# Baseball Trivia Question related to Life the Universe and Everything **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** baseball-mlb\ **Created:** [March 23, 2008, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-trivia-question-related-to-life-the-universe-and-everything/442411 "2008-03-23T04:14:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2008, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-trivia-question-related-to-life-the-universe-and-everything/442411/1 "2008-03-23T04:14:27Z")
Who were the last three MLB players to wear #42? Who will be the last man to wear it? What is the only numbers retired for two players on the same team? I think we all know which team has the most retired numbers, but which is #2? What was the first number retired and who wore it? Extra Credit: What was the second number retired? \* Note: Please add your own questions. \* ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2008, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-trivia-question-related-to-life-the-universe-and-everything/442411/2 "2008-03-23T04:30:43Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] What is the only numbers retired for two players on the same team? - Note: Please add your own questions. \* [/QUOTE] #8, worn by two stellar Yankee catchers, Bill Dickey and Yogi Berra ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2008, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-trivia-question-related-to-life-the-universe-and-everything/442411/3 "2008-03-23T04:30:44Z")
First retired…42 Jackie Robinson Second…3 Babe Ruth ? second most… Red Sox (been around a long time and did not move)? ---
**Author:** ![mshar253](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@mshar253](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mshar253)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2008, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-trivia-question-related-to-life-the-universe-and-everything/442411/4 "2008-03-23T07:09:35Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] Who will be the last man to wear it? \* [/QUOTE] Mariano Rivera. It’s way too late to come up with a new question at the moment, but maybe tomorrow… ETA: Actually, I remembered one: If a catcher uses a piece of equipment (i.e. his mask) to scoop up a _live_ ball, what’s the penalty? ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2008, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-trivia-question-related-to-life-the-universe-and-everything/442411/5 "2008-03-23T09:56:40Z")
[QUOTE=gonzomax] second most… Red Sox (been around a long time and did not move)? [/QUOTE] I don’t know which team is #2 in most numbers retired, but I know it isn’t the Red Sox, who only retired four numbers. And I have a question that relates to that: The Red Sox actually changed the order in which their retired numbers were displayed in Fenway Park. Why? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2008, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-trivia-question-related-to-life-the-universe-and-everything/442411/6 "2008-03-23T13:17:45Z")
[QUOTE=mobo85] I don’t know which team is #2 in most numbers retired, but I know it isn’t the Red Sox, who only retired four numbers. And I have a question that relates to that: The Red Sox actually changed the order in which their retired numbers were displayed in Fenway Park. Why? [/QUOTE] It was originally in order of retirement. This looked like 1918. [QUOTE=astorian] #8, worn by two stellar Yankee catchers, Bill Dickey and Yogi Berra [/QUOTE] You are right, but I am wrong. That was a typo, there are two other pairs of numbers, but both have technicalities. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2008, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-trivia-question-related-to-life-the-universe-and-everything/442411/7 "2008-03-23T19:50:35Z")
I think the team would be one with a long history in one spot. It would be Cubs,Tigers,Indians,Redsox etc. I now guess the Chicago Cubs. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2008, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-trivia-question-related-to-life-the-universe-and-everything/442411/8 "2008-03-23T20:16:07Z")
> [@](#): > > I think we all know which team has the most retired numbers, but which is #2? Pretty sure it’s the Cardinals. > [@](#): > > What was the first number retired and who wore it? Lou Gehrig’s # 4 > [@](#): > > Extra Credit: What was the second number retired? Babe Ruth’s # 3? My questions for you folks: 1. What’s the only number (in baseball) that has ever been retired for a still-active player? 2. What’s the only number that has been retired to honor a man who never played or managed major league baseball? ---
**Author:** ![Hawkeyeop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@Hawkeyeop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hawkeyeop)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2008, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-trivia-question-related-to-life-the-universe-and-everything/442411/9 "2008-03-23T20:23:00Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] Who were the last three MLB players to wear #42? [/QUOTE] For some reason Butch Huskey comes to mind. ---
**Author:** ![Hawkeyeop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@Hawkeyeop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hawkeyeop)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2008, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-trivia-question-related-to-life-the-universe-and-everything/442411/10 "2008-03-23T20:24:30Z")
[QUOTE=cmkeller] 1. What’s the only number (in baseball) that has ever been retired for a still-active player? [/QUOTE] Harold Baines is the player, but I don’t recall the number. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2008, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-trivia-question-related-to-life-the-universe-and-everything/442411/11 "2008-03-23T20:31:27Z")
Correct, his # 3 was retired by the White Sox when it looked as if he had left the team for good. He came back later and wore it again. ---
**Author:** ![Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d9b06d/32.png) [@Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boozahol_Squid_P.I)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2008, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-trivia-question-related-to-life-the-universe-and-everything/442411/12 "2008-03-23T20:33:53Z")
[QUOTE=cmkeller] 1. What’s the only number (in baseball) that has ever been retired for a still-active player? 2. What’s the only number that has been retired to honor a man who never played or managed major league baseball? [/QUOTE] Like hawkeyeop said, Harold Baines had his number retired a few times while he was still an active player. Augustus Busch had number 85 retired for him by the Cardinals, despite the fact that he was only an owner. I’m suprised to hear he’s the only one, what with the number of Presidents and announcers who get honored by teams, that none of them have been similarly given a number. ---
**Author:** ![Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d9b06d/32.png) [@Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boozahol_Squid_P.I)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2008, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-trivia-question-related-to-life-the-universe-and-everything/442411/13 "2008-03-23T20:44:42Z")
[QUOTE=mshar253] If a catcher uses a piece of equipment (i.e. his mask) to scoop up a _live_ ball, what’s the penalty? [/QUOTE] Two bases, if he’s taken the mask off to scoop. If he can scoop the ball up while the mask’s still in its normal place, it’s in play as normal. ---
**Author:** ![Petey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f1d935/32.png) [@Petey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Petey)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2008, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-trivia-question-related-to-life-the-universe-and-everything/442411/14 "2008-03-23T20:51:52Z")
[QUOTE=Diomedes] Augustus Busch had number 85 retired for him by the Cardinals, despite the fact that he was only an owner. I’m suprised to hear he’s the only one, what with the number of Presidents and announcers who get honored by teams, that none of them have been similarly given a number. [/QUOTE] The Florida Marlins retired #5 in honor of Carl Barger, their president, who died in 1992 before the franchise played a game. The #5 is because his favorite player was Joe DiMaggio. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2008, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-trivia-question-related-to-life-the-universe-and-everything/442411/15 "2008-03-23T21:59:27Z")
> [@](#): > > Augustus Busch had number 85 retired for him by the Cardinals, despite the fact that he was only an owner. I’m suprised to hear he’s the only one, what with the number of Presidents and announcers who get honored by teams, that none of them have been similarly given a number. > [@](#): > > The Florida Marlins retired #5 in honor of Carl Barger, their president, who died in 1992 before the franchise played a game. The #5 is because his favorite player was Joe DiMaggio. Huh, I’m out of date I guess. When I first heard this trivia question, the proper answer was Gene Autry, in whose honor “26” was retired by the \ Angels. (26 because he was like the 26th man on the roster to them.) ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2008, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-trivia-question-related-to-life-the-universe-and-everything/442411/16 "2008-03-23T22:15:23Z")
[QUOTE=Diomedes] Augustus Busch had number 85 retired for him by the Cardinals, despite the fact that he was only an owner. I’m suprised to hear he’s the only one, [/QUOTE] Tom and Jean Yawkey had their Morse Code initials “retired” in Boston, if that counts. ---
**Author:** ![mshar253](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@mshar253](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mshar253)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2008, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-trivia-question-related-to-life-the-universe-and-everything/442411/17 "2008-03-24T02:59:19Z")
[QUOTE=Diomedes] Two bases, if he’s taken the mask off to scoop. If he can scoop the ball up while the mask’s still in its normal place, it’s in play as normal. [/QUOTE] I don’t know what the second sentence was supposed to mean, but regarding the first half: close… but no cigar! [spoiler]It’s an award of three bases to the batter (and runners, if applicable). [MLB.com | The Official Site of Major League Baseball](http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/downloads/y2008/official_rules/07_the_runner.pdf) (look at rule 7.05) [/spoiler] ETA: Last year, Curtis Granderson and Jimmy Rollins became the third and fourth players in MLB history to have had 20 homers, 20 doubles, 20 triples and 20 steals in a single season. Who was the last person to have accomplished this feat? ---
**Author:** ![Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d9b06d/32.png) [@Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boozahol_Squid_P.I)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2008, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-trivia-question-related-to-life-the-universe-and-everything/442411/18 "2008-03-24T03:58:15Z")
[QUOTE=mshar253] I don’t know what the second sentence was supposed to mean, but regarding the first half: close… but no cigar! [spoiler]It’s an award of three bases to the batter (and runners, if applicable). [MLB.com | The Official Site of Major League Baseball](http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/downloads/y2008/official_rules/07_the_runner.pdf) (look at rule 7.05) [/spoiler] [/quote] I guess it depends on whether the ball was thrown or not. The second half of my sentence referred to the idea that if the mask isn’t taken off his body, the watcher can still use it legally. 🙂 > [@](#): > > ETA: Last year, Curtis Granderson and Jimmy Rollins became the third and fourth players in MLB history to have had 20 homers, 20 doubles, 20 triples and 20 steals in a single season. Who was the last person to have accomplished this feat? Willie Mays ( I know he’s one of them… hopefully, he was the most recent) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2008, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-trivia-question-related-to-life-the-universe-and-everything/442411/19 "2008-03-24T12:44:36Z")
[QUOTE=cmkeller] Babe Ruth’s # 3? [/QUOTE] Which brings up this one: Other than Babe Ruth, what _other_ member of the Baseball Hall of Fame wore #3 for the New York Yankees? (This is not a trick question, BTW, so don’t look for obscure variations for any of the terms in it. They mean exactly what they seem to mean.) ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2008, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-trivia-question-related-to-life-the-universe-and-everything/442411/20 "2008-03-24T14:17:30Z")
[QUOTE=RealityChuck] Which brings up this one: Other than Babe Ruth, what _other_ member of the Baseball Hall of Fame wore #3 for the New York Yankees? (This is not a trick question, BTW, so don’t look for obscure variations for any of the terms in it. They mean exactly what they seem to mean.) [/QUOTE] Damn, that is good. Babe Ruth was the first to where #3 and five men wore it before it was retired in 1948. None of them of in the Hall of Fame. George Selkirk(1935-42), Bud Methany(1943-46), Allie Clark(1947), Frank Colman(1947), Cliff Mapes(1947) I am stumped or you are mistaken. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-trivia-question-related-to-life-the-universe-and-everything/442411.md?page=2)