Jason Marquis And #21

by Al Yellon on Jan 22, 2007 10:08 AM CST

Buried in this Tribune article about the daily-game-sale ticket price increase is this:

The Cubs have said Jason Marquis can take Sosa's number 21, which has not been issued since Sosa left after the 2004 season. So far, Marquis is the only player on the 40-man roster who doesn't have a number listed next to his name.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

Tweet Comment 20 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I wonder

when they told him, because he signed autographs with 21 on Sunday morning

keeping mediocrity at bay

by flyball on Jan 22, 2007 10:09 AM CST reply actions

Thanks for the scoop!

I'm guessing that makes it more or less official. I have a feeling they're going to try to do it quietly, rather than make an announcement.

"[BCB] is much better than... well, everything." -- gravedigger, January 21, 2007

by Al Yellon on Jan 22, 2007 10:12 AM CST up reply actions

and on Saturday........

he said he asked for #21 but didn't know yet.

by cubsgirl2 on Jan 22, 2007 10:39 AM CST up reply actions

Does this mean

Sosa's # will never be retired?

Music City Miracles

by Jimmy on Jan 22, 2007 10:32 AM CST reply actions

It would appear that way.

n/t

UZI

We should be celebrating Oscar's "mexicanicity".

by Ozgreeder on Jan 22, 2007 10:38 AM CST up reply actions

No way...

Maddux had the same number as Fergie Jenkins, right? And others, IIRC.

It seems to me that the Cubs have a way with letting people use the old numbers, but it can always be retired.

Sosa's number, if retired, won't be done so until he makes it into the HOF, until #31 is retired, until the smell of the scandal of steroids is diminished greatly. That could take 10, 15, 20 years.

Never (in the future sense) is a strong word, and should rarely be used in accordance with sports.

EINSTEIN!

by tyger1147 on Jan 22, 2007 10:42 AM CST up reply actions

Not necessarily...

... both Billy Williams' and Ron Santo's numbers were worn after they retired as players, before the numbers were retired.

"[BCB] is much better than... well, everything." -- gravedigger, January 21, 2007

by Al Yellon on Jan 22, 2007 10:43 AM CST up reply actions

No

Sammy's number can still be retired.

Bruce Kimm wore Santo's #10 as recently as 2002. Most of us over 30 but under 45 remember it better as Leon Durham's number. Larry Bittner wore Billy Wiliiams' #26.

Far as I can tell, only Ernie Bank's #14 and Ryne Sandberg's #23 were never worn by anyone after they retired.

But I don't think Sammy's number is going to retired anytime soon.

A little song, a little dance. A little seltzer down your pants

by Josh Timmers on Jan 22, 2007 7:43 PM CST up reply actions

Correct on Banks and Sandberg.

It was longtime policy of the Wrigleys not to retire numbers. In reality, the Cubs should probably have a retired number for Gabby Hartnett (probably 2, but he wore others), Stan Hack (6), and Phil Cavarretta (44).

See Kasey's all-time Cub uniform number page for more.

"[BCB] is much better than... well, everything." -- gravedigger, January 21, 2007

by Al Yellon on Jan 22, 2007 7:54 PM CST up reply actions

At this point in time

Rex Grossman's number has a better chance of being retired with the Bears than Sammy's number with the Cubs.

by JFCubFan on Jan 23, 2007 2:19 PM CST up reply actions

Just another reason...

...to dislike him.

PTBNL!

by gravedigger on Jan 22, 2007 11:50 AM CST reply actions

I say

reason to like him

he asked for it, not demanded it

keeping mediocrity at bay

by flyball on Jan 22, 2007 12:51 PM CST up reply actions

Agreed.

And since the previous bearer of that number left the team under bad circumstances, I don't think it inappropriate to reassign it.

"[BCB] is much better than... well, everything." -- gravedigger, January 21, 2007

by Al Yellon on Jan 22, 2007 1:03 PM CST up reply actions

Agreed....

couldn't have said....or typed it....any better myself.

Check out my daily baseball blog at MLB-threeSIXTYfive

by TheBeerBaron on Jan 22, 2007 4:07 PM CST up reply actions

Exactly

that's a reason to LOVE him, actually. He's going to make us forget about Sammy!

HENDRY!

by cubbiejulie on Jan 22, 2007 9:13 PM CST up reply actions

I know this isn't a popular opinion round here...

...but I've already forgiven Sammy.

PTBNL!

by gravedigger on Jan 22, 2007 9:23 PM CST up reply actions

Me too...

He bought far more fun over the years (um... remember when we all go to laugh at the Cards for not making the playoffs and losing the MVP race in '98?) way more than a couple of years of showing how much of a jerk he was.

IMO, if the Cubs win the WS in the next three years. Sammy's # will be retired by 2020, sometime after he gets into the HOF.

EINSTEIN!

by tyger1147 on Jan 22, 2007 9:45 PM CST up reply actions

Sosa

Why not let another player wear it? To me, the only reason not to because it is a stain on the organization. Not because of the steroids, but because it is the remnant of a self indulgant superstar who put himself ahead of the team. It also marked an era when the organization marketed Sosa's HRs over Cub wins. However a player wants to wear it. It should not be retired.

DmL

by dmlichte on Jan 22, 2007 1:13 PM CST reply actions