Who Wore It Best? (0-9)

As if you couldn't spend any more time on there, Baseball-Reference has added uniform number data to the website.

Let's take a look at each number and see who ran up the highest career WAR and who wore it for the most seasons. 

The first list for each number shows each uni number's top ten by Wins Above Replacement. Players that only wore the number for a season or two were removed from the list. For instance, Jimmie Foxx actually tops the #1 list, having worn that number for the Cubs in 1944. But he wore 3 for the bulk of his career and he'll be on that list instead.

The second list shows the ten players that wore the number for the most seasons.



1

Player	Yrs	WAR ▾	Team (click to sort by first year)
Ozzie Smith	19	73.0	San Diego Padres (78, 79, 80, 81) St. Louis Cardinals (82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96)
Lou Whitaker	19	71.4	Detroit Tigers (77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95)
Pee Wee Reese	16	63.1	Brooklyn Dodgers (40, 41, 42, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57) Los Angeles Dodgers (58)
Richie Ashburn	15	60.2	Philadelphia Phillies (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59) Chicago Cubs (60, 61) New York Mets (62)
Bobby Doerr	13	47.4	Boston Red Sox (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
Buddy Myer	11	43.7	Washington Senators (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
Tony Fernandez	14	42.0	Toronto Blue Jays (83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 93, 98, 99, 01) San Diego Padres (92) New York Mets (93) Cleveland Indians (97)
Earle Combs	7	40.0	New York Yankees (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
Rabbit Maranville	3	39.4	Boston Braves (32, 33, 35)
Rafael Furcal	6	37.6	Atlanta Braves (00, 01, 02, 03, 04, 05)

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 2/18/2013.

And here's the list by season

Player	Yrs ▾	WAR	Team (click to sort by first year)
Ozzie Smith	19	73.0	San Diego Padres (78, 79, 80, 81) St. Louis Cardinals (82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96)
Lou Whitaker	19	71.4	Detroit Tigers (77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95)
Pee Wee Reese	16	63.1	Brooklyn Dodgers (40, 41, 42, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57) Los Angeles Dodgers (58)
Garry Templeton	15	24.9	St. Louis Cardinals (77, 78, 79, 80, 81) San Diego Padres (82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91)
Richie Ashburn	15	60.2	Philadelphia Phillies (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59) Chicago Cubs (60, 61) New York Mets (62)
Luis Castillo	14	26.8	Florida Marlins (97, 98, 99, 00, 01, 02, 03, 04, 05) Minnesota Twins (06, 07) New York Mets (07, 08, 09, 10)
Tony Fernandez	14	42.0	Toronto Blue Jays (83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 93, 98, 99, 01) San Diego Padres (92) New York Mets (93) Cleveland Indians (97)
Jose Cardenal	14	16.9	California Angels (66, 67) Cleveland Indians (68, 69) St. Louis Cardinals (70, 71) Milwaukee Brewers (71) Chicago Cubs (72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77) Philadelphia Phillies (78, 79)
Al Bumbry	13	22.3	Baltimore Orioles (72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84)
Bobby Doerr	13	47.4	Boston Red Sox (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
Brian Roberts	12	26.3	Baltimore Orioles (01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12)
Lance Johnson	12	27.8	Chicago White Sox (88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95) New York Mets (96, 97) Chicago Cubs (97, 98, 99)

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 2/18/2013.

By both WAR and seasons played, Smith, Whitaker and Reese are the top three #1's. It's pretty clear that by the top spot belongs to The Wizard and as you can see, he's pretty pumped about it.




2

Player	Yrs	WAR ▾	Team (click to sort by first year)
Charlie Gehringer	11	76.6	Detroit Tigers (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
Derek Jeter	18	69.3	New York Yankees (95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 00, 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12)
Billy Herman	5	52.5	Chicago Cubs (32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
Gabby Hartnett	4	50.7	Chicago Cubs (37, 38, 39, 40)
Mickey Cochrane	3	48.9	Philadelphia Athletics (31, 32, 33)
Tony Phillips	4	48.2	Oakland Athletics (86, 87, 88, 89)
Brett Butler	7	47.0	Cleveland Indians (84, 85, 86, 87) San Francisco Giants (88, 89, 90)
Nellie Fox	13	46.3	Chicago White Sox (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63) Houston Colt .45's (64) Houston Astros (65)
Red Schoendienst	14	39.0	St. Louis Cardinals (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 61, 62, 63)
Dick Bartell	6	37.3	Philadelphia Phillies (32, 33) New York Giants (35, 36, 37, 38)

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 2/18/2013.

Player	Yrs ▾	WAR	Team (click to sort by first year)
Derek Jeter	18	69.3	New York Yankees (95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 00, 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12)
Red Schoendienst	14	39.0	St. Louis Cardinals (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 61, 62, 63)
Nellie Fox	13	46.3	Chicago White Sox (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63) Houston Colt .45's (64) Houston Astros (65)
Randy Winn	12	24.5	Tampa Bay Devil Rays (98, 99, 00, 01, 02) Seattle Mariners (03, 04, 05) San Francisco Giants (05, 06, 07, 08, 09)
Leo Durocher	11	2.7	St. Louis Cardinals (33, 34, 35, 36, 37) Brooklyn Dodgers (38, 39, 40, 41, 43, 45)
Charlie Gehringer	11	76.6	Detroit Tigers (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
Granny Hamner	11	15.6	Philadelphia Phillies (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
Freddie Patek	11	21.3	Pittsburgh Pirates (68, 69, 70) Kansas City Royals (71, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79) California Angels (80, 81)
Randy Jackson	10	10.4	Chicago Cubs (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55) Brooklyn Dodgers (56, 57) Cleveland Indians (58, 59) Los Angeles Dodgers (58)
Jerry Remy	10	12.6	California Angels (75, 76, 77) Boston Red Sox (78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84)
Red Rolfe	10	22.2	New York Yankees (31, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
Jack Wilson	10	21.2	Pittsburgh Pirates (03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09) Seattle Mariners (10, 11) Atlanta Braves (12)

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 2/18/2013.

This is a two-horse race between Jeter and Gehringer. It'll be interesting to see if Jeter can catch Detroit's Hall of Fame second baseman, who currently sits 7.3 wins ahead. The Yanks' captain is signed for 2012 and 2013 with a player option for 2014, so I think he'll fall just short. 

However, with a boost from being the de facto face of baseball for most of the last two decades and the fact that Gehringer accrued more than a quarter of his value without a uniform number, I'll give Jeter the nod as the greatest #2.

It's worth noting that by similarity score, Jeter's number five comp is Gehringer and Gehringer's number nine comp is Jeter.



3

Player	Yrs	WAR ▾	Team (click to sort by first year)
Babe Ruth	7	178.3	New York Yankees (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34) Boston Braves (35)
Alex Rodriguez	10	111.4	Seattle Mariners (94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 00) Texas Rangers (01, 02, 03)
Jimmie Foxx	12	93.5	Philadelphia Athletics (31, 32, 33, 34, 35) Boston Red Sox (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
Ken Griffey	3	79.2	Cincinnati Reds (06, 07, 08)
Frankie Frisch	6	68.0	St. Louis Cardinals (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
Bobby Grich	5	67.3	Baltimore Orioles (72, 73, 74, 75, 76)
Alan Trammell	19	67.1	Detroit Tigers (78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96)
Goose Goslin	3	61.0	Washington Senators (30) St. Louis Browns (31, 32)
Willie Davis	15	56.8	Los Angeles Dodgers (61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73) Texas Rangers (75) San Diego Padres (76)
Harmon Killebrew	19	55.8	Washington Senators (57, 58, 59, 60) Minnesota Twins (61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74) Kansas City Royals (75)

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 2/18/2013.

Player	Yrs ▾	WAR	Team (click to sort by first year)
Harold Baines	22	34.0	Chicago White Sox (80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 96, 97, 00, 01) Texas Rangers (89, 90) Oakland Athletics (90, 91, 92) Baltimore Orioles (93, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 00)
Alan Trammell	19	67.1	Detroit Tigers (78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96)
Harmon Killebrew	19	55.8	Washington Senators (57, 58, 59, 60) Minnesota Twins (61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74) Kansas City Royals (75)
Dale Murphy	18	42.6	Atlanta Braves (76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90) Philadelphia Phillies (90, 91, 92) Colorado Rockies (93)
Dick McAuliffe	16	34.3	Detroit Tigers (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73) Boston Red Sox (74, 75)
Willie Davis	15	56.8	Los Angeles Dodgers (61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73) Texas Rangers (75) San Diego Padres (76)
Phil Garner	14	26.5	Oakland Athletics (73, 74, 76) Pittsburgh Pirates (77, 78, 79, 80, 81) Houston Astros (81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87)
Bud Harrelson	13	18.6	New York Mets (65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77)
Jimmie Foxx	12	93.5	Philadelphia Athletics (31, 32, 33, 34, 35) Boston Red Sox (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
Eric Chavez	12	34.0	Oakland Athletics (99, 00, 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10)
Earl Averill	11	45.1	Cleveland Indians (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39) Boston Braves (41)
Cesar Izturis	11	4.5	Los Angeles Dodgers (02, 03, 04, 05, 06) Chicago Cubs (06, 07) Pittsburgh Pirates (07) St. Louis Cardinals (08) Baltimore Orioles (09, 10, 11) Milwaukee Brewers (12)

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 2/18/2013.

I'm not surprised to see Eric Chavez here, but how about Cesar Izturis?

The top three 3's by bWAR include Foxx, Rodriguez (who by the end of the season will have worn 13 for as many years as he did 3) and Ruth, who only wore the iconic number for the final seven seasons of his 22-year career. But even though he already had 470 homers before he wore it, there is only one answer for the greatest #3.







4

Player	Yrs	WAR ▾	Team (click to sort by first year)
Rogers Hornsby	4	124.6	St. Louis Cardinals (23, 33) St. Louis Browns (36, 37)
Lou Gehrig	11	108.5	New York Yankees (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
Mel Ott	15	104.0	New York Giants (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
Paul Molitor	18	72.5	Milwaukee Brewers (78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92) Minnesota Twins (96, 97, 98)
Luke Appling	17	69.9	Chicago White Sox (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
Bobby Grich	10	67.3	California Angels (77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86)
Duke Snider	17	63.1	Brooklyn Dodgers (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57) Los Angeles Dodgers (58, 59, 60, 61, 62) New York Mets (63)
Joe Cronin	14	61.9	Washington Senators (31, 32, 33, 34) Boston Red Sox (35, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
Goose Goslin	4	61.0	Detroit Tigers (34, 35, 36, 37)
Joe Gordon	4	54.0	Cleveland Indians (47, 48, 49, 50)

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 2/18/2013.

Player	Yrs ▾	WAR	Team (click to sort by first year)
Paul Molitor	18	72.5	Milwaukee Brewers (78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92) Minnesota Twins (96, 97, 98)
Duke Snider	17	63.1	Brooklyn Dodgers (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57) Los Angeles Dodgers (58, 59, 60, 61, 62) New York Mets (63)
Luke Appling	17	69.9	Chicago White Sox (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
Mel Ott	15	104.0	New York Giants (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
Joe Cronin	14	61.9	Washington Senators (31, 32, 33, 34) Boston Red Sox (35, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
Marty Marion	13	29.6	St. Louis Cardinals (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50) St. Louis Browns (52, 53)
Lenny Dykstra	12	41.0	New York Mets (85, 86, 87, 88, 89) Philadelphia Phillies (89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96)
Carney Lansford	12	37.4	Boston Red Sox (81, 82) Oakland Athletics (83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92)
Bobby Higginson	11	20.2	Detroit Tigers (95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 00, 01, 02, 03, 04, 05)
Jeff Blauser	11	18.8	Atlanta Braves (89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97) Chicago Cubs (98, 99)
Lou Gehrig	11	108.5	New York Yankees (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 2/18/2013.

A bunch of Hall of Famers here, but I'll go with the first player to get his number retired.


 
5

Player	Yrs	WAR ▾	Team (click to sort by first year)
Albert Pujols	12	88.5	St. Louis Cardinals (01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11) Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (12)
George Brett	19	84.0	Kansas City Royals (75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93)
Jeff Bagwell	15	76.7	Houston Astros (91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 00, 01, 02, 03, 04, 05)
Joe DiMaggio	12	75.1	New York Yankees (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
Brooks Robinson	21	72.7	Baltimore Orioles (57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77)
Johnny Bench	17	72.3	Cincinnati Reds (67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83)
Arky Vaughan	4	70.5	Pittsburgh Pirates (40, 41) Brooklyn Dodgers (42, 43)
Lou Boudreau	12	59.1	Cleveland Indians (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
Hank Greenberg	11	55.1	Detroit Tigers (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 45, 46) Pittsburgh Pirates (47)
John Olerud	8	53.7	New York Mets (97, 98, 99) Seattle Mariners (00, 01, 02, 03, 04)

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 2/18/2013.

Player	Yrs ▾	WAR	Team (click to sort by first year)
Brooks Robinson	21	72.7	Baltimore Orioles (57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77)
George Brett	19	84.0	Kansas City Royals (75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93)
Johnny Bench	17	72.3	Cincinnati Reds (67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83)
Jeff Bagwell	15	76.7	Houston Astros (91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 00, 01, 02, 03, 04, 05)
Nomar Garciaparra	14	42.0	Boston Red Sox (96, 97, 98, 99, 00, 01, 02, 03, 04) Chicago Cubs (04, 05) Los Angeles Dodgers (06, 07, 08) Oakland Athletics (09)
Ray Durham	14	30.6	Chicago White Sox (95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 00, 01, 02) Oakland Athletics (02) San Francisco Giants (03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08) Milwaukee Brewers (08)
Ron Gant	14	31.2	Atlanta Braves (87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93) St. Louis Cardinals (96, 97, 98) Philadelphia Phillies (99, 00) Anaheim Angels (00) Oakland Athletics (01, 03)
Brian Downing	14	47.8	California Angels (78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90) Texas Rangers (92)
Albert Pujols	12	88.5	St. Louis Cardinals (01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11) Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (12)
George Scott	12	32.0	Boston Red Sox (66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 79) Milwaukee Brewers (72, 73, 74, 75, 76)
Lou Boudreau	12	59.1	Cleveland Indians (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
Joe DiMaggio	12	75.1	New York Yankees (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 2/18/2013.

Hank Aaron wore 5 during his rookie season in 1954 before switching to 44, but he's not on these lists. You could make a strong case for any of six different legends. Robinson wore it for the longest time and is the greatest defensive third baseman ever. Bench might be the best backstop of all time. Pujols leads in bWAR and will add to his total. Brett is just behind him and ranks higher than each of the others on B-R's EloRater list. And then there's only Joe DiMaggio Jeff Bagwell.

I'm just starting this exercise, but I don't think I'll find a tougher call. Since he still has nine years left on his contract and will likely end up with some incredible lifetime totals, I'll go with Albert Pujols.




6 

Player	Yrs	WAR ▾	Team (click to sort by first year)
Stan Musial	22	123.4	St. Louis Cardinals (41, 42, 43, 44, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
Al Kaline	21	87.4	Detroit Tigers (54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74)
Sal Bando	16	57.1	Kansas City Athletics (66, 67) Oakland Athletics (68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76) Milwaukee Brewers (77, 78, 79, 80, 81)
Joe Gordon	7	54.0	New York Yankees (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 46)
Stan Hack	9	50.7	Chicago Cubs (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 45, 46, 47)
Tony Lazzeri	5	46.2	New York Yankees (29, 34, 35, 36, 37)
Willie Wilson	16	43.5	Kansas City Royals (78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90) Oakland Athletics (92) Chicago Cubs (93, 94)
Roy White	11	43.0	New York Yankees (69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79)
Carlos Delgado	3	40.4	Toronto Blue Jays (93, 94, 95)
Tony Oliva	13	39.7	Minnesota Twins (64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76)

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 2/18/2013.

Player	Yrs ▾	WAR	Team (click to sort by first year)
Stan Musial	22	123.4	St. Louis Cardinals (41, 42, 43, 44, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
Al Kaline	21	87.4	Detroit Tigers (54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74)
Steve Garvey	19	34.4	Los Angeles Dodgers (69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82) San Diego Padres (83, 84, 85, 86, 87)
Sal Bando	16	57.1	Kansas City Athletics (66, 67) Oakland Athletics (68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76) Milwaukee Brewers (77, 78, 79, 80, 81)
Ron Fairly	16	31.7	Los Angeles Dodgers (61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69) Montreal Expos (69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74) Toronto Blue Jays (77) California Angels (78)
Willie Wilson	16	43.5	Kansas City Royals (78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90) Oakland Athletics (92) Chicago Cubs (93, 94)
Carl Furillo	15	31.8	Brooklyn Dodgers (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57) Los Angeles Dodgers (58, 59, 60)
J.T. Snow	14	8.4	California Angels (93, 94, 95, 96) San Francisco Giants (97, 98, 99, 00, 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 08)
Dan Wilson	14	10.9	Cincinnati Reds (92, 93) Seattle Mariners (94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 00, 01, 02, 03, 04, 05)
Tony Oliva	13	39.7	Minnesota Twins (64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76)

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 2/18/2013.

It's nice to see J.T. Snow and Dan Wilson here, but this one goes to The Man (RIP).



7

Player	Yrs	WAR ▾	Team (click to sort by first year)
Mickey Mantle	18	105.5	New York Yankees (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68)
Kenny Lofton	13	64.9	Cleveland Indians (92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 98, 99, 00, 01, 07) Atlanta Braves (97) Chicago Cubs (03) Pittsburgh Pirates (03) Philadelphia Phillies (05) Texas Rangers (07)
Al Simmons	5	64.3	Philadelphia Athletics (31, 32) Chicago White Sox (34, 35) Washington Senators (38)
Ivan Rodriguez	21	63.7	Texas Rangers (91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 00, 01, 02, 09) Florida Marlins (03) Detroit Tigers (04, 05, 06, 07, 08) Washington Nationals (10, 11)
Craig Biggio	19	62.1	Houston Astros (89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 00, 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07)
Reggie Smith	10	60.8	Boston Red Sox (67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73) St. Louis Cardinals (74, 75, 76)
Bob Johnson	4	52.8	Philadelphia Athletics (34, 35, 36, 37)
Joe Medwick	9	52.4	St. Louis Cardinals (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40) Brooklyn Dodgers (40, 43)
J.D. Drew	13	42.4	St. Louis Cardinals (99, 00, 01, 02, 03) Atlanta Braves (04) Los Angeles Dodgers (05, 06) Boston Red Sox (07, 08, 09, 10, 11)
Rocky Colavito	5	42.0	Detroit Tigers (60, 61, 62, 63) Kansas City Athletics (64)

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 2/18/2013.

Player	Yrs ▾	WAR	Team (click to sort by first year)
Ivan Rodriguez	21	63.7	Texas Rangers (91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 00, 01, 02, 09) Florida Marlins (03) Detroit Tigers (04, 05, 06, 07, 08) Washington Nationals (10, 11)
Craig Biggio	19	62.1	Houston Astros (89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 00, 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07)
Mickey Mantle	18	105.5	New York Yankees (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68)
Mark Belanger	16	37.6	Baltimore Orioles (66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81)
Ed Kranepool	15	2.2	New York Mets (65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79)
Steve Yeager	14	16.6	Los Angeles Dodgers (73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85) Seattle Mariners (86)
J.D. Drew	13	42.4	St. Louis Cardinals (99, 00, 01, 02, 03) Atlanta Braves (04) Los Angeles Dodgers (05, 06) Boston Red Sox (07, 08, 09, 10, 11)
Harvey Kuenn	13	22.8	Detroit Tigers (54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59) Cleveland Indians (60) San Francisco Giants (61, 62, 63, 64, 65) Chicago Cubs (65, 66)
Kenny Lofton	13	64.9	Cleveland Indians (92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 98, 99, 00, 01, 07) Atlanta Braves (97) Chicago Cubs (03) Pittsburgh Pirates (03) Philadelphia Phillies (05) Texas Rangers (07)
Rick Burleson	12	21.0	Boston Red Sox (74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80) California Angels (81, 82, 83, 84, 86)

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 2/18/2013.

Some impressive names here, and Joe Mauer should crack the top ten pretty soon. With apologies to Pudge Rodriguez, Craig Biggio and the overlooked Kenny Lofton, the choice is Mickey Mantle.




8

Player	Yrs	WAR ▾	Team (click to sort by first year)
Joe Morgan	13	97.1	Cincinnati Reds (72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79) Houston Astros (80) San Francisco Giants (81, 82) Philadelphia Phillies (83) Oakland Athletics (84)
Cal Ripken	21	90.9	Baltimore Orioles (81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 00, 01)
Carl Yastrzemski	23	90.1	Boston Red Sox (61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83)
Gary Carter	18	66.4	Montreal Expos (75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 92) New York Mets (85, 86, 87, 88, 89) San Francisco Giants (90) Los Angeles Dodgers (91)
Reggie Smith	6	60.8	Los Angeles Dodgers (76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81)
Andre Dawson	8	60.6	Chicago Cubs (87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92) Florida Marlins (95, 96)
Yogi Berra	17	56.1	New York Yankees (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63) New York Mets (65)
Willie Stargell	21	54.2	Pittsburgh Pirates (62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82)
Bill Dickey	15	52.4	New York Yankees (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 46)
Bob Elliott	7	47.6	Pittsburgh Pirates (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 2/18/2013.

Player	Yrs ▾	WAR	Team (click to sort by first year)
Carl Yastrzemski	23	90.1	Boston Red Sox (61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83)
Cal Ripken	21	90.9	Baltimore Orioles (81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 00, 01)
Willie Stargell	21	54.2	Pittsburgh Pirates (62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82)
Bob Boone	18	24.4	Philadelphia Phillies (73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81) California Angels (82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88) Kansas City Royals (89, 90)
Gary Carter	18	66.4	Montreal Expos (75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 92) New York Mets (85, 86, 87, 88, 89) San Francisco Giants (90) Los Angeles Dodgers (91)
Yogi Berra	17	56.1	New York Yankees (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63) New York Mets (65)
Doc Cramer	15	4.3	Philadelphia Athletics (33, 34, 35) Boston Red Sox (36, 37, 38, 39, 40) Detroit Tigers (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
Bill Dickey	15	52.4	New York Yankees (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 46)
Andy Etchebarren	15	9.3	Baltimore Orioles (62, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75) California Angels (75, 76, 77) Milwaukee Brewers (78)
Gary Gaetti	15	37.9	Minnesota Twins (82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90) Kansas City Royals (94, 95) St. Louis Cardinals (96, 97, 98) Chicago Cubs (98, 99)
Alex Gonzalez	13	8.7	Toronto Blue Jays (94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 00, 01) Chicago Cubs (02, 03, 04) Tampa Bay Devil Rays (05) Philadelphia Phillies (06)
Mark Loretta	13	17.0	Milwaukee Brewers (95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 00, 01, 02) Houston Astros (02, 07, 08) San Diego Padres (03, 04, 05)
Joe Morgan	13	97.1	Cincinnati Reds (72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79) Houston Astros (80) San Francisco Giants (81, 82) Philadelphia Phillies (83) Oakland Athletics (84)

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 2/18/2013.

A brutally tough decision here. We have three all-time great catchers, two 400-HR/3,000 H greats that played 20+ seasons with the same team, the best (or second-best) second baseman ever, plus Alex Gonzalez and Mark Loretta!

In a very close race, I'll give it to Cal Ripken since he wore 8 for his whole career while Joe Morgan didn't wear the number in his Houston days.




9

Player	Yrs	WAR ▾	Team (click to sort by first year)
Ted Williams	19	119.8	Boston Red Sox (39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
Reggie Jackson	9	68.4	Oakland Athletics (68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75) Baltimore Orioles (76)
Graig Nettles	15	62.8	New York Yankees (73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83) San Diego Padres (84, 85, 86) Montreal Expos (88)
Joe Torre	9	54.2	St. Louis Cardinals (69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74) New York Mets (75, 76, 77)
John Olerud	8	53.7	Toronto Blue Jays (89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96)
Enos Slaughter	13	51.3	St. Louis Cardinals (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
Gabby Hartnett	6	50.7	Chicago Cubs (32, 33, 34, 35, 36) New York Giants (41)
Minnie Minoso	16	47.5	Chicago White Sox (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 60, 61, 64, 76, 80) Cleveland Indians (58, 59) St. Louis Cardinals (62) Washington Senators (63)
Matt Williams	15	43.5	San Francisco Giants (89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96) Cleveland Indians (97) Arizona Diamondbacks (98, 99, 00, 01, 02, 03)
Charlie Keller	7	40.6	New York Yankees (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 45, 49)

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 2/18/2013.

Player	Yrs ▾	WAR	Team (click to sort by first year)
Ted Williams	19	119.8	Boston Red Sox (39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
Bill Mazeroski	17	32.3	Pittsburgh Pirates (56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72)
Marquis Grissom	16	26.7	Montreal Expos (89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94) Atlanta Braves (95, 96) Milwaukee Brewers (98, 99, 00) Los Angeles Dodgers (01, 02) San Francisco Giants (03, 04, 05)
Minnie Minoso	16	47.5	Chicago White Sox (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 60, 61, 64, 76, 80) Cleveland Indians (58, 59) St. Louis Cardinals (62) Washington Senators (63)
Graig Nettles	15	62.8	New York Yankees (73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83) San Diego Padres (84, 85, 86) Montreal Expos (88)
Matt Williams	15	43.5	San Francisco Giants (89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96) Cleveland Indians (97) Arizona Diamondbacks (98, 99, 00, 01, 02, 03)
Brady Anderson	14	32.2	Baltimore Orioles (89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 00, 01) Cleveland Indians (02)
Terry Pendleton	14	25.1	St. Louis Cardinals (84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90) Atlanta Braves (91, 92, 93, 94) Florida Marlins (95, 96) Cincinnati Reds (97)
Enos Slaughter	13	51.3	St. Louis Cardinals (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
Vinny Castilla	12	16.7	Colorado Rockies (93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 04, 06) Tampa Bay Devil Rays (00, 01) Washington Nationals (05) San Diego Padres (06)
Todd Hundley	12	9.3	New York Mets (92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98) Los Angeles Dodgers (99, 00, 03) Chicago Cubs (01, 02)

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 2/18/2013.

I love seeing Marquis Grissom here, and there are several solid Hall of Very Good-type players like Olerud, Torre and Nettles. That said, the greatest #9 is obviously Teddy Ballgame.




And we can't forget those who wore 0 or 00! Below are the complete lists of those players.

0

Player	Yrs	WAR ▾	Team (click to sort by first year)
Al Oliver	8	40.2	Texas Rangers (78, 79, 80, 81) Montreal Expos (82, 83) Philadelphia Phillies (84) San Francisco Giants (84) Los Angeles Dodgers (85) Toronto Blue Jays (85)
George Scott	1	32.0	Kansas City Royals (79)
Oscar Gamble	1	20.5	Chicago White Sox (85)
Oddibe McDowell	4	9.4	Texas Rangers (85, 86, 87, 88)
Candy Maldonado	1	8.1	Toronto Blue Jays (95)
U.L. Washington	1	7.9	Pittsburgh Pirates (86)
Franklin Stubbs	2	1.7	Milwaukee Brewers (91, 92)
Rey Ordonez	2	-0.2	New York Mets (96, 97)
Terry McDaniel	1	-0.4	New York Mets (91)
Kerry Robinson	2	-0.7	St. Louis Cardinals (02, 03)
Junior Ortiz	6	-1.2	Pittsburgh Pirates (89) Minnesota Twins (90, 91) Cleveland Indians (92, 93) Texas Rangers (94)
Mark Ryal	1	-1.5	Chicago White Sox (85)

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 2/18/2013.

00

Player	Yrs	WAR ▾	Team (click to sort by first year)
Bobby Bonds	1	55.7	St. Louis Cardinals (80)
Jack Clark	1	50.1	San Diego Padres (90)
Bobo Newsom	3	42.0	Washington Senators (43, 46, 47)
Jose Canseco	1	39.1	Toronto Blue Jays (98)
Don Baylor	1	24.4	Oakland Athletics (88)
John Mayberry	1	21.5	Houston Astros (68)
Cliff Johnson	2	14.4	Toronto Blue Jays (85, 86)
Omar Olivares	2	13.6	St. Louis Cardinals (93) Philadelphia Phillies (95)
Curt Leskanic	2	11.5	Milwaukee Brewers (00, 01)
Eddie Milner	1	11.5	Cincinnati Reds (88)
Tony Clark	1	10.0	New York Mets (03)
Jeffrey Leonard	4	7.2	San Francisco Giants (87, 88) Milwaukee Brewers (88) Seattle Mariners (89, 90)
Joe Page	1	5.5	Pittsburgh Pirates (54)
Rick White	3	1.3	Cleveland Indians (04) Pittsburgh Pirates (05) Cincinnati Reds (06) Philadelphia Phillies (06)
Paul Dade	3	0.4	Cleveland Indians (77, 78, 79)
Brandon Watson	3	-0.5	Washington Nationals (05, 06, 07) Cincinnati Reds (06)
Kerry Robinson	1	-0.7	Cincinnati Reds (99)
Curtis Goodwin	2	-1.5	Cincinnati Reds (96, 97)

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 2/18/2013.

Far from a zero, Al Oliver banged out 2,743 hits to earn the top spot among 0's. I'll give the 00 nod to the oft-traveled Bobo Newsom, who was traded 16 times in his 20-year career.

Super Bowl Host Teams

After last night's wacky Super Bowl, it's only 363 more days until the next one. For the first time, it will be played outdoors in a cold weather city, at MetLife (née Giants) Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ on the outskirts of New York City.

The Giants and the Jets will try to become the first team (or teams) to play in a Super Bowl being held in their home stadium.

So how have teams performed knowing that the Super Bowl will be in their house that winter? Not well:

Year	SB	Host	Host Team	Record (Place)	Playoffs
1966	I	Los Angeles	Rams	8-6 (3)
1967	II	Miami	Dolphins	4-10 (3)
1968	III	Miami	Dolphins	5-8-1 (3)
1969	IV	New Orleans	Saints	5-9 (3)
1970	V	Miami	Dolphins	10-4 (2)	Div: L 21-14 @ OAK
1971	VI	New Orleans	Saints	4-8-2 (4)
1972	VII	Los Angeles	Rams	6-7-1 (3)
1973	VIII	Houston	Oilers	1-13 (4)
1974	IX	New Orleans	Saints	5-9 (3)
1975	X	Miami	Dolphins	10-4 (2)
1976	XI	Pasadena	Rams*	10-3-1 (1)	Div: W 14-12 @ DAL
					NFC Ch: L 24-13 v. MIN
1977	XII	New Orleans	Saints	3-11 (4)
1978	XIII	Miami	Dolphins	11-5 (2)	WC: L 17-9 v. HOU
1979	XIV	Pasadena	Rams*	9-7 (1)	Div: W 21-19 @ DAL
					NFC Ch: W 9-0 @ TB
					SB: L 31-19 v. PIT
1980	XV	New Orleans	Saints	1-15 (4)
1981	XVI	Pontiac	Lions	8-8 (2)
1982	XVII	Pasadena	Raiders/Rams**	Raiders 8-1 (1)	WC: W 27-10 v. CLE
					Div: L 17-14 v. NYJ
				Rams 2-7 (4)
1983	XVIII	Tampa	Buccaneers	2-14 (5)
1984	XIX	Palo Alto	49ers	15-1	Div: W 21-10 v. NYG
					NFC Ch: W 23-0 v. CHI
					SB: W 38-16 v. MIA
1985	XX	New Orleans	Saints	5-11 (3)
1986	XXI	Pasadena	Raiders/Rams**	Rams 10-6 (2)	WC: L 19-7 @ WAS
				Raiders 8-8 (3)
1987	XXII	San Diego	Chargers	8-7 (3)
1988	XXIII	Miami	Dolphins	6-10 (5)
1989	XXIV	New Orleans	Saints	9-7 (3)
1990	XXV	Tampa	Buccaneers	6-10 (2)
1991	XXVI	Minneapolis	Vikings	8-8 (3)
1992	XXVII	Pasadena	Raiders/Rams**	Raiders 7-9 (4)
				Rams 6-10 (3)
1993	XXVIII	Atlanta	Falcons	6-10 (3)
1994	XXIX	Miami	Dolphins	10-6 (1)	WC: W 27-17 v. KC
					Div: L 22-21 v. SD
1995	XXX	Tempe	Cardinals	4-12 (5)
1996	XXXI	New Orleans	Saints	3-13 (4)
1997	XXXII	San Diego	Chargers	4-12 (4)
1998	XXXIII	Miami	Dolphins	10-6 (2)	WC: W 24-17 v. BUF
					Div: L 38-3 @ DEN
1999	XXXIV	Atlanta	Falcons	5-11 (3)
2000	XXXV	Tampa	Buccaneers	10-6 (2)	WC: L 21-3 @ PHI
2001	XXXVI	New Orleans	Saints	7-9 (3)
2002	XXXVII	San Diego	Chargers	8-8 (3)
2003	XXXVIII	Houston	Texans	5-11 (3)
2004	XXXIX	Jacksonville	Jaguars	9-7 (2)
2005	XL	Detroit	Lions	5-11 (3)
2006	XLI	Miami	Dolphins	6-10 (4)
2007	XLII	Glendale	Cardinals	8-8 (2)
2008	XLIII	Tampa	Buccaneers	9-7 (3)
2009	XLIV	Miami	Dolphins	7-9 (3)
2010	XLV	Arlington	Cowboys	6-10 (3)
2011	XLVI	Indianapolis	Colts	2-14 (4)
2012	XLVII	New Orleans	Saints	7-9 (2)
2013	XLVIII	East Rutherford	Giants/Jets
				332-423-1
				6.64--8.46

* Even though the game was played at the Rose Bowl and the Rams played their home games at the Coliseum, I counted the Rams as the host club as a representative of the L.A. region.

** I did the same thing with the Raiders once they moved south from Oakland. The Rams moved to Anaheim and the Raiders settled into the Coliseum, but I counted both teams as the host.  

*** The 49ers won Super Bowl XIX at Stanford Coliseum in Palo Alto, 30 miles south of Candlestick Park. This is the closest instance of a host team winning the title.
 
Cumulatively, host teams are almost 100 games under .500, with some dreadful Saints teams accounting for more than half of the margin. The average mark is roughly the equivalent of a 7-9 team.

In four cases, the host team not only missed the playoffs, but finished with the worst record in the league. The 1973 Oilers went 1-13, then traded the first pick of the draft to Dallas. The Cowboys used that to take Ed "Too Tall" Jones. Houston also included a third-round selection in the deal and Dallas chose quarterback Danny White, who would help guide the Cowboys to three straight NFC title games. The Saints went 1-15 in 1980 before taking Heisman-winning running back George Rogers with the top pick in '81, leaving the Giants with a guy named Lawrence Taylor. The Bucs were 2-14 in 1983, but didn't have a first-round pick the next year. The "Suck for Luck" Colts bottomed out last season at 2-14, but they seem to be in good shape moving forward with their heir to Peyton Manning.

As for teams aiming to play the game on their actual home field, only five have made the postseason. The Dolphins lost in the first round in 1970 and 1978. With Dan Marino in 1994 and 1998, they won the Wild Card game at home before falling on the road in the divisional round. The 2000 Bucs lost in the opening round and no host team has made the playoffs since.