New York Yankee Retired Numbers Quiz

Answer: 4 - Lou Gehrig

The Yankees began placing numbers on their uniforms in 1929, and they were the first team to put numbers on them. Lou Gehrig was the first player to wear number 4 (based on his cleanup position in the lineup) and he was forced to retire in 1939 when he discovered he had ALS (now commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease).

The Yankees immediately retired his number and no other Yankee has ever worn number 4.

Answer: 8

Number 8 was retired for both Bill Dickey and Yogi Berra, great Yankee catchers. The decision to retire #8 came after both players had retired.

Answer: 42

Number 42 was retired by all major league baseball teams in 1997 in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier. Jackie had worn 42 for the Brooklyn Dodgers and never played for or was associated with the Yankee organization. Yankee great Mariano Rivera wore #42 and it was retired in 2013 upon his retirement from baseball.

Answer: 16, 49

Number 16 was retired for Yankee pitcher Whitey Ford and number 49 was retired for Ron Guidry. Both were great left-handed pitchers for the Yankees.

Answer: 37

Casey Stengel never played baseball for the Yankees. He played with various teams during his career including the Brooklyn Dodgers, the Brooklyn Robins, the Boston Braves, and the New York Giants. The Yankees retired Stengel's #37 in 1970. He was honored by the Yankees for managing them to seven World Series championships and 10 American League pennants from 1949-1960, including a record five consecutive championships from 1949-1953.

Answer: 15

Thurman Munson was the captain of the Yankees. He died when he crashed the plane he was flying near Cleveland, Ohio on August 2, 1979. His number was retired by then-Yankee owner George Steinbrenner immediately upon his death.

Answer: Roger Maris

Roger Maris' number 9 was retired in 1984, shortly before his death in December 1985. In 1961, he broke Babe Ruth's 1927 single season home run record by hitting 61 homeruns. Since the schedule was expanded to 162 games that year (Ruth had accomplished the feat in 154 games), the commissioner Ford Frick attached an asterisk to the record.

Answer: Elston Howard

Yankee catcher Elston Howard was honored in 1984 when his number 32 was retired. He was the first African American to play for the Yankees when he made his debut in 1955. He won the American League Most Valuable Player award in 1963.

Answer: Don Mattingly

Don Mattingly was honored in 1997 when his number 23 was retired. "Donnie Baseball" played first base for the Yankees from 1982-1995 and won the American League Most Valuable Player award in 1985. He set records for most grand slams in one season - 6 in 1985 - and also tied the record for most consecutive games with a home run with eight.

Answer: Phil Rizzuto

Phil Rizzuto was honored in 1985 when his number 10 was retired. "The Scooter" played shortstop for the Yankees from 1941-1956 and won the American League Most Valuable Player award in 1950. In addition to his excellent fielding and hitting, Rizzuto was also the Yankees' announcer for 40 years from 1957-1996.