Is getting your number retired actually a greater honor than the HOF?

Estil · October 17, 2006 5:28AM

Okay, everybody knows that the Baseball Hall of Fame considers itself to be the highest honor any player or other contributor to baseball can receive. But I remember reading in a sports magazine years ago that one player (forget the name) said that getting your number retired by your team is the highest honor a player can get. Do you think in this day and age of free agency and trading and such that that's actually true? I mean, how many active players now have been with a team long enough to even have a chance at jersey retirement? So in a way, I think I'll have to agree that today, getting your number retired is indeed a greater honor than the HOF. I guess that being the case, I should not feel bad about Don Mattingly not being in the HOF and be happy that his number #23 is retired.

Then again, I also read in another magazine that when players were surveyed about whether they'd rather have a five year career with a World Series Championship or a HOF plaque with no championship, the World Series ring beat the Hall of Fame ring (yes you get a ring for going in the HOF; what you think all they get is that silly looking "Hall of Fame" jersey?) by a 2 to 1 margin. Is that also true that players for the most part don't really care nearly as much about going into the HOF than they do about winning championships?

ToppsCo1lector · October 17, 2006 5:41AM

I would consider getting my number retired a greater acheivement. Just as getting my jersey hung in the stadium/arena I played in. Donnie baseball is a hitting coach, has a plaque already, and has his number retired. I figure he's content but no doubt he'd love to be in the HOF.

Estil · October 17, 2006 5:44AM

<< I would consider getting my number retired a greater acheivement. Just as getting my jersey hung in the stadium/arena I played in. Donnie baseball is a hitting coach, has a plaque already, and has his number retired. I figure he's content but no doubt he'd love to be in the HOF. >>

Oh yes, the Yankees have those plaques too; I forgot about those. Is there anywhere that shows pictures of all the Yankees' plaques, monuments, and retired jersey plaques so I can read them?

ToppsCo1lector · October 17, 2006 5:48AM

That being said, I'm that guy(like some ppl are) that would love to stay with the same team my whole career. I'd take less money to stay, and I'd want to retire before being pushed out. To me, to earn millions to play a game I love I'll take much less to play with my favorite team. I wouldn't seek a trade nor leave via free agency unless my team didn't offer me a contract. I'd leave walking tall and chin up, knowing that I still had it but not being the hobbled old man thats only still their b/c of fan appreciation for past acheivements. I'd be thankful(as all pro athletes) should that the pay is how it is. I'd also be the guy who's autographs are dirt cheap, b/c I'd sign for all the young kids and have signing sessions where my auto costs a $5 donation to a random charity. Why not use my name/celebrity to benefit those less fortunate?

ToppsCo1lector · October 17, 2006 5:50AM

<< 

<< I would consider getting my number retired a greater acheivement. Just as getting my jersey hung in the stadium/arena I played in. Donnie baseball is a hitting coach, has a plaque already, and has his number retired. I figure he's content but no doubt he'd love to be in the HOF. >>

Oh yes, the Yankees have those plaques too; I forgot about those. Is there anywhere that shows pictures of all the Yankees' plaques, monuments, and retired jersey plaques so I can read them? >>

Google it. Many pictures and yes, you can read them as well. I know a boardmember has a yankee site he is building. I believe it is Bri, he's still building it but it's nice. My Pops ran the bases as a scout when he was a kid back in the 50's. Got to meet some of the greats, Joey D. The Mick, etc. He used to go to 10-20 games a year in the Bronx.

Jamericon · October 17, 2006 5:52AM

Is that also true that players for the most part don't really care nearly as much about going into the HOF than they do about winning championships?

I have seen, heard and read about many, many players from all sports who would give it all away just for that championship. Peeling away the layers, that is the real reason they play.

I am surprised the ratio is so low.

ToppsCo1lector · October 17, 2006 5:59AM

Also, to me a championship is the reason to play. Like Magic Johnson said "It's all about the W". I won a championship in Little League(city wide championship) as a youngster. To this day, the memories of our comraderie brings a grin to my face. I played on the only team with all minority coaches(in a town that is still quite racial) and WE NEVER got calls. NEVER. Other teams coaches would say racist remarks, and there were times where brawls nearly insued. We only won because we dominated and had to win big. My coach, is still to this day one of the most influential people in my upbringing. He was a minister as well as our coach and taught us the game how it should be taught. I thank the Lord that I got to play with a few of the guys I grew up with, we were all friends before hand and looking back I have more memories of a good friend that died when we were still in high school. I'd take a championship over personal acheivement every day no matter how big those personal accolades were.

Axtell · October 17, 2006 6:13AM

HoF is a greater accomplishment.

To have your number retired can happen more for sentimental reasons that having an outstanding career.

HoF means you made such an impression on the entire game, not just your home team, to earn that honor.

ToppsCo1lector · October 17, 2006 6:16AM

I see your point Ax. To me, HOF means you changed the game. Retiring a players number though, is more of a team/franchise/city impact. But to some, that's more important(Like, say a Robin Yount).

bri2327 · October 17, 2006 6:42AM

Estil · October 17, 2006 6:49AM

<< HoF is a greater accomplishment.

To have your number retired can happen more for sentimental reasons that having an outstanding career. >>

I know, just ask Harold Baines. I mean, why did they retire his number in the first place? And didn't he like "unretire" the number like two or three times afterwards when he came back to the team as a player or coach?

perkdog · October 17, 2006 7:36AM

HOF all the way

tkd7 · October 19, 2006 11:35AM

<< HoF is a greater accomplishment.

To have your number retired can happen more for sentimental reasons that having an outstanding career.

HoF means you made such an impression on the entire game, not just your home team, to earn that honor. >>

To that point, the NJ Nets retired numbers:

Player Month Honored Number
Wendell Ladner September 1975 4
Bill Melchionni September 1976 25
Julius Erving April 1987 32
John Williamson December 1991 23
Drazen Petrovic November 1994 3
Charles "Buck" Williams April 1999 52

perkdog, are you going to retire your FSU fans jerseys?

Axtell · October 19, 2006 1:20PM

I think that the number of players who will actually have their numbers retired now will shrink dramatically...with free agency and salary caps, there's just very little chance of spending a considerable amount of time with a club.

But the hall is still by far (imo) the bigger honor.

softparade · October 19, 2006 1:22PM

What about having your number retired throughout all of baseball? Ala Jackie Robinson.

Axtell · October 19, 2006 1:24PM

<< What about having your number retired throughout all of baseball? Ala Jackie Robinson. >>

That's a once in a lifetime type deal...and his number was retired more so for his impact on the game and his impact on society than just his incredible play on the field. I know there were some rumblings to have Pat Tillman's number retired in a similar fashion....but don't see it happening.

softparade · October 19, 2006 1:26PM

<< That's a once in a lifetime type deal...and his number was retired more so for his impact on the game and his impact on society than just his incredible play on the field. I know there were some rumblings to have Pat Tillman's number retired in a similar fashion....but don't see it happening. >>

Reasons aside, is that a greater honor for Jackie then the HOF? I think so.

Axtell · October 19, 2006 1:30PM

<< 

<< That's a once in a lifetime type deal...and his number was retired more so for his impact on the game and his impact on society than just his incredible play on the field. I know there were some rumblings to have Pat Tillman's number retired in a similar fashion....but don't see it happening. >>

Reasons aside, is that a greater honor for Jackie then the HOF? I think so. >>

I would agree that it is. The hall honored his contributions on the field, having his number retired across baseball honored his impact off it. I would say in this one case, his number being retired is a greater honor (or in any other situation where a player has his number retired from the game).

BobaFett72 · October 19, 2006 1:30PM

Hall of Fame;
though im sure there are plenty who would trade it away for a championship ring.

DeutscherGeist · October 19, 2006 4:44PM

HOF is a great honor, but I think the ultimate compliment is what your teammates, home based fans and coaches say about you. The people that have been with you the longest have a more impactful opinion. With that said, Don Mattingly has those things going for him. He is probably the most popular Yankee on the team aside from maybe Jeter (that's mainly because he is currently playing).

Without the HOF, some players continue to be popular and impactful for the game and even society.

ManyQs · October 19, 2006 8:15PM

<< HOF is a great honor, but I think the ultimate compliment is what your teammates, home based fans and coaches say about you. The people that have been with you the longest have a more impactful opinion. With that said, Don Mattingly has those things going for him. He is probably the most popular Yankee on the team aside from maybe Jeter (that's mainly because he is currently playing).

Without the HOF, some players continue to be popular and impactful for the game and even society. >>

Ditto!

HOF is over there, but at home is where your memories and your heart are.

The original question doesn't ask, To whom?

I've never had my number retired, nor an HOF honor, but when I think about how the great catches or hits made the talk of my team ... well there are few sports memories that put a smile on my face when nobody is around. Those are priceless!

Not to speak of the absolute "hate" on the faces of the "other" team.

..

Estil · January 19, 2012 1:36PM

I know this is an old topic but seeing as how we just had the HOF class announced I wanted to bring this debate back.

Estil · January 22, 2012 10:53PM

<< depends on who is doing the retiring.

if a team retires your number, hof is greater.

if a SPORT retires your number (wayne gretzky and jackie robinson), getting number retired is greater. >>

That's an exceptionally rare honor (the whole league retiring your number) so I don't think that really counts as far as this discussion is concerned.

ziggy29 · January 23, 2012 9:23AM

If you played for a team that has a history of futility and mediocrity, it's easier to get a number retired than if you play for, say, the Yankees.

The Yankees may not have any single digit numbers unretired soon. The only ones currently are #2 and #6. I'm sure #2 will be retired for Jeter. They may not retire #6 for Joe Torre in a vacuum, but if you look at others who wore #6 (Tony Lazzeri and Joe Gordon), it wouldn't be a stretch to think #6 could be retired for multiple players like #8 (Bill Dickey and Yogi Berra).

57loaded · January 24, 2012 1:31AM

No

number retirement is an honor but more for a hometown fan favorite. yet you can't retire a bunch a numbers just because fans and the organization they played with for many years liked them and what they contributed to the team and community. i'd like to see #22 retired from the Giants, he'll never see the HOF, but i always think of him no matter who is wearing his number.

digicat · January 24, 2012 4:31AM

<< i'd like to see #22 retired from the Giants, he'll never see the HOF, but i always think of him no matter who is wearing his number. >>

I didn't know you were such an Eli Whiteside fan.

Is getting your number retired actually a greater honor than the HOF?

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