Only two athletes have ever had their numbers retired across the entire league. Name one. | WQNY QCountry 103.7 (2024)

FAQs

Is there a player whose number has been retired by every team in his league? ›

Three players in the major North American sports leagues have had their numbers retired by all teams in their respective leagues. Jackie Robinson, the first Black player in the modern era of Major League Baseball, had his number 42 retired league-wide in 1997.

42. In a ceremony before the April 15, 1997, game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Mets at Shea Stadium, Selig declared that No. 42 – Robinson's number with the Brooklyn Dodgers – would be permanently retired throughout Major League Baseball.

Below are the retired numbers for every Major League club. On April 15, 1997, every team in MLB retired No. 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson.

As of December 2023, only two teams in the NBA do not have any retired numbers: the Los Angeles Clippers and the Toronto Raptors. Two players have had their numbers retired by teams they did not play for, and only one player (Bill Russell) had his number retired league wide.

The number was retired in a ceremony which took place in 1997 at Shea Stadium to mark the 50th anniversary of Robinson's first game with the Dodgers. The last player to wear the Number 42 regularly was Mariano Rivera of the New York Yankees, who retired at the end of the 2013 season.

Is 42 the only number retired in baseball? The MLB retired Jackie Robinson's number (42) on April 15, 1997. Robinson's number remains the only one to be retired across the league.

Ten if you include Jackie Robinson who's 42 is retired league wide. Aside from Jackie, Nolan Ryan is the only player to have his number retired by three teams, #34 for the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros and #30 for the Los Angeles Angels. Seven players and/or managers have had their number retired by two teams.

Unlike Major League Baseball (which retired Jackie Robinson's number 42), the National Hockey League (which retired Wayne Gretzky's 99), and the National Basketball Association (which retired Bill Russell's 6), the NFL has never retired a jersey number league-wide in honor of anyone.

To date, there are 14 players who have had their jerseys retired by multiple franchises: Pete Maravich, Nate Thurmond, Bob Lanier, Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Earl Monroe, Clyde Drexler, Oscar Robertson, Moses Malone, Julius Erving, Wilt Chamberlain, Shaquille O'Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Dikembe Mutombo.

How many NHL players have their number retired by multiple teams? ›

Nine players have had their number retired by two different NHL teams: Bobby Hull – Chicago Blackhawks and the original Winnipeg Jets. Gordie Howe – Detroit Red Wings and Hartford Whalers. Wayne Gretzky – Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings (also retired league-wide)