MLB history: Ringing in 2022 with the best players to ever wear 22
By Kevin Henry
With 2022 now officially upon us, it’s a great time to look at which players were the best in MLB history to wear number 22.
Who were the greatest players in MLB history to wear the number 22?
In terms of longevity, Jim Palmer‘s tenure with the Baltimore Orioles wearing number 22 between 1965 and 1984 can’t be beat. During his Hall of Fame career, Palmer racked up three Cy Young Awards and totaled a cumulative 2.86 ERA/3.50 FIP in 3948.0 innings pitched. During his time on the mound, Baltimore went to the World Series on six occasions, winning three of them. In 64.2 innings pitched in nine World Series games (eight starts), Palmer posted a 3.20 ERA.
Speaking of pitchers wearing number 22, the 14 seasons that Clayton Kershaw has worn the number pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers shouldn’t be overlooked. An eight-time All-Star, three-time Cy Young Award winner, and National League MVP, Kershaw has established himself as one of the top southpaws in MLB history.
Will L.A.’s number 22 continue to pitch for the Dodgers in 2022? That’s one of the biggest questions of the offseason for the franchise.
Another pitcher to wear number 22, but not during the entirety of his career, is Roger Clemens. Sporting the number in nine seasons between his time with the New York Yankees and Houston Astros, Clemens actually has accumulated the most bWAR (139.2) of any player to ever wear the number, winning a pair of Cy Young Awards (one with the Yankees and one with the Astros) while wearing 22.
How about great players who wore 22 just for one season? Four members of the Hall of Fame would fall into that category, including Rickey Henderson (Oakland A’s, 1989), Mike Schmidt (Philadelphia Phillies, 1972), Gaylord Perry (San Francisco Giants, 1962), and Paul Waner (Yankees, 1945).
In terms of longevity, no one wore 22 longer in his career than Palmer. Between his 19 seasons and Kershaw’s 14, however, lands Bill Buckner, who wore it for 16 seasons with the Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, and Boston Red Sox.
The links between Clayton Kershaw and Jackie Robinson. dark. Next
And, are you ready for this? In MLB history, 22 players have worn the number 22 for 10 or more seasons, including current players Jason Heyward (12), Andrew McCutchen (13), and Kershaw.