3

3 is perhaps the most important number in baseball numerology. It is the number of outs in a half inning and the number of strikes require to record a strikeout. There are three numbered bases. Many other important numbers are powers of three (3²=9 innings per game and players on a side, 3³=27 outs per game, 3⁴=81 home games per season, etc.).

3 was Babe Ruth's uniform number with the New York Yankees, refering to his place in the lineup. As such, it became a much-coveted number for players of other organizations. David Wells wore it in his stint with the Boston Red Sox, as did Alex Rodriguez with the Texas Rangers.

The Yankees' #3 was also worn in the first month of the 1948 season by the immortal Cliff Mapes, who himself allegedly (according to The Sporting News) hit a 500+ ft. home run while playing for the AAA Kansas City Blues. Mapes had the further distinction of being the last player before Mickey Mantle to wear #7, which was first worn by the Mick when he was recalled from the Blues shortly after the All-Star break in 1951.

Notable players who have worn this number

• Earl Averill, retired by the Cleveland Indians
• Bob Bailey
• Harold Baines, retired by the Chicago White Sox
• Beau Bell
• Carlos Beltran
• Zeke Bonura
• Jorge Cantu
• Eric Chavez
• Mickey Cochrane
• Billy Cox
• Carl Crawford
• Kiki Cuyler
• Willie Davis
• David Eckstein
• Jimmie Foxx
• Frankie Frisch
• Phil Garner
• Gary Geiger
• Curtis Granderson
• Bud Harrelson
• Richie Hebner
• Harmon Killebrew, retired by the Minnesota Twins
• Ian Kinsler
• Chuck Klein
• Joe Kuhel
• Lou Limmer
• Evan Longoria
• Kazuo Matsui
• Dick McAuliffe
• Dale Mitchell
• Dale Murphy, retired by the Atlanta Braves
• Shigeo Nagashima, retired by the Yomiuri Giants
• Rafael Palmeiro
• Johnny Ray
• Rick Reichardt
• Pete Runnels
• Babe Ruth, retired by the New York Yankees
• Steve Sax
• George Selkirk
• John Stone
• Willy Taveras
• Chris Taylor
• Bill Terry, retired by the San Francisco Giants
• Alan Trammell, retired by the Detroit Tigers