Numbers That Should/Will Be Retired

As we celebrate Jackie Robinson Day and the release of "42," every team in the Major Leagues once again full of 42's for one day (I've made my feelings on that well-known).  Of course, the Yankees are the only team that has a No. 42 every day of the year, but that's going to change next season, when April 15 becomes the only time you'll ever see the number 42 worn on a Major League field again.

Mariano Rivera has been the only No. 42 in the Majors for quite some time.  It was retired across baseball for Jackie Robinson in 1997.  And it goes without saying that, whether required to retire it or not, no Yankee will ever wear No. 42 regularly again come next season.  In fact, I think it would be cool if they offically retire Mariano's number on this day next year.  I think Jackie Robinson would agree that would be appropriate.

While Mariano and Derek Jeter are the two most obvious examples of active Major Leaguers who should/will have their numbers retired once their careers end, they aren't the only ones.  There are plenty of active or recently retired players who are so synonymous with a given club that a number retirement ceremony feels like it should be a given.  A lot of these probably will happen, but some won't for whatever reason.  That doesn't mean they shouldn't.  (And sorry Wade Boggs, the Red Sox retiring your No. 26 doesn't qualify, so stop whining about it.)

Here's a list of the teams that have one or more numbers that I think should/will be retired, ranked by level of likelihood (*-locks):

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
51-Randy Johnson*, 38-Curt Schilling

ATLANTA BRAVES
10-Chipper Jones*

BOSTON RED SOX
A lot of people want Nomar, but I don't think he quite makes the cut.  Just like Wade Boggs.
34-David Ortiz, 45-Pedro Martinez, 24-Manny Ramirez, 21-Roger Clemens, 33-Jason Varitek, 38-Curt Schilling

CHICAGO WHITE SOX
14-Paul Konerko

CINCINNATI REDS
14-Pete Rose (They're officially not allowed to retire it because of his lifetime ban from baseball.)

CLEVELAND INDIANS
25-Jim Thome

COLORADO ROCKIES
17-Todd Helton*, 33-Larry Walker* (The Rockies are probably waiting for Helton to retire to make him the first one.)

DETROIT TIGERS
35-Justin Verlander*, 24-Miguel Cabrera, 3-Alan Trammell

HOUSTON ASTROS
17-Lance Berkman

LOS ANGELES DODGERS
34-Fernando Valenzuela

MILWAUKEE BREWERS
8-Ryan Braun*

MINNESOTA TWINS
7-Joe Mauer*, 33-Justin Morneau

NEW YORK METS
17-Keith Hernandez, 8-Gary Carter, 5-David Wright, 31-Mike Piazza, 16-Dwight Gooden, 18-Darryl Strawberry

NEW YORK YANKEES
42-Mariano Rivera*, 2-Derek Jeter*, 6-Joe Torre*, 51-Bernie Williams*, 21-Paul O'Neill, 46-Andy Pettitte, 20-Jorge Posada

OAKLAND ATHLETICS
25-Mark McGwire, 33-Jose Canseco

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
25-Barry Bonds (They should be embarrassed that it isn't yet), 21-Jeff Kent, 18-Matt Cain, 28-Buster Posey, 55-Tim Lincecum

SEATTLE MARINERS
I'm not really sure why, but the Mariners have never retired a number.  Whatever critera they use, though, needs to change.  Because Ken Griffey Jr.'s No. 24 should already be retired.
24-Ken Griffey Jr., 11-Edgar Martinez, 51-Randy Johnson, 51-Ichiro Suzuki, 21-Alvin Davis, 14-Lou Piniella, 19-Jay Buhner, 34-Felix Hernandez, 3-Alex Rodriguez

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
5-Albert Pujols*, 29-Chris Carpenter

TAMPA BAY RAYS
3-Evan Longoria*

TEXAS RANGERS
7-Ivan Rodriguez*, 10-Michael Young*, 32-Josh Hamilton, 19-Juan Gonzalez

TORONTO BLUE JAYS
29-Joe Carter*, 37-Dave Stieb