Why are there numbers....

[Mother]

on the backs of ball shirts? I tryed to explain to my 6yr old son why and I want to make sure that I have explained it correctly. Tell me if I'm wrong, but it's so the ump. can call out the number for that person, and so history can record the hits and out and stuff of that kind for that person. It's kinda like a SS# wright?So if any one of you can explain it to me so I can explain it to him I would be very happy.

Sorry if I sound like "Just like a woman for ya!!! "

Thank you, Mother

[Tavish]

So fans can know which player is which.

[AT]

Identification purposes. For fans, for coaches, for umpires, for announcers, for teammates even...

And your 6-year old needs to be hitting curveballs by now...

[Dawgpound 1613]

It is my understanding that numbers were originally added to identify the player. I think I read that the Yankees started the practice in the late 20s. I've also read that numbers were given to some players based on their spot in the line-up (thus Ruth #3 and Gehrig #4).

As such, I would agree that they were originally used for identification purposes.

[Mother]

Thank you for the replys.

[WharfRat]

It is my understanding that numbers were originally added to identify the player. I think I read that the Yankees started the practice in the late 20s. I've also read that numbers were given to some players based on their spot in the line-up (thus Ruth #3 and Gehrig #4).

As such, I would agree that they were originally used for identification purposes.

Actually, the Indians experimented with numbers on the jerseys a decade before the Yanks adopted their in the late '20s, and other teams in the Majors, Negro Leagues and elsewhere probably did the same. Numbers preceded names on the back of jerseys by like 20 or 30 years, if memory serves. I assume it was all because of some primitive marketing notion.

And of course, the only team to still not have names on the jerseys is dem Bombers.

[blankman]

It is my understanding that numbers were originally added to identify the player. I think I read that the Yankees started the practice in the late 20s. I've also read that numbers were given to some players based on their spot in the line-up (thus Ruth #3 and Gehrig #4).

As such, I would agree that they were originally used for identification purposes.

Actually, the Indians experimented with numbers on the jerseys a decade before the Yanks adopted their in the late '20s, and other teams in the Majors, Negro Leagues and elsewhere probably did the same. Numbers preceded names on the back of jerseys by like 20 or 30 years, if memory serves. I assume it was all because of some primitive marketing notion.

And of course, the only team to still not have names on the jerseys is dem Bombers.

Well, only team without names both home and away