2013 Season - By The Uniform Numbers, #0 to #15

As the 2013 season is upon us, I wanted to provide an update of sorts to the By The Numbers posts that emd2k3 and I covered over the past two years. Here is the synopsis of where each uniform number stands by number of players to have worn it, total number of seasons it was worn, and the total number of different times it was worn (counting shared numbers in a season). A brief description follows each table for each uniform number. All numbers listed are through the 2012 season only.

Today we cover uniforms 0 through 15.

The last player to wear #00 was Rick White in 2004. The only player to wear #0 was Junior Ortiz in 1993. These numbers are not currently being worn in spring training and would be available to anyone who wishes to move out of the 50 and higher crowd.

Uniform #1, worn by Brent Lillibridge last season, is currently being worn by Ezequiel Carrera who wore #12 last season. Zeke would be the thirtieth player to wear #1 if he survives his potential DFA at the end of spring training. If he does not make the cut and lands outside the Tribe organization, the always popular #1 will be up for grabs. Bobby Avila is the career leader with 10 seasons.

Uniform #2 was worn by Aaron Cunningham last year. Alas, the numbers will not increase for this uniform this year as third base coach Brad Mills has assumed it for 2013. Einar Diaz is the career leader with 7 seasons.

Uniform #3 was retired in honor of Hall of Famer Earl Averill in 1975. It was last worn by Woodie Held in 1962.

Uniform #4 was worn by both Jose Lopez and Russ Canzler in 2012. Mike Aviles will be the thirty-fifth Indian player to appear in a game with that number sometime after opening day. Jim Hegan is the career leader with 7 seasons.

Uniform #5 was retired in honor of Hall of Famer Lou Boudreau in 1970. It was last worn by Buddy Booker in 1966.

Uniform #6 will continue to be worn by Lou Marson in 2013. He is the thirty-third player to wear it. This will be his third season wearing it and ties him with Bill Glynn, Moose Solters and Ken Keltner. He would need three more years to catch leaders Joe Azcue and Joe Vosmik.

Uniform #7 was worn by Matt LaPorta last year and still is assigned to him as a non-roster invite (NRI). This is another number that could potentially be available to be reissued this year. Kenny Lofton is the career leader with 10 seasons.

Uniform #8 will be worn by Lonnie Chisenhall again in 2013. This will be his second year wearing that jersey. The career leader for this number is Albert Belle with 7 seasons.

Uniform #9 was worn by Jack Hannahan last year. It is currently assigned to Ryan Raburn and as he has the inside track to be a bench player, he would be the forty-first player to wear it. The career leader for this number is Carlos Baerga with 8 seasons.

Uniform #10 was assigned to NRI Ben Francisco, who was released yesterday. It was last worn by a player in 2009 by Kelly Shoppach. Francisco wore #12 during his previous stint with the Tribe. This number has a strong possibility to be reissued this year. Max Alvis is the career leader with 8 seasons.

Uniform #11 will be worn by Drew Stubbs in 2013. Stubbs will be the forty-second player to wear it. It was last worn by Jamey Carroll in 2009. Art Houtteman, Frankie Pytlak and Toby Harrah all share the career lead with 5 seasons.

Uniform #12 will be worn by Mark Reynolds in 2013. Ezequiel Carrera had worn it in 2011 and 2012. Reynolds will be the forty-sixth guy to don it. The career leader for this number is Willis Hudlin with 11 seasons.

Uniform #13 will be Asdrubal Cabrera's seventh season wearing it. This will break his tie with Ron Pruitt. It is doubtful he will catch Omar Vizquel's total of 11 seasons though.

Uniform #14 was retired in honor of Hall of Famer Larry Doby in 1994. It was last worn by Jerry Browne in 1991.

Uniform #15 was last worn as a player by Andy Marte and Wyatt Toregas in 2009. The numbers will not increase for this uniform this year as bench coach and former catching standout Sandy Alomar is wearing it. As a player, Alomar is the career leader with 11 seasons in #15.