MLB Number 31s

The journey to find the most substantial Major League Baseball players that wore the number 31 on their uniforms starts by looking at who the Baseball Hall of Fame has in their hallowed halls. Enshrined number ones of professional baseball are:

• Paul Waner
• Dizzy Dean
• Satchel Paige
• Lefty Gomez
• Earl Averill
• Bob Gibson
• Hoyt Wilhelm
• Fergie Jenkins
• Reggie Jackson
• Dave Winfield
• Greg Maddux
• Frank Thomas
• Mike Piazza
• Tim Raines
• Lee Smith

Another telling clue to find the best is to see who has the MLB number 31 retired by their respective teams. This list of retired number 31s includes:

• Dave Winfield    Padres    April 14, 2001
• Greg Maddux    Cubs    May 3, 2009
• Greg Maddux    Braves    July 17, 2009
• Ferguson Jenkins    Cubs    May 3, 2009
• Mike Piazza    Mets    July 30, 2016

A Right-Handed Runaway Train of Excellence ‣ Fergie Jenkins

Ferguson Arthur Jenkins, better known as "Fergie," wasn't just a right-handed pitcher but a force of nature on the mound. From 1965 to 1983, his 19-year career carved a path through the major leagues, leaving a trail of strikeouts, complete games, and accolades.

Born in Chatham, Ontario, Canada, in 1942, Jenkins' talent blossomed in the minor leagues. His effortless grace and pinpoint control quickly caught the eye of the Philadelphia Phillies, who called him up in 1965. The following year, he cemented his place as a rising star, winning 20 games and finishing second in the Cy Young Award vote.

This was just the beginning. For the next seven seasons, Jenkins became a model of consistency. He notched at least 20 wins yearly, a feat only Warren Spahn had achieved in the previous decade. With his trademark high leg kick and smooth delivery, he led the league in complete games four times and earned the Cy Young Award in 1971 and 1974.

Jenkins's journey was far from having smooth sailing. Trades led him to the Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, and Boston Red Sox, but his dominance remained unfazed. 1979 with the Cubs, he threw the fourth and final no-hitter of his career, tying Nolan Ryan's record. His 300th career win came in 1982, solidifying his place among the all-time greats.

He retired in 1983 with 3,141 strikeouts, ranked 10th all-time then, and a win-loss record of 284-229. In 1991, he joined baseball's highest honor, the Baseball Hall of Fame, receiving over 80% of the vote.

Fergie Jenkins wasn't just a pitcher; he was a craftsman, an artist of the mound. His legacy stretches far beyond his impressive statistics. He inspired generations of Canadian players, proved that consistency reigns supreme, and etched his name in the pantheon of baseball's elite. The quiet man with the powerful arm forever holds a place among the game's legends.

More Information

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Okay, now it is time to put our knowledge to work and pick the greatest players that wore number 31 in MLB history based on performance stats. We do not have all of the players from some of the Negro Leagues in place yet but when we do we will certainly update the list so please excuse us on this. The criteria is simple we pulled stats from Baseball-Reference and Stat-Head on some important numbers. Is the player in the Hall of Fame? What were the Wins After Replacement or the team victories gained or lost after they entered the lineup versus the player they replaced? Where do they rank in the following categories in history: Home Runs, Runs Produced, Strike Outs, ERA. We mash this information up and see how many of the criteria rankings they have and then multiply that number (0-6) times the number of years they wore the particular uniform number we are discussing and then add it to bonus points if in the Hall of Fame and for earning any Gold Glove Awards and/or Cy Young Awards. We call that calculated number our Ranked Formula and use it as a basis of Comparison to give you the Top Fifteen at the uniform number. 

1. Bob Gibson
2. Ichiro Suzuki
3. Dave Winfield
4. Garry Maddox
5. Greg Maddux
6. Fergie Jenkins
7. Max Scherzer
8. Bret Saberhagen
9. Harvey Haddix
10. Davey Johnson
11. Mike Piazza
12. Tim Raines
13. Paul Waner
14. Reggie Jackson
15. Hoyt Wilhelm

The stats may not be placing this group in order of importance but what it does do is identify the top 25

Here are our stats and findings:

The picture in the banner above is from the Wikipedia Commons photo collection of the Public Domain of CCC Camp BR-74 Yuma Project-Gadsden Park, Arizona, Photo of CCC enrollees engaged in a baseball game in Gadsden Park... - NARA. September 4, 1939. Taken by an unknown.

Special thanks to Baseball-Reference.com, Stathead.com and the most wonderful book by Larry Lester and Wayne Stivers, The Negro Leagues Book, Volume 2.