VOTE NOW! What is the most iconic jersey number of all-time? Here are our 16 options
Most of history’s greatest sports heroes are not only remembered by name, but also by the number they wore on their jerseys. Or by the car they drove in motorsports.
Certain numbers are synonymous with a specific era because all the up-and-coming athletes wanted to wear the number of their childhood heroes.
But what number is the most iconic? The one that stands out among all else.
I did extensive research into numbers worn by players in baseball, basketball, football, hockey, soccer and on racecars.
I narrowed the number down to 21 submissions.
Next, I submitted my list to 13 sports experts throughout the state of Florida.
They sent me their numbers, in order, and I assigned a points value to each number, with the top 10 each receiving points from 1-10.
We’re taking the top 16, in order of points received, and holding a tournament to find out what number you, the reader, think is the top jersey (and race car) number of all-time.
You can vote below, and the voting is open through Tuesday at noon. The next round's voting will be the ensuing Thursday.
Below is the list of numbers along with top athletes associated with the number.
Happy voting!
23 vs. 80
23: Michael Jordan, Ryne Sandberg, LeBron James, Draymond Green, Devin Hester, Kirk Gibson, Don Mattingly, David Beckham, Christian McCaffrey.
80: Jerry Rice, Cris Carter, Isaac Bruce, Steve Largent, Art Monk, Tim Brown.
3 vs. 15
3: Babe Ruth, Dale Earnhardt, Alex Rodriguez (Took 13 as Yankee because of Ruth), Harmon Killebrew, Bryce Harper, Allen Iverson, Dwyane Wade, Dale Murphy.
15: Tim Tebow, Bart Starr, Vince Carter, Patrick Mahomes, Megan Rapinoe, Nikola Jokic.
32 vs. 9
32: Magic Johnson, Sandy Koufax, Steve Carlton, Marcus Allen, Jim Brown, Franco Harris, Edgerrin James, OJ Simpson, Dr. J, Karl Malone, Shaquille O’Neal, Bill Walton, Kevin McHale.
9: Ted Williams, Dan Majerle, Tony Parker, Gordie Howe, Bill Elliott, Chase Elliott, Matthew Stafford, Mia Hamm.
24 vs. 5
No 24: Jeff Gordon, Ken Griffey Jr, Barry Bonds, Miguel Cabrera, Rickey Henderson, Kobe Bryant, Willie Mays, Rick Barry, Manny Ramirez, Moses Malone, Charles Woodson, Darrelle Revis and Marshawn Lynch.
5: Joe DiMaggio, Johnny Bench, Albert Pujols, Hank Greenberg, Kevin Garnett, Bill Walton, Robert Horry, Jeff Bagwell, George Brett, Donovan McNabb.
12 vs. 33
12: Tom Brady, Roberto Alomar, Terry Bradshaw, Bob Griese, Jim Kelly, Joe Namath, Ken Stabler, Roger Staubach, John Stockton, Dwight Howard, Pat Riley, Bobby Allison, Aaron Rodgers.
33: Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Larry Bird, Patrick Ewing, Scottie Pippen, Alonzo Mourning, Patrick Roy.
42 vs. 13
42: Jackie Robinson, Mariano Rivera, Ronnie Lott, James Worthy, Lee Petty, Kyle Larson.
13: Dan Marino, Wilt Chamberlain, Kurt Warner, Alex Morgan, Steve Nash, Alex Rodriguez.
99 vs. 44
99: Wayne Gretzky, Manny Ramirez, Warren Sapp, Jason Taylor, George Mikan, Carl Edwards, JJ Watt, Aaron Judge, Aaron Donald, Ricky “Wild Thing” Vaughn.
44: Hank Aaron, Willie McCovey, John Riggins, Jerry West, George Gervin, Pete Maravich.
7 vs. 8
7: Mickey Mantle, Ivan Rodriguez, John Elway, George Halas, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Johnson, Pete Maravich, Cristiano Ronaldo.
8: Cal Ripken, Yogi Berra, Carl Yastrzemski, Willie Stargell, Troy Aikman, Steve Young, Kobe Bryant (changed to 24 after 10 seasons), Alexander Ovechkin, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Joe Morgan, Andre Dawson, Lamar Jackson, Julie Ertz.
Here is our panel of experts:
Tim Walters: Sports Editor, Florida Times-Union and Florida Today
Nick Pugliese: Sports Editor, Palm Beach Post
Ed Reed: Sports Editor, Fort Myers New-Press, Naples Daily News, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Ryan Pritt: Sports Editor, Daytona Beach News-Journal
Eric Wallace: Sports Editor, TCPalm.com
Joe Schad, Dolphins reporter, Palm Beach Post
Kevin Brockway: Gators reporter, Gainesville Sun
David Whitley: Columnist, Gainesville Sun
Ehsan Kassim: USA Today, former FSU beat writer
Ed Killer: Outdoors reporter, TCPalm.com
Clayton Freeman: Sports reporter, Florida Times-Union
Jon Santucci: USA Today Florida High School Sports reporter
Mark Moses, Radio host, Cumulus Media
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: What jersey number is most iconic in sports? Vote here to determine it
