore 81 in season
82 – Sherten Apostel
83 – Curtis Terry
84 – Prince Fielder
85 – Nobody wore 85 in season
86 – Nobody wore 86 in season
87 – Nobody wore 87 in season
88 – Rene Gonzales
Given there was nobody in season above 88, I’m stopping the list there.
I suspect people will disagree with some (like #3), but that’s OK. This not “the list”, it’s “my list”. If you disagree, bring up a list of your own, but you’ll find out that some of the numbers are super hard to pick someone since there’s nobody that really stands out, and you have to pick from a bunch of middle of the line type players.
Also, I know I didn’t use Ron Mahay in my list with the #32 picture I have on the page, but I love that picture a lot (I took it myself), so I wanted to get it in there.
