When the Yankees officially retire Derek Jeter’s No. 2 on Sunday night, they will have no more single-digit numbers remaining to issue to their players. Or will they?
Every pinstriped die-hard knows the roster of previously retired single digits: Billy Martin (1), Babe Ruth (3), Lou Gehrig (4), Joe DiMaggio (5), Joe Torre (6), Mickey Mantle (7), Yogi Berra and Bill Dickey (8), Roger Maris (9). With Jeter, it’s now a complete set — depending on your viewpoint.
No Yankee has ever worn No. 0.
This seems in keeping with the Yankees’ austere image: no player names on the jerseys, no beards or long hair, no mascots frolicking around the stands.