Retired Numbers
Blue ink on white fabric: the permanent signatures of franchise immortals.
At Dodger Stadium, a constellation of blue numerals hangs suspended above the dugouts—each one a number that will never be worn by another soul. The Dodgers maintain one of baseball’s most consequential archives of retired numbers, a tangible record of excellence stretching from the brick streets of Brooklyn to the palm-lined avenues of Los Angeles.
- Total Retired Numbers
- 19
- First Number Retired
- Jackie Robinson (No. 42)
- Most Recent Honor
- Kirk Gibson (No. 51, 2023)
- Unique Distinction
- Number 42 retired league-wide in 1997
- Non-Player Honorees
- Walter Alston, Tommy Lasorda, Sandy Koufax (Manager/Coach/Pitcher roles)
Lore & Background
The franchise’s tradition of officially retiring numbers began with Jackie Robinson on April 15, 1972. Though the ceremony took place in Los Angeles, the honor celebrated a legend whose roots lay deep in Brooklyn history. This act set a precedent for an organization committed to social progress and historical significance. As decades passed, the list expanded beyond players to include the architects of victory: managers Walter Alston and Tommy Lasorda are enshrined alongside superstars like Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale.
In Their Own Story
The late afternoon sun slides behind the Elysian Hills, glinting off the metal numbers mounted high above left field. In Section 309, a veteran fan leans forward, pointing at the row of digits: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6... his finger stops on 42. Beside him, a child in a new blue jersey tilts his head. 'Why isn't there anyone wearing that number?' he asks. The man doesn't look away from the scoreboard. 'Because nobody else is allowed to,' he says softly. In the quiet hum of the stadium, the absence speaks louder than any stat line ever could.
Reader's Guide
The retirement of a number by the Los Angeles Dodgers is the organization’s highest individual honor, signifying that no future player will ever be permitted to wear it again. It transforms a jersey into a monument, permanently removing that digit from circulation to immortalize contributions both on and off the field.
Did You Know?
- Jackie Robinson's No. 42 was the first number officially retired by the Dodgers franchise in 1972.
- In 1997, MLB retired No. 42 league-wide, but players already wearing it were grandfathered in until they retired (most notably Mariano Rivera).
- The Dodgers hold the record for the most retired numbers in Major League Baseball history.
- Number 53 honors Don Drysdale, completing a legendary pitching duo with Sandy Koufax (No. 32) that dominated the 1960s.