November 18th, 2020
Larry Shenk
Numbers weren’t always part of a major league player’s uniform or identity. The American League first approved numbers in 1929 while the National League started three years later.
For the Phillies, they first wore numbers in 1932, the NL’s initial year. Next step didn’t occur until 1973 when the Phillies put names on the back of their road uniforms. Two years later for home jerseys.
What follows is a numerical history of Phillies numbers, potentially quite numbing.
0
OF Al Oliver (1984).
00
RHP Omar Olivares (1995) and RHP Rick White (2006).
1
CF George (Kiddo) first wore it in 1932 . . . Number retired on August 24, 1979 the night Richie Ashburn was inducted into the Wall of Fame. Whitey wore it, 1948-1960 . . . Who wore it before Whitey? OF Johnny Wyrostek (1946-47) . . . Whitey wore #1 his entire career, Phillies, Cubs (1960-61) and Mets (1962).
14
Number retired on April 6, 2001 when Jim Bunning threw out the ceremonial first ball on the 30th anniversary of the inaugural game at Veterans Stadium, a game he started and won. Jim wore the number, 1964-67; 1970-71 . . . Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1976 and chose to wear a Phillies cap on his plaque . . . Before Jim? 1B Frank Torre (1963).
15
Number was retired for Dick Allen on September 3, 2020, the anniversary of his major league debut in 1963. He wore #32 then as well as spring training the following year. When the 1964 season began, he was #15. He wore it through 1969 and 1975-76 . . . Three different players wore it in 1932, OF Cliff Heathcote (final 30 games of his career), RHP Reggie Grabowski (14 games) and 1B Don Hurst, who also wore #4 that year . . . Prior to Allen, INF Billy Consolo wore it in 1962 . . . C Andrew Knapp wore 15 in 2020 until it was retired.
20
Number retired on May 29, 1990 when Mike Schmidt was inducted into the Phillies Wall of Fame, a year and one day after he played his final game . . . Hall of Fame inductee in 1995 . . . Wore #22 when he came up in September of 1972 . . . When Roger Freed (#20) was traded that winter, Schmidt was given 20. Wore it through the rest of his career.
32
Highest number on the 1932 Phillies. RHP Ad Liska, who wore it for 8 games that season. Next season, his last one, he was #22.
32
A year after Steve Carlton last pitched, his number was retired during the Phillies Wall of Fame ceremony, July 30, 1989 . . . HOF induction, 1994 . . . Darrell Brandon wore #32 the year before Lefty came to the Phils (1972) . . . Lefty wore #32 for first 22 years in the bigs; finished with #38 (Twins, 1987-88).
34
When Roy Halladay was acquired in a trade with the Blue Jays, he got #34, because his Toronto number (32) was retired by the Phillies. The Blue Jays retired 32 in 2018. Phillies #34 was scheduled to be retired on May 29, 2020, the 10th anniversary of his perfect game. Ceremonies were canceled because of the pandemic. Club hopes to have ceremonies in 2021 . . . Last to wear 34 for the Phillies before Halladay was Cliff Lee (34) . . . Knapp wore it starting in 2017 but switched to 15 when plans were announced it would be retired for Halladay.
36
Robin Roberts wore it his entire Phillies career, 1948-61. Following his last season in red pinstripes, he was sold to the Yankees. Owner Bob Carpenter announced no one would ever wear 36 again on the Phillies . . . Prior to Robbie’s June 18, 1948 debut, RHP Nick Strincevich had worn it. When Robbie walked into the Forbes Field visiting clubhouse, Strincevich was leaving.
38
No, it hasn’t been retired. Larry Christenson only played for the Phillies in his 11 big-league seasons and wore #38 every year. That’s the longest Phillies tenure for anyone playing his entire career wearing the same number.
99
Highest number worn by a Phillies player, LHP Mitch (Wild Thing) Williams (1993), RHP Turk Wendell (2001) and 2B So Taguchi (2008) . . . Closest, Tommy Hunter, #96, 2018-20.
Most numbers worn? Seven by two different players, INF Granny Hamner (1, 2, 6, 17, 29, 33, 37) and Hall of Fame OF Chuck Klein (1, 3, 8, 26, 29, 32, 36). Hamner may have the club record for most in a season, 1, 17, 33 in 1948. Yes, Whitey wore #1 that season, his first.
Wearing one number when you break in the majors and another for your career isn’t rare. In addition to Schmidt, there was Greg Luzinski (42 in 1970; 19 thereafter), Jimmy Rollins (29, 2000; 6, 2002; 11), Pat Burrell (33, 2000; 5), Juan Samuel (9, 1983; 8), Ryan Howard (12, 2004; 6) and Darren Daulton (29, 1983; 10).
In 2002, Doug Glanville, who had always worn #6, returned to the Phillies. Rollins was wearing 6. He volunteered to give 6 back to Glanville and Jimmy switched to #11.
Phinally, Phillies managers who wore their number the longest: 9 years--Charlie Manuel, 41, (2005-2013) and Gene Mauch, 4, (1960-68).
