I am not superstitious about baseball, not even a little bit… well… except for talking about a no-hitter when one is in progress, or stepping on the line when entering or exiting a baseball field, or changing T-shirts or jerseys or hats during a winning streak, or rally caps (which really do work, mind you), or sitting in the exact same spot in the dugout during a winning streak… but I am not superstitious about baseball – not at all.

And though I personally would never wear uniform number 13, not that I think it’s bad luck or anything, there are many who wear it freely. In other words, they do not suffer from Triskaidekaphobia – the fear of the number 13.

In Sunday’s blog article I mentioned that Ralph Branca was wearing uniform number 12 when he gave up the devastating home run to Bobby Thompson on October 3, 1951 that sent the hated New York Giants to the World Series and sent the Dodgers back home to Brooklyn saying “Wait till next year” – again.

After posting the article, it was pointed out to me by 75-year-old Brooklyn resident and lifelong Dodger fan Joe Pierre, a ThinkBlueLA.com regular, that he thought that Branca was wearing his normal number 13 when he gave up that fateful home run to Thompson. (By the way – it was later confirmed that Thompson knew exactly what pitch was coming, but that’s another story for another day). Pierre, who attended his first Dodger game at Ebbets Field in 1947 at age 9, is quite knowledgeable about the Brooklyn Dodgers and his comment caused me to research this uniform number thing a little further.

I had obtained my initial information from Baseball-Reference.com which correctly indicated that Branca had, in fact, worn uniform number 12, but he did so in 1952 and only in 1952 – the season after the Thompson home run. The rest of Ralph’s time with the Dodgers he did, in fact, wear uniform number 13, including on October 3, 1951 – just as Joe Pierre had thought (and Baseball-Almanac.com confirmed).

Ralph Branca admitted that he changed to uniform number 12 in 1952 after what happened to him in 1951.
(AP Photo)

Could it be that our beloved Ralph Branca (and he truly is beloved) struggled with a temporary bout of Triskaidekaphobia? If he did he certainly had good cause, that’s for sure. But lo and behold, Branca went back to his regular uniform number 13 the following season (1953) until he was traded to the Detroit Tigers that same season (hmm…).

As it turns out, right-hander Erv Palica wore uniform number 12 in 1951. In fact, Palica wore number 12 from 1947 through 1954, with the exception of 1952, when he missed the entire season while serving in the military. (Trivia note – Palica made his MLB debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947 at age 17 and went 32-33 with a 4.20 ERA in his seven seasons with the Bums).

All of this brings up an interesting question. Since uniform numbers went away from the batting order to actual permanent uniform numbers, what Dodgers (Brooklyn and L.A.) have worn uniform number 13? The list is actually quite short, and with good reason:

• Hanley Ramirez (2012-2013)
• Ivan De Jesus (2011-2012)
• Ryan Theriot (2010)
• Tony Abreu (2009)
• Orlando Hudson (2009)
• Terry Tiffee (2008)
• Angel Berroa (2008)
• Wilson Valdez (2007)
• Oscar Robles (2005-2006)
• Alex Cora (2002-2004)
• Antonio Osuna (1995-2000)
• Roger McDowell (1991)
• Joe Ferguson (1970-1981)
• Jim Hughes (1955)
• Ralph Branca (1944-1953)
• Kirby Higbe (1941-1947)
• John Douglas (1945)
• Tommy Warren (1944)

Why have so few guys worn uniform number 13? The answer is simple – there are exactly zero, zip, zilch, nada former MLB players who wore uniform number 13 in the Hall of Fame, although Roberto Clemente did wear number 13 during his rookie season with the Pirates in 1955.

Could Hanley Ramirez become the first player in MLB history to enter the Hall of Fame having worn uniform number 13? The odds are definitely NOT in his favor.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Oh, by the way, A-Rod wears number 13 – just sayin’.