Why is it that only one active player in MLB (the Yankee's Mariano Rivera) wears #42?

Question

Should MLB retire Jackie's number?
Robinson is arguably the one of the most significant sports figures of the 20th century. A significant human being, too.

I think retiring his number would serve as a constant reminder, as much as so many of us wish it weren't so, that rascism, sexism, classism, and marginalization still exist in society, and need to be constantly guarded against.

Answer 1

MLB DID retire Robinson's #42 ten years ago today. At the time, any player who was already wearing it was allowed to keep it until he retired. Some changed their numbers, but Mo Vaughn and Mariano Rivera, both of whom had specifically requested the number in their own tributes to Robinson, kept wearing it. Vaughn retired a few years ago, but Rivera is still active. The first link includes quotes from Rivera about why he chose to wear 42 and why he still wears it.

Your reasons for feeling that 42 should be retired are part of the reasons that it was retired, with that grandfather clause.

Answer 2

Major league baseball effectively retired number 42 in 1997, for two reasons. First because Robinson broke baseball's color barrier, second, because he was a great human being.

Those who wore 42 at the time were allowed to keep wearing it, however no other players could be assigned 42. One of the players who was wearing the number 42 at the time was Mo Vaughn of Boston, who is now retired. When Mariano Rivera retires, that is the end of 42 in baseball.

I also think MLB should retire #9 in honor of Ted Williams. He was a great hitter, but also served in two wars, WWII and Korea. He was a great pilot, flying many dangerous missions, and as a result, missed 5 prime years of his career. A true American hero.

Answer 3

Jackie Robinson's number is retired. It was retired 10 years ago today on the 50th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's first game in MLB.

The reason Rivera is allowed to wear 42 is he was wearing it when the MLB commissioner retired the number. Thus, Rivera was grand-fathered in. When Rivera retires, no baseball player will be allowed to wear 42.

I agree with all you have said above, and I think it encompasses all the reasons why his number was retired in 1997. (Today was the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking into Major League Baseball).

Answer 4

When they retired the number 42 in the 90's, they allowed anyone that was currently wearing it to keep it, and Rivera had number 42 at the time, so he is allowed to have it, even though the number is retired.

Answer 5

#42 is retired, only players who were wearing 42 at the time could keep that number. Mariano Rivera is the last player still wearing 42, once he retires no one else with wear that number again.

Answer 6

MLB did retire his number for all teams. Players who were wearing the number at the time of the retirement (such as Rivera) were allowed to continue doing so.

Answer 7

He was playing baseball before 1997. The number was retired after the beginning of the 1997 season so he can wear the number.