Expert: George W. Case III - 10/25/2010

Question
Why don't the Yankees have the name of the players on the back of the shirt
I followed your dad's stats for years I am 81 and raised in Phiadelphia. He was some base stealer!!!

Answer
Hi Bill - thank you for mentioning my dad!  My father played his first major league game in Philadelphia at Shibe Park in September 1937 and we have always lived in the Philadelphia area - I have quite a few friends who are members of the Philadelphia A's Historical Society.

As far as the Yankees not having names on the back of their shirts - I do not know for certain but I assume it is a matter of tradition - just like the pinstipes on the uniforms and the NY Yankees logo.

You might be interested in knowing that for many years, major league ballplayers did not even have numbers on the back of their uniforms.  Then, the tradition of numbers started I think in the 1920's and uniform numbers used to reflect the position in the batting order # 1 was the leadoff hitter, 2, 3 ,4 and so on - Ruth, Gehrig etc - that would change later when, for instance the Yankees - DiMaggio was # 5, Mantle # 7 etc.  I know my dad wore # 1 for many years with Washington as he was their leadoff hitter.  And our close family friend Mickey Vernon was # 3 - he hit third in the batting order.

Again, with regard to the names on the back of Yankees uniforms, I believe it was a management decision based on tradition - possibly it was "The Boss" who originally made the decision with regard to the Yankees when many other teams decided to place names on the back.

If you look at Penn State football - same thing - very conservative - no names on back of their football jerseys - I think it is again a matter of tradition - Joe Pa, I would have to assume, was the decision maker with regard to Penn State football uniforms!