The Zo Zone

Rod Barajas – 2
“All the numbers I normally wear, which would be 20, 26 and 27, were numbers that weren’t available. I’m not the kind of person who’s super big on numbers, so I wasn’t going to try to get any of those numbers. So I said, ‘I’ll just drop all the numbers after the 2 and stick with 2.’ I had 26 because two of my kids were born on the 26th and my anniversary is the 26th. So it’s kind of a family one. I wore 27 the last three years in Texas and did pretty well wearing that number. And 20, growing up, I played on a traveling team and we were the Phillies. I had to pick a number and I thought Mike Schmidt’s number is a pretty good number to wear. And from then on he basically became my idol. It was 20 all the way until I signed with Arizona. But 20 is kind of taken here.”

Abraham Nunez – 3
“It’s just a number that I’ve liked. I didn’t have a choice when I was called up, so I wore 48 in 1997. And then the next year they gave me 10. I wore 10 because there wasn’t any other number available. It wasn’t my choice. It was 48 or 10. I was 10 for two years, and then I went to 3. I like low numbers. But before I wore 3, I actually had 7. Kenny Lofton had 3, but he always wore 7. He wanted it, so he gave me a Rolex for the number. That was in 2003. It’s usually watches. That’s the standard. I’ve never heard of anybody getting a car or anything, but if anybody wants No. 3 for a car …”

Pat Burrell – 5
“I wore 11 in college. Five was always my favorite number, but it was retired at Miami and when I got here Ron Gant had it. So I had 33, but the next year Gant went to Anaheim and I took it. I always wore it when I was a kid, which is tough because when you’re in Little League usually the smaller numbers are for the smaller jerseys. I wasn’t real small. I think it’s even like that in the minor leagues. I was always 40 or something in the minors.”

Ryan Howard – 6
“I don’t know. It was just something that always kind of stuck out, you know what I mean? I wore it in college. It’s just something I wore in college. I don’t know. I actually did wear 6 one time when I was a kid. I had some success with it, so …”

Shane Victorino – 8
“My mom’s birthday is the 8th. And my brother wore 8 in high school. And then I wore 8 in high school. I had 8 in 2005, but then Alex Gonzalez came here last year and wanted 8. So I took 18. And then I wanted to keep 18 because I felt comfortable last season. But then Wes (Helms) wanted it, so I went back to 8. He gave me a nice little watch. I can’t complain.”

Michael Bourn – 9
“Nine is cool. I haven’t had a number that pops out to me yet. I used to wear 2 because my dad used to wear that number back in the day. But I haven’t had a number that just significantly pops out at me. So now I wear 9. So unless something pops out at me I think I will work with 9.”

Jimmy Rollins – 11
“I wore number 6 for one year when Doug (Glanville) was here. I wore number 11 in basketball in high school. It looked good. I had worn number 6 in baseball in high school, so when I had the opportunity to grab it I did. And then Doug came back, and he asked if he could get it back. So I gave it up.”

Wes Helms – 18
“My first year in the big leagues, (Ryan) Klesko left Atlanta so they gave me his number. I kept it my whole career. Other than that there’s no significance. I’ve just had it. I had to steal it from Victorino when I got here. I called him when I signed and asked him, ‘Hey, I’ve been 18 for seven and a half years in the big leagues. I’d like to keep it as long as I can. You can tell me no if you want. I won’t ask again. I want to be a team guy. I don’t want to pressure you for it.’ I told him I would do something nice for him. I would take care of him. So I got him a nice Brighton watch. I didn’t expect him just to give it to me. After I bought Vic the watch I had players coming up to me saying, ‘Hey, if you ever want my number let me know.’ Victorino is a little flashy, too, so he wanted the diamonds around the watch. Yeah, they were all over me.”

Greg Dobbs – 19
“I had 22 in Seattle. It doesn’t matter. I really don’t care. A number is a number to me. I didn’t pick 22 or 19. I would never buy a number off of somebody. No way. No chance. I would even think of doing that. I’m not at the stage where I have time where I’ve solidified myself with a certain number where if I went to another club I could be justified in asking a guy for it. But even if I was in the big leagues nine years and I was 19 and I went to another club and I had to be 29, I would be fine with that.”

Jon Lieber – 21
“Every team I’ve been on has been different. I was thinking about 32 when I went to the Yankees, but 32 is retired. So I went to the next best thing in New York, which was 22. I was 32 with the Cubs. I was 47 in Pittsburgh. I definitely don’t like 47. It just doesn’t look right. I might wear 50 or something, but 47 doesn’t look right. (Jason) Michaels had 22 when I got here. He said he would give it to me, but I had 26 my first year in New York when I was rehabbing. But then they signed El Duque back and I gave it to him. If 47 was available in Chicago, I probably would have taken it. That’s when I knew if I ever got traded or signed with another team that I would pick different numbers. The way I look at is, hopefully I’m not on that many teams, but it’s kind of neat because a certain number reminds me of the time I played in that city. One number represents a different team.”

Adam Eaton – 23
“It was the only one that looked remotely interesting. I had 21 in Texas. They gave me 53 in San Diego. You don’t buy numbers from older guys, so I wasn’t getting 21 here. Plus, my number is free. Why spend money? No, there’s really no significance to my number. But I could create some. Let’s see, 53 was my first number in the big leagues. Two and 3 equals 5. Three is the second number in both numbers. Two plus 1 is three. So you can have people draw their own conclusions. Everybody asked why I was 21. Well, five minus 3 is 2. Three minus 2 is 1. It was a progression. And it was available.”

Chase Utley – 26
“They just gave it to me. There was no say. Whatever year I got it in spring training. I can’t even remember. It was better than 78, that’s for sure. So I haven’t changed it, and I don’t plan to now. I’ve always liked the number 7, but I didn’t have a chance at that. So I’m stuck with 26 now.”

Chris Coste – 27
“Numbers don’t mean much to me. However, I would have liked to have gotten a popular one so in case a new guy comes around he might want to buy the number off of me. You know, like Victorino. In that case, it would have been really good for me. That’s probably an answer you haven’t gotten yet. Barajas has always been 27. He didn’t want to impose. I’m like, ‘You could impose with your checkbook open.’ But a number really doesn’t matter. Other than 44 because I was a big Reggie Jackson fan. So if I could have chosen, I would have been 10 or 44. Ten was the number I had in a the Northern League. It was just a nice, easy, round number. Twenty-seven isn’t round at all. It’s almost a prime number.”

Jayson Werth – 28
“That was the number they gave me when I got to LA. I had a good season there in ’04, and it kind of became my number. I asked if I could get it when I came here. It was Rich Dubee’s number last year, and they said he gave it up. It has no meaning really, other than I’ve had it a few years. I had this when I was healthy, so I hope I’m healthy here.”

Aaron Rowand – 33
“I wore it in college, and I wore it in the minor leagues. It was the coolest number available when I couldn’t get 14, which is what I wore in high school. Fourteen is retired at Cal State-Fullerton. So because of that, I took 33. I loved it, and I’ve had it ever since. I have no idea what makes it a cool number. I just like it.”

Freddy Garcia – 34
“I wore 34 in Seattle. I wore it in Chicago. They gave me 34. I just like 34. I like it. I wore it in Venezuela. They didn’t ask me what number I wanted in Seattle. I was just lucky and they gave it to me. It wasn’t available in Chicago, so I had to get it from (pitching coach Don) Cooper. He wanted a flat-screen TV. He said he needed one, so I said, “OK, you give me the number, I’ll give you a TV.” It was a big TV, too.”

Cole Hamels – 35
“I was all the way over there (on the other side of the clubhouse in spring training) and last spring training they decided to move me over here and gave me 35. Gavin was 34 and we got along, so I think they put us together. I actually tried to get 19, but Gary Varsho had it and they wouldn’t give it to me. And I think once they start putting jerseys out on the stands it’s kind of hard to bring them back and tell the people that bought them, “Hey, he got a new number now so you’ve got to buy another jersey.” It’s one of those things where I’ll make 35 my new favorite number. It’s grown on me. I’ve always tried to be a number below 20 my whole career. I think it’s a good pitching number. At least it’s not 50 something. So I’m glad I’m not in New York or San Diego because it seems every pitcher there is in the 50s. I’m happy I’m not a football player.”

Zack Segovia – 37
“I like 7. I’m fine with 75 (his spring training number) because there’s a 7 in there. I don’t really care. Seven is taken. Seventeen is taken. Coste has 27. Mathieson has 47. Alfonseca has 57. Then there’s 67, but at that point I’m a handful away from 75. I’ve always wore 7 since I was a little kid. I always liked it. It’s always been a number that I’ve always wanted to wear. Zito has 75, but people say he’s a little out there so I’m not sure I want to be that far out there. 75 is a good number. It’s three quarters, so it’s pretty good.”

Brett Myers – 39
“I came up with 41, but I don’t like numbers in the 40s. I wanted 34. What happened was, I was going to switch to 34 because of Nolan Ryan. But I got a phone call from Frank (Coppenbarger) halfway through the off-season and he said they traded (Johnny) Estrada for (Kevin) Millwood. And he’s like, ‘Millwood wants 34.’ I was like, ‘Sure, I’ll show respect to Johnny and get 39 because he caught me in the minors.’ There wasn’t 33. Ricky Ledee had that. 32 was Carlton. 31 Ramon (Henderson) had. 30 just didn’t appeal to me. Tony Scott had that one. Nothing in the 20s appealed to me unless it was 22, and J-Mike had 22. 21 was Milton, so I couldn’t get 21. Twenty-one, 22 and 34 were my favorite numbers. Clemens, Clemens and Ryan. I don’t know who’s worn 39 and I don’t care. I want to be the guy that people say 39, ‘That’s Brett Myers’ jersey.’ When I had 41, I said nobody good has ever worn this jersey. Then I came to find Tom Seaver had it.”

Matt Smith – 40
“That’s what I got when I got here. My whole career I’ve had a number with a 3 in it. This is the first time that I know of that I haven’t had a 3 in my number. I’m kind of a superstitious guy, but where I’m at – I’m not a guy that’s been around forever – I can’t say, ‘You know, can I get 30-something?’ I was 30 with the Yankees, so they gave me 40. I was like, ‘That’s not bad. It ends in a zero.’ I try to look at the bright side of it. As long as 40 works, I’m not changing it. I’d be stupid to change. I don’t even know why I liked having a 3 in it. But now I like 40.”

Yoel Hernandez -- 44
I like it. I don't have any problems with it. My favorite number is hard to get because that guy (Freddy Garcia) has it. I don't know why I like it, but I've been wearing 34 since I was in double-A. So every year after 2003, I've been wearing 34. My other number that I like is taken, too. 54. So at least I've got a 4 in my number. But I didn't have a chance to pick it.

Tom Gordon – 45
“I’ve worn 36 and 45, just because I wore 9 in high school and they both add up to 9. Thirty-six. Forty-five. I was just fortunate that 45 was Tug’s number. I liked him growing up because I liked his name. So it was either 36 or 45. I wore 36 with the Royals and Yankees. I used to like 6, but I like 9 a lot. But I wore 9 for four years in high school.”

Joe Bisenius – 46
“I had 67 in spring training, so I’m not the offensive lineman anymore. Frank gave that to me. It works. It’s better than 67. I don’t care if it had 99 on there as long as it’s a big league uniform.”

Jamie Moyer – 50
“I’ve never been a number requester, and if I think over my career I’ve had a whole bunch of numbers. I started out with 49 in Chicago. When you go from those high numbers like 65 or 66 and go to a lower number, it usually happens one of two ways: ‘Hey, I want that number, is it available?’ Or, ‘It’s a number that’s given to me, and I don’t care.’ My feeling is that I didn’t work to get here to pick a number. I worked to get here to wear the uniform. I’m happy to have a uniform in my locker. A number is just an extension of the uniform. I’ve been 49, 41, 47, 51 in Baltimore and 50 in Seattle. I had 50 in Seattle because Randy (Johnson) had 51. I think what happens in a lot of cases is that when you go to a new team, they look at what number you wear and that’s the number they try to give you.”

Carlos Ruiz – 51
I had 80-something in my first big-league camp. In my second big-league camp I had 51. They gave it to me. I wore 18 in triple-A, but Victorino had 18 last year. But I got called up with 51, so I want to keep it. For now I feel comfortable with it. My mom asked me why I had 51. I told her, 'That's the number I had in spring training and I had when I got called up.' I like it.

Fabio Castro -- 52
When I was in Texas, I was 51. Then when I got traded to Philadelphia, they told me they didn't have 51 available. So they gave me 52. Yeah, I like that number. If it's up to me, I won't switch.

Francisco Rosario -- 54
I like 54. I had 36 in Toronto, but I didn't like 36. Fifty-four is better. My favorite number is 40. That's the numer I've had for a while since I've been playing. But it really doesn't matter for me.

Clay Condrey – 55
“I had 41 in San Diego, but I couldn’t do that here. The manager’s got it. I was 55 in high school football. I like it. I’ve done pretty good with the number, I guess. I’m pretty superstitious. But I’d give up my number if I got a Calcutta reel. It’s $500. It’s got a digital chip in it. It reads your RPMs on your cast. I don’t need a watch. If they buy me a reel, they can have it. I’ll watch it and press it for him.”

Geoff Geary – 56
“That’s the number I was assigned, and I haven’t gotten any number since. I already tried to get a different number. My luck is that the numbers that I like either players already have or coaches have. So I’m just waiting in line. I’m at the bottom of the ladder, working my way to the top. I would like 22, 24 or 26. 26 – never. 22 -- Mr. (Jimy) Williams. 24 is retired. I’m soon to be giving up on a new number. I never liked 56. I actually think I just want to change my number to get on the other end of the clubhouse. In Atlanta, I’m usually by the bat racks and the shoe-cleaning area and trash cans. Usually wherever we are is usually where the video equipment is. Or it’s the area where there’s a table, and everybody is always taking your chair. It’s OK. Really, it’s OK. It’s just a number. But with the number comes other things.”

Antonio Alfonseca – 57
“My first year in the big leagues in ‘97 they gave me 57. I’ve been 57 everywhere I’ve been. I haven’t had to buy it off anybody. Not yet. You never know. Maybe soon. I like my number.”

Ryan Madson – 63
“They gave it to me, but my friend liked it. He had a ’63 pick up truck so I kept it. Remember pagers? You’d put in a number, so you knew who it was. His number was 63, so I knew it was him. This was a while ago. I’m getting old, man. I’m talking about pagers. I wanted to change it, but I said forget it. Plus, I’m starting to see a lot of people with No. 63 jerseys on, you know, all the 63s they have in the shop there? I don’t want to have them throw all those out.”