Major league baseball retired #42 for ALL baseball. No one wears it..except Rivera. Why is it he got special dispensation from major league baseball? I would appreciate a factual answer. Thanks.
2006-07-02 09:43:25 · 9 answers · asked by homerunhitter 4 in Sports ➔ Baseball
My guess would be that he already had that number at the time Robinson's number 42 was retired by major league baseball.
I'm not sure exactly when baseball retired Robinson's number, but my guess would be that it probably happened in 1997, the 50th anniversary year of Robinson's major league debut.
Since Rivera already had #42 as his number, he can still wear it and finish his career (as long as he finishes it with the Yankees).
However, no future players can be given that number. Rivera was 'grandfathered' in, you might say. If Rivera should go to another team, I'm not sure if he could keep his number, or if he'd be forced to change it.
EDIT: looks like vtcowherder answered at the same time... there were no answers when I started typing this stuff.
2006-07-02 09:49:44 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
The exception to the retiring of Robinson's 42 was made for players who had been wearing that number before it was retired. There may have been others at the time, but Rivera is the only one still playing.
2006-07-02 12:40:00 · answer #2 · answered by frenchy62 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When the number was retired, the players who were wearing it before it was retired were allowed to keep it. So there used to be a handful of players with number 42, but by now Mariano is the only player who had 42 then who is still playing now.
Hope that helped.
2006-07-02 11:59:16 · answer #3 · answered by ousooners4life 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When the number was retired any player that was currently wearing could continue wearing it. However, out of respect or Jackie and the things that he did for baseball most have changed. I find Rivera a disrespectful piece of s*!t.
2006-07-03 06:57:34 · answer #4 · answered by el 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mariano Rivera replaced into donning 40 two on the time the selection replaced into retired; each and all of the gamers donning 40 two on the time have been "grandfathered," which ability they could positioned on 40 two as long as they did no longer retire or exchange numbers.
2016-11-01 02:36:36 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
basically no new player will wear 42, nor can a player change their number to 42, but whoever was wearing 42 as of of the day it was retired can continue to do so.
2006-07-02 09:52:44 · answer #6 · answered by noshyuz 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because Mo wore it before it was retired in 1997
2006-07-02 09:47:21 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
He's a Yankee so he gets special treatment..........
2006-07-02 13:45:25 · answer #8 · answered by Dusty 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
he's grandfathered to wear it
2006-07-02 12:36:10 · answer #9 · answered by Red Sawx ® 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋