Uniform Mystery
Just saw this on the UniWatch blog:
Jere Smith has stumbled upon an oddity: According to this page, the Cincy Reds’ uni numbers in 1938 were all 35 or higher. “Everything was normal the years before and after,” he writes. “I came across this because I’ve been trying to figure out why no Reds players wore Nos. 1 through 4, from basically the ’40s to the ’90s. And they’re not retired. I figure they may have been reserved for coaches.”
Bizarre. Anyone have any idea about any of this?
March 1st, 2008 at 4:19 pm
Fred Hutchinson was #1 when he managed, so the theory might be right.
March 1st, 2008 at 9:36 pm
John McNamara was #3.
Russ Nixon was #2.
I do think Brad Gulden (remember him?) wore #4 when he was a terrible-hitting catcher in the early 80’s.
Ooh, anyone remember backup infielder German Barranca? I seem to remember him wearing #2… though I’m not sure of that.
Anyway… it’s an intriguing question. (And clearly, I am a little Rainman-like in trying to remember uniform numbers.)
That UniWatch guy is a complete nut… and I really enjoy his stuff. He’s obsessed, in a pretty amusing way.
March 3rd, 2008 at 2:02 pm
wasn’t Gary Redus #2?