Yanks Retire Their Last Single-Digit #s

2014 has already been a big year for baseball news, and that includes both Little League Baseball and the New York Yankees Franchise.

This year marks the 75th anniversary celebration for Little League Baseball as well as the 40th anniversary of Little League Softball League. Also this year, longtime Yankee shortstop, captain, Major League role model and Little League graduate Derek Jeter announced his retirement from the game, just a few short months after former Yankee manager Joe Torre was awarded the William A. “Bill” Shea Distinguished Little League Graduate Award for excellence.

With Jeter’s retirement also comes the retirement of his signature jersey number “2.” For good measure, the franchise has will also retire Yankee jersey number “6” as worn by Joe Torre, Jeter’s manager for the bulk of his career playing for New York. And so, 2014 will commemorate the end of an era of single digit Yankees jerseys.

Major League Baseball manager, Joe Torre, is most renowned for his work with the New York Yankees from 1996 - 2007. The Yankees made it to the post-season for each of Torre’s years with the franchise. Also in his eleven years as the team’s manager, Joe Torre’s Yankees won ten Division titles for the American League East, as well as winning six pennants and earning four World Series rings. Now, his number will go down in history forever an attraction adorning Monument Park at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.

Derek Jeter made his MLB debut playing for the Yankees in 1995 at the fresh young age of 21. Even then, his was one of the last remaining single-digit numbers active on Yankees roster. After a long successful career in baseball, fans seem to be in unanimous agreement now that Jeter has not only earned his pinstripes, but also his famous jersey number 2. At the end of this season, Derek Jeter will retire after nearly 20 years as a Yankee, taking the number two with him into retirement.

As we celebrate 75 years of Little League this year, baseball fans everywhere will also be tipping their caps to two legendary Little League graduates as they settle into their spots in the history books - happy retirement to Joe Torre #6 and Derek Jeter #2!