If you are wondering which sports team has the most retired numbers, the New York Yankees have the strongest answer among major professional sports franchises. As of September 2026, the Yankees have retired 22 uniform numbers, honoring 23 players and managers. The distinction exists because the Yankees retired No. 8 for both Yogi Berra and Bill Dickey.
That total puts the Yankees ahead of other famous franchises with large collections of retired numbers. The Boston Celtics, for example, have retired 24 jersey numbers, but their total includes a special historical listing for Jim Loscutoff’s nickname “Loscy” rather than another conventional jersey number. The Celtics’ official NBA history page describes the franchise as having 24 retired jersey numbers.
The distinction becomes important because different sports teams and leagues use slightly different ways of counting retired numbers, jerseys, names, and other honors.
How many numbers have the Yankees retired?
The Yankees have retired 22 numbers as of September 2026. Their retired numbers range from No. 1 through No. 52 and represent some of the most important figures in franchise history.
The Yankees’ most recent retirement was CC Sabathia’s No. 52, which was officially retired on September 26, 2026. Sabathia became the 24th Yankees player or manager to have his number retired, although there are only 22 unique retired numbers because No. 8 is shared by two Yankees legends.
Some of the most recognizable retired Yankees numbers include:
| Number | Yankees legend |
|---|---|
| 3 | Babe Ruth |
| 4 | Lou Gehrig |
| 5 | Joe DiMaggio |
| 7 | Mickey Mantle |
| 8 | Yogi Berra and Bill Dickey |
| 23 | Don Mattingly |
| 42 | Mariano Rivera |
| 46 | Andy Pettitte |
| 52 | CC Sabathia |
The full collection also includes numbers retired for players, managers and other major contributors to Yankees history. The team’s official retired-numbers list records the individual honorees and retirement dates.
Why do the Yankees have so many retired numbers?
The Yankees have one of the longest and most successful histories in professional sports. That gives the organization a particularly large group of players whose careers became important enough to receive the ultimate uniform honor.
Retiring a number means the team removes it from normal circulation. A future Yankees player cannot simply choose a number such as No. 3 or No. 4 because those numbers have been permanently associated with franchise legends.
The practice also creates a physical connection between different generations of fans.
A young Yankees fan who watches a current player can see the same numbers displayed at Yankee Stadium that once belonged to Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Derek Jeter and other iconic figures.
The Yankees’ first retired number was Lou Gehrig’s No. 4, retired in 1940. That made Gehrig the first player in Major League Baseball history to have his number retired.
Which Yankees numbers are retired?
The Yankees’ retired-number collection is unusually extensive.
It includes numbers belonging to some of the most influential players in baseball history, including Babe Ruth’s No. 3, Lou Gehrig’s No. 4, Joe DiMaggio’s No. 5 and Mickey Mantle’s No. 7.
Derek Jeter’s No. 2 was retired in 2017, making it the 21st unique Yankees number retired at that time. The number was retired in a ceremony at Yankee Stadium on May 14, 2017.
More recently, the Yankees added No. 21 for Paul O’Neill in 2022 and No. 52 for Sabathia in 2026. Sabathia’s retirement brought the Yankees to 22 retired numbers.
This history explains why the Yankees are often the first team mentioned when fans discuss retired numbers in professional sports.
How do the Yankees compare with the Boston Celtics?
The Boston Celtics are one of the closest comparisons.
The Celtics’ official NBA history lists 24 retired jersey numbers, making their collection one of the largest among major American professional sports teams.
Their retired numbers include legendary Celtics such as:
- Bill Russell — No. 6
- Larry Bird — No. 33
- John Havlicek — No. 17
- Bob Cousy — No. 14
- Bill Sharman — No. 21
- Sam Jones — No. 24
- Kevin McHale — No. 32
- Robert Parish — No. 00
- Kevin Garnett — No. 5
- Paul Pierce — No. 34
The Celtics also have a special entry for Jim Loscutoff. Loscutoff did not want his No. 18 permanently retired, so the Celtics honored his nickname, “Loscy,” instead. The NBA’s official Celtics history lists “LOSCY” among the franchise’s retired-number honors.
That is why comparisons between the Yankees and Celtics require some care. If you count only unique conventional uniform numbers, the Yankees’ 22-number total is a different measurement from the Celtics’ official 24-number retired-jersey figure.
What about the Montreal Canadiens?
The Montreal Canadiens also have an enormous collection of retired numbers.
The Canadiens have retired 15 numbers, honoring 18 players. The NHL club has retired numbers belonging to some of hockey’s greatest legends, including Maurice Richard, Jean Béliveau, Guy Lafleur and others.
The Canadiens’ tradition is particularly impressive because the franchise has existed since 1909 and has a long history of Stanley Cup success.
However, their 15 retired numbers remain below the Yankees’ current total of 22.
This illustrates why retired-number records can look different across sports. Baseball teams have had many more opportunities to accumulate retired numbers because of the sport’s long history and the large number of players who can become franchise icons over many decades.
Does retiring a number mean the player is in the Hall of Fame?
No.
A retired number and Hall of Fame induction are separate honors.
A team retires a number because it believes a player or other contributor had an extraordinary impact on that particular franchise. A Hall of Fame recognizes accomplishments at a broader league or sport-wide level.
The two honors frequently overlap because legendary players often have both.
For example, many Yankees whose numbers are retired are also members of the Baseball Hall of Fame. But a retired number does not automatically guarantee Hall of Fame membership, and Hall of Fame membership does not automatically mean a player’s number will be retired.
Teams have their own standards for retiring numbers.
Why don’t teams retire more numbers?
Retiring a number is intended to be a rare honor.
If a team retired the number of every popular player, it could eventually run out of available numbers. Baseball teams have only numbers 0 through 99 available under modern uniform-number conventions, although not every number necessarily needs to be retired.
There is also a symbolic reason for limiting the practice.
A retired number tells future generations that the player was more than simply a very good athlete. The player became part of the team’s permanent history.
For that reason, teams generally consider factors such as career accomplishments, championships, longevity, franchise records, leadership, cultural importance and the player’s connection with the organization.
Can two players share a retired number?
Yes, and the Yankees provide one of the best examples.
The Yankees retired No. 8 for both Yogi Berra and Bill Dickey. Because both players wore the number and each became an important Yankees legend, the organization honored both under the same retired number.
This means there is a difference between the number of retired numbers and the number of people honored.
The Yankees currently have 22 retired numbers but 23 players and managers honored by those numbers.
That distinction is useful when comparing teams.
What is the difference between a retired number and a number being honored?
Teams can recognize former players in several ways without necessarily retiring their numbers.
A franchise might have a team Hall of Fame, a ring of honor, a wall of fame, a statue, a commemorative plaque or a special ceremony.
Some teams may also stop issuing a number informally for a period without officially retiring it.
A retired number, however, is the clearest form of uniform-number recognition. It means the organization has formally removed that number from future use.
The Yankees’ Monument Park provides a particularly visible example. Retired numbers are displayed alongside plaques and other tributes to important figures in franchise history.
Why are retired numbers important to sports fans?
Retired numbers help turn statistics and careers into visible history.
A fan may know that Babe Ruth was one of baseball’s greatest players, but seeing No. 3 permanently displayed at Yankee Stadium makes his connection with the franchise tangible.
The same applies to No. 4 for Gehrig, No. 5 for DiMaggio and No. 7 for Mantle.
Retired numbers can also create a connection between generations.
A parent can explain why a number is no longer available to a current player, introducing a younger fan to a legendary athlete from decades earlier.
In this way, retired numbers become part of a team’s identity rather than simply a record in a statistics database.
Which sports have the most retired numbers?
Baseball, basketball and hockey all have franchises with substantial retired-number traditions.
Some of the most notable examples include:
| Team | Sport | Retired-number tradition |
|---|---|---|
| New York Yankees | MLB | 22 unique retired numbers as of September 2026 |
| Boston Celtics | NBA | 24 retired jersey numbers under the NBA’s official listing |
| Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 15 retired numbers |
| Other MLB/NBA/NHL teams | Various | Totals vary significantly by franchise |
The exact ranking depends on how each league defines and counts its honors. The Yankees’ official MLB information specifically describes their 22 retired numbers as the most in Major League Baseball.
Is retiring a number the same as retiring a jersey?
The terms are often used interchangeably, but they can describe slightly different traditions.
A retired number refers specifically to the number no longer being available to future players.
A retired jersey can refer to a ceremony in which a team’s jersey is displayed in an arena or stadium.
Most fans use the terms “retired number” and “retired jersey number” to mean essentially the same thing, particularly in baseball, basketball and hockey.
The important point is that the number itself is removed from regular circulation.
Why the Yankees’ record could change
Retired-number totals are not permanent records.
A team can retire another number in the future, so the Yankees’ total could increase if the organization decides another player deserves the honor.
That is why current dates matter when answering which sports team has the most retired numbers.
As of September 2026, CC Sabathia’s No. 52 is the Yankees’ latest retired number.
Future ceremonies could change the comparison with other franchises.
FAQ
Which sports team has the most retired numbers?
The New York Yankees have the most retired numbers among Major League Baseball franchises, with 22 unique numbers retired as of September 2026. Those numbers honor 23 players and managers because No. 8 honors both Yogi Berra and Bill Dickey.
How many Yankees numbers are retired?
The Yankees have retired 22 unique uniform numbers as of September 2026. CC Sabathia’s No. 52 was the most recent addition.
Which Yankees number was retired first?
Lou Gehrig’s No. 4 was the first Yankees number retired. It was retired in January 1940 and was also the first retired number in Major League Baseball.
Do the Celtics have more retired numbers than the Yankees?
The NBA officially lists 24 retired Celtics jersey numbers, compared with 22 unique retired Yankees numbers. However, the Celtics’ count includes their special “Loscy” honor for Jim Loscutoff, so comparisons depend on exactly what is being counted.
Which Yankees player has No. 7 retired?
No. 7 belongs to Mickey Mantle, one of the most famous players in Yankees history. His number was retired in 1969.
Can a retired number ever be used again?
Normally, no. Retiring a number means the organization removes it from regular circulation. A team could theoretically change its policy, but that would be an extraordinary decision.
Why do teams retire numbers?
Teams retire numbers to permanently honor players, managers or other major contributors whose careers had an exceptional impact on the organization.
Conclusion
So, which sports team has the most retired numbers? The New York Yankees are the clearest answer when looking at Major League Baseball, with 22 unique retired numbers as of September 2026. Those numbers honor 23 Yankees players and managers, including legends such as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera.
The Boston Celtics have an even larger official retired-jersey list at 24, but their counting system includes the special “Loscy” honor, making direct comparisons less straightforward.
Ultimately, retired numbers are more than statistics. They are a way for teams to preserve their history and ensure that the greatest players remain part of the franchise long after their playing careers have ended.