At Tiger Stadium, Al Kaline becomes the first player in franchise history to have his uniform number retired. The Hall of Famer, who wore the number 6, roamed the outfield for Detroit from 1953 to 1974.
Prior to the start of Game 1 of the World Series, the Dodgers retire the uniform #19 of Jim Gilliam, their coach who died suddenly two days ago as the result of a massive brain hemorrhage. The 49 year-old former All-Star LA infielder will become the team’s first player not inducted into the Hall of Fame to receive this honor.
On June 5, 1977, the Dodgers honor former manager Walt Alston by retiring his uniform No. 24 during “Old Timers’ Day” ceremonies at Dodger Stadium. Alston, who had retired after the 1976 season, had managed the Dodgers for 23 consecutive seasons – all on one-year contracts.
On April 6, 1973, the Pittsburgh Pirates retire Roberto Clemente’s uniform No. 21 in a moving pre-game ceremony before 51,695 fans at Three Rivers Stadium. The 38-year-old Clemente died in a plane crash on New Year’s Eve, 1972.
On June 4, 1972, the Dodgers’ franchise honors three of its all-time greats by retiring their uniform numbers. Sandy Koufax’s No. 32, Roy Campanella’s No. 39 and Jackie Robinson’s No. 42 are all retired during pre-game ceremonies at Dodger Stadium.
On June 8, 1969, the New York Yankees retire the uniform number of one of their greatest players on “Mickey Mantle Day” at Yankee Stadium. Mantle’s No. 7 is retired before a crowd of 60,096 fans, who stay on to watch the Yankees sweep a doubleheader against the Chicago White Sox.
On March 21, 1962, the Philadelphia Phillies retire Robin Roberts’ uniform No. 36. The Phillies had sold Roberts to the Orioles after the 1961 season. Roberts spent 14 seasons in a Phillie uniform, winning 20 or more games from 1952 to 1955.
Joe DiMaggio ends his legendary Yankees career in 1951 – ‘DiMag Quits as Player for TV Post’ The 37-year-old outfielder, who plans to remain with the Yankee organization as a TV broadcaster, said: “I honestly believe night ball cut short my days by about two years. You don’t get to bed until two in the…
On July 4, 1939, the New York Yankees retire the uniform #4 of future Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig in emotional ceremonies at Yankee Stadium. For over 40 minutes, current and former Yankee greats, including Hall of Famer Babe Ruth, parade onto the field to honor the “Iron Horse.” Other former Yankee greats, such as pitcher Waite Hoyt, second baseman Tony Lazzeri, and outfielder Bob Meusel, also attend. Yankee manager Joe McCarthy presents Gehrig with a special silver trophy. Gehrig, in one of the most memorable speeches in baseball history, tells the 61,808 in attendance at the Stadium, “I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth.” Gehrig, who is stricken with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, will die from the muscular disease in 1941.
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