# Retiring Ron Guidry's Uniform Number 49

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retiring-ron-guidrys-uniform-number-49/141641>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 9, 2002, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retiring-ron-guidrys-uniform-number-49/141641 "2002-12-09T23:18:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\
**Post date:** [December 9, 2002, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retiring-ron-guidrys-uniform-number-49/141641/1 "2002-12-09T23:18:25Z")

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Today’s New York Daily News printed up a preliminary 2003 schedule for the New York Yankees. One of the promotion dates is Ron Guidry Day (Aug 23), where the Yankees are going to be giving out a #49 pin to fans.

As it is, since Guidry left the team, the Yankees have only issued #49 once – to Jeff Johnson, a lefty from the early '90s who would never be confused for Guidry. Aside from that exception, no Yankee has worn 49 since Guidry retired. (As a side note, it should be noted that no Yankees have worn 30 since Willie Randolph retired as a player either).

Has anyone heard anything official on whether the Yanks are retiring this number officially, or is it just a promotional day?

Zev Steinhardt

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**Author:** ![Hugh\_Jass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/4da419/32.png) [@Hugh\_Jass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hugh_Jass)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retiring-ron-guidrys-uniform-number-49/141641/2 "2002-12-10T00:47:43Z")

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I sincerely hope this is just a promotional day.

(Side note: I don’t know the answer to your question)

Guidry was a fine pitcher, and he had that one spectacular season, but he doesn’t deserve to have his number retired. I’d hate to see the honor of having your Yankee jersey retired become diluted with less-than-legendary players getting honored. And I’m not even a Yankees fan. If he gets his number retired, I’m starting a campaign to honor Sparky Lyle too.

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**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retiring-ron-guidrys-uniform-number-49/141641/3 "2002-12-10T01:02:35Z")

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I’m starting a campaign for Ross Mosschito

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**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:** [December 10, 2002, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retiring-ron-guidrys-uniform-number-49/141641/4 "2002-12-10T01:52:08Z")

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Well, Steinbrenner loved to do it in the past, but he’s running out of numbers. I don’t thing Guidry is at that level, but the pin is one way to remember him.

Sometimes numbers are unofficially retired. When Tom Seaver was traded to Cincinnati, the equipment manager refused to assign #41 to anyone else. (Of course, now it’s officially retired.)

BTW, Mets fans should be aware of [Mets by the Numbers](http://www.mbtn.net/about.htm)