TAMPA, FL – The number 13 is back in the news again. It was the number that Yankees Hall of Famer Derek Jeter hoped to wear when he made his major league debut. The number was occupied by infielder Mike Gallego. Jeter was handed the number 2, and he wasn’t too happy about that. His theory was the number 2 jersey was the smallest jersey they had for his 6 foot 2 inch 175-pound frame.
Alex Rodriguez chose 13 because the number 3 he wore on his back while with the
Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers was out of circulation in New York. It was worn by Babe Ruth.
A-Rod had hoped to be in that same status as The Babe but that’s become a pipe
dream. Not only has the number 13 not been added to the other twenty one numbers that are retired, it has been handed to other players to wear. When Joey Gallo made his pit stop here 13 was on his back. Rodriguez reacted by saying, “Yeah, of course it bothers me. It’s less about bother, but of course it would be nice to be recognized in one of the coolest places to be in Yankee history, but that’s not my decision.”
I wonder what poor A-Rod is thinking now that the number 13 was handed out to newly
acquired Jazz Chisholm. Chisholm wore the number 2 while playing for the Miami Marlins. He idolized Jeter and got his blessing to don the number, while Jeter was with the Marlins as their Chief Executive Officer. Now a Yankee Chisholm can’t have his way. But in a way he did get his way. He chose 13, the number his idol always wanted.
Was it a diss to A-Rod? After tarnishing the pinstripes with his steroid suspension, and his pointing his finger at other users, and suing the team doctor, the Yankees are masters at pouring it on. Let’s not forget that the team also denied him a chance to hit four more home runs for number 700, which would have led to a six million dollar bonus. Number 714, would have tied The Bambino and given A-Rod another six million in his bank account, was out of the question after he was given his release with one year left on his astronomical contract.
number 13 jerseys and watch patiently to see if Jazz will be the next Didi Gregorius.
