PETE DONOVAN

A number of nuggets about retired numbers around the Major League

Pete Dovovan

Special to The Desert Sun

FILE - In this Sept. 7, 2014, file photo, New York Yankees' Derek Jeter (2) tips his cap to fans during a pregame ceremony honoring the Yankees captain. Jeter wrote an essay published May 11, 2017, on his Players' Tribune site thanking the city before his No. 2 jersey is permanently retired by the team on May 14. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)

The Yankees retired Derek Jeter’s No. 2 Sunday night in a classy ceremony, befitting the classy Jeter, at Yankee Stadium. Some notes on baseball jersey numbers:

Other No. 2’s Retired: Tommy Lasorda (Dodgers), Luis Aparicio (White Sox), Charlie Gehringer (Tigers), Red Schoendienst (Cardinals).

Most Retired Numbers by Team: Yankees with 22. St. Louis Cardinals are second with 12. (Note: The Boston Celtics have also retired 22 numbers. The Chicago Bears, with 14, have the most retired numbers in the NFL).

More:Cartoonist Murray Olderman brings greatest sports figures to life

Good, not Great? Of the 22 Yankee numbers retired, 10 are not in the Hall of Fame. And while Jeter will be, others like Roger Maris, Ron Guidry, Thurman Munson, Elston Howard, Bernie Williams, Jorge Posada and Andy Pettitte will not.

First Number Retired: Lou Gehrig, 1939.

Number Retired by Most Franchises: 20 (including Don Sutton).

Rod Carew, future Hall of Famer, races towards first base during a California Angels spring training game in the 1980's at Palm Springs Stadium

Players With Number Retired by Two Franchises: Rod Carew (Twins, Angels), Casey Stengel (Yankees, Mets), Hank Aaron (Braves, Brewers), Frank Robinson (Reds, Orioles), Rollie Fingers (A’s, Brewers), Reggie Jackson (A’s, Yankees), Greg Maddux (Braves, Cubs), Carlton Fisk (Red Sox, White Sox).

Players With Number Retired by Three Franchises: Nolan Ryan (Angels, Rangers, Astros).

Highest Number Retired: 72 (Carlton Fisk, White Sox).

Lowest Number Not Retired by Yankees: 11.

Lowest Number Not Retired by Any Team: 38 (But Curt Schilling wore this number).

Smallest Number: As a publicity stunt in 1951, maverick St. Louis Browns owner sent 3’7” dwarf Eddie Gaedel to the plate with No. 1/8 on his uniform. Gaedel walked on four pitches, was replaced by a pinch runner and never had another at-bat.

Number Retired by All Franchises: 42 (Jackie Robinson). Each April 15 since 2009 every major league player and coach wears No. 42 in honor of Robinson, who, in 1947, broke the color barrier in major league baseball. It is the only time No. 42 is worn in MLB.

Roberto Clemente: He chose Jersey No. 21 because it’s how many letter are in his full name – Roberto Clemente Walker.

Los Angeles Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw will start the National League Division Series playoff opener against the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday.

Clayton Kershaw: He chose No. 22 because his favorite player growing up (in Dallas) was Rangers’ slugger Will Clark, who wore 22.

They Also Wore: Joe DiMaggio began his career wearing No. 9, Mickey Mantle wearing No. 6 and Willie Mays No. 14 before they donned the familiar numbers 5, 7 and 24 respectively.

Numbers Retired for Non-Players or Non-Managers: 1 Bud Selig (Brewers), 26 Gene Autry (Angel Owner number represented 26th man); 85 August Busch (Cardinal Owner, number represented his age at time of jersey retirement); 455 Cleveland Indians (In recognition of consecutive sellouts).

Missing Numbers: The Dodgers have not retired Gil Hodges’ No. 14 (second in career home runs and RBI in franchise history) and Steve Garvey’s No. 6 (8-time All-Star; career leader in doubles and RBI in Los Angeles). But Hodges’ No. 14 is retired as a Met (whom he managed) and Garvey’s No. 6 is retired by the Padres.

Pete Donovan is a Palm Desert resident and former Los Angeles Times sports reporter. He can be reached at pwdonovan22@yahoo.com