Will anyone wear #21 next year or ever again?

[BigBro81]

I know it's not retired, nor is he but is his number as good as retired? Will the Orioles allow anyone to wear it? Nick is wearing 22 in Atlanta. And although Heyward doesn't have the body of work Nick does, a lot of the fans aren't happy with it (or with him even being in Atlanta for that matter).

[weams]

I know it's not retired, nor is he but is his number as good as retired? Will the Orioles allow anyone to wear it? Nick is wearing 22 in Atlanta. And although Heyward doesn't have the body of work Nick does, a lot of the fans aren't happy with it (or with him even being in Atlanta for that matter).

Not this year. But next. It will not be reserved. Any more than 9 is.

[Can_of_corn]

Nick doesn't meet the criteria needed to have his number retired. And since he is still alive I don't see them putting it on unofficially retired list.

[Number5]

I can't see Nick be voted into the HOF. That seems to be the criterion. Boog, Blair, McNally, Belanger, Bumbry, Flanagan, etc. all don't have numbers retired. So, no, I don't think thaey will retire Nick's number.

[Dark Helmet]

They didn't retire #35, they won't #21.

[Frobby]

My guess is they won't give anyone that number for a year or two, out of respect, but it won't be out of commission too long.

[OFFNY]

They didn't retire #35, they won't #21.

I would like to have seen Mike Cuellar's number after he was released following the '76 season.

Dave McNally after he was traded to the Expos following the '74 season, also.

Oh well.

[AdamK]

Who was the best Oriole to wear 21 before Nick? 21 is one of those "good" numbers.

Edit: I can't believe they let Nick, a rookie, wear it after Sammy. The gall.

[AdamK]

21 has been busy...

From an Oriole NumerOlogy site:

"... It may be hard to imagine now, but legendary third baseman Brooks Robinson wasn't always #5. He made his major league debut for the Birds in September 1955 wearing number twenty-one.

In the mid-90s, a couple talented starting pitchers accepted #21 as a fallback plan.* Scott Erickson (1995) joined the team via a midseason trade with the Twins, and settled for the number until Ben McDonald departed at the end of the season.* That opened up his preferred #19, which he wore for the rest of his Orioles career.* Veteran lefty Jimmy Key (1997-1998) had worn #22 with the Blue Jays and Yankees for 12 seasons, but the O's had previously retired it for Jim Palmer.* Wearing #21 on his back, Key won 16 games for the 1997 AL East Champions, but he called it quits after splitting the 1998 season between the rotation and the bullpen.

Outfielder Curt Motton (1967-1971, 1973-1974) provided pop off the bench for some of the greatest Orioles teams of all time.* In 1969, Curt logged 89 at bats (the second-highest total of his career) and responded with 6 home runs.

Superb defender Charles Johnson (1999-2000) was the Birds' main man behind the plate for a year and a half, and had two of his best seasons as a hitter in Baltimore.* Unfortunately, he was sent to the White Sox along with Harold Baines during the 2000 Fire Sale.* In a typically shrewd move, de facto GM Syd Thrift acquired four players for the duo; only catcher Brook Fordyce ever suited up for the O's.

Manager Mike Hargrove (2001-2003) originally wore #30 with the Orioles. But with Charles Johnson out of the picture, Grover switched to #21, which he'd worn for his entire 12-year playing career.

In a swap of #21's, outfielder Lenny Green (1957-1959) was traded to the Senators for another outfielder, former AL Rookie of the Year Albie Pearson (1959-1960).

A handful of position players that wore the two-one were outfielders Jim Fridley (1954) and Gil Coan (1955); third baseman Larry Brown (1973), brother of former O's catcher Dick; shortstop Bob Bailor (1976); Elliott Maddox (1977); second baseman Kelly Paris (1985); catcher John Stefero (1986); and first baseman David Segui (1990-1993), who wore the number during his first stint with the club.

Pitchers in the 21 club include Howie Fox (1954); Sandy Consuegra (1957); former Tigers phenom Art Houtteman (1957); Steve Stone (1979); Dave Ford (1980-1981); one-and-done Dan Morogiello (1983); relievers Mark Brown (1984), Jack O'Connor (1987), Mark Thurmond (1988-1989), and Tom Bolton (1994); free agent bust Kent Mercker (1996); and Mike Milchin (1996)."

[LoyalBirdFan]

21 has been busy...

From an Oriole NumerOlogy site:

"... It may be hard to imagine now, but legendary third baseman Brooks Robinson wasn't always #5. He made his major league debut for the Birds in September 1955 wearing number twenty-one.

In the mid-90s, a couple talented starting pitchers accepted #21 as a fallback plan.* Scott Erickson (1995) joined the team via a midseason trade with the Twins, and settled for the number until Ben McDonald departed at the end of the season.* That opened up his preferred #19, which he wore for the rest of his Orioles career.* Veteran lefty Jimmy Key (1997-1998) had worn #22 with the Blue Jays and Yankees for 12 seasons, but the O's had previously retired it for Jim Palmer.* Wearing #21 on his back, Key won 16 games for the 1997 AL East Champions, but he called it quits after splitting the 1998 season between the rotation and the bullpen.

Outfielder Curt Motton (1967-1971, 1973-1974) provided pop off the bench for some of the greatest Orioles teams of all time.* In 1969, Curt logged 89 at bats (the second-highest total of his career) and responded with 6 home runs.

Superb defender Charles Johnson (1999-2000) was the Birds' main man behind the plate for a year and a half, and had two of his best seasons as a hitter in Baltimore.* Unfortunately, he was sent to the White Sox along with Harold Baines during the 2000 Fire Sale.* In a typically shrewd move, de facto GM Syd Thrift acquired four players for the duo; only catcher Brook Fordyce ever suited up for the O's.

Manager Mike Hargrove (2001-2003) originally wore #30 with the Orioles. But with Charles Johnson out of the picture, Grover switched to #21, which he'd worn for his entire 12-year playing career.

In a swap of #21's, outfielder Lenny Green (1957-1959) was traded to the Senators for another outfielder, former AL Rookie of the Year Albie Pearson (1959-1960).

A handful of position players that wore the two-one were outfielders Jim Fridley (1954) and Gil Coan (1955); third baseman Larry Brown (1973), brother of former O's catcher Dick; shortstop Bob Bailor (1976); Elliott Maddox (1977); second baseman Kelly Paris (1985); catcher John Stefero (1986); and first baseman David Segui (1990-1993), who wore the number during his first stint with the club.

Pitchers in the 21 club include Howie Fox (1954); Sandy Consuegra (1957); former Tigers phenom Art Houtteman (1957); Steve Stone (1979); Dave Ford (1980-1981); one-and-done Dan Morogiello (1983); relievers Mark Brown (1984), Jack O'Connor (1987), Mark Thurmond (1988-1989), and Tom Bolton (1994); free agent bust Kent Mercker (1996); and Mike Milchin (1996)."

Yes, but what we really want to know about is #21 :eektf:

Thanks for the post :thumbsup1:

[BradyBunch]

#21 won't be retired and if the O's sign a FA who wants that number it's gonna be worn.

If #9 hasn't been retired after Jackson, Dwyer, Buford or Anderson... absolutely no way #21 is gonna be retired...

[BradyBunch]

I can't see Nick be voted into the HOF. That seems to be the criterion. Boog, Blair, McNally, Belanger, Bumbry, Flanagan, etc. all don't have numbers retired. So, no, I don't think thaey will retire Nick's number.

Well.... this isn't true outright.

Orioles have 3 numbers they unofficially retired.. 7 (Cal, Sr) 44 (Elrod) and 46 (Flanagan).

[foxfield]

I know it's not retired, nor is he but is his number as good as retired? Will the Orioles allow anyone to wear it? Nick is wearing 22 in Atlanta. And although Heyward doesn't have the body of work Nick does, a lot of the fans aren't happy with it (or with him even being in Atlanta for that matter).

Will anyone wear #21 next year or ever again?

Yes

[AlbionHero]

Of course someone will. If you retired every players number that was of Nicks ability, you wouldn't have enough numbers to field a 25 man team.

[BigBro81]

Of course someone will. If you retired every players number that was of Nicks ability, you wouldn't have enough numbers to field a 25 man team.

Name 25 players with Nicks ability, tenure and body of work. He's 6th all time on the Orioles hit list and in only 9 years! Think where he'd end up on that list after 9 more years. 2nd or 3rd for sure. Maybe even reach Cal who knows. Of anyone with 1500+ hits right now in the MLB he's got a good of a shot as anyone at reaching 3000. Unlikely? Maybe but I wouldn't bet against it. Does 3000 hits get you into the Hall? Of course. I think for this reason the Orioles must set his number aside. The clubhouse would probably agree with this but I know some of you "experts" won't.