MLB Number 42s

The journey to find the most substantial Major League Baseball players that wore the number 42 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:

• Mariano Rivera    Yankees    September 22, 2013
• Jackie Robinson    Dodgers    June 4, 1972
• Jackie Robinson    All MLB    April 15, 1997
• Bruce Sutter    Cardinals    September 17, 2006

Another telling clue to find the best is to see who has the MLB number 42 retired by their respective teams. This list of retired number 35s includes:

• Jackie Robinson
• Bob Lemon
• Bruce Sutter
• Tony La Russa
• Pedro Martinez
• Alan Trammell
• Mike Mussina
• Mariano Rivera

Mariano Rivera - Ace of the Bullpen

Born November 29, 1969, was legendary MLB Pitcher Mariano Rivera. Rivera, affectionately known as "Mo," is a Panamanian-American former professional baseball player who played 19 seasons in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees. Widely regarded as one of the greatest relievers in baseball history, Rivera is the all-time leader in saves with 652, and he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame unanimously in 2019.

More Information

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Split-Finger Sorcerer and World Series Champion ‣ Bruce Sutter

Bruce Sutter wasn't your typical closer. He didn't overpower hitters with blazing fastballs; he outwitted them with a deceptive trick shot: the split-finger fastball. This, alongside his fiery competitiveness and unkempt beard, became his calling card as he carved his name into baseball history.

Emerging from the Chicago Cubs in the late 1970s, Sutter established himself as one of the league's dominant relievers. His split-finger, plunging off the plate like a dying fly, befuddled batters and made him nearly unhittable. He racked up saves, earning four Rolaids Relief Man awards and becoming a six-time All-Star.

His legend grew with the St. Louis Cardinals in the early 1980s. He became the cornerstone of their bullpen, anchoring a championship-caliber team. His 1982 World Series performance was particularly iconic, with Sutter shutting down opponents and securing the title for the Cardinals. He even earned the Series MVP award, solidifying his status as a postseason performer.

Yet, Sutter's impact transcended mere stats. He was a showman, his wild beard and fiery throws captivating fans and intimidating opponents. He redefined the role of the closer, turning the ninth inning into a high-pressure showstopper. His success paved the way for future dominant relievers.

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Okay, now it is time to put our knowledge to work and pick the greatest players that wore number 42 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. Omar Vizquel
2. Mike Mussina
3. Bobby Shantz
4. Curt Flood
5. Alan Trammell
6. Pedro Martinez
7. Harvey Haddix
8. Jackie Robinson
9. Mariano Rivera
10. Bruce Sutter
11. Bob Lemon
12. John Denny
13. Tony La Russa
14. Dave Henderson
15. Mo Vaughn

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 a cropped installment of A.D. Condo's "Osgar und Adolf", the two ethnic caricatures try to teach Mister Skygack, from Mars to play baseball. By Mr. Armundo Dreisbach Condo

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.