11 (number) - in Sports

In Sports

• There are 11 players on a soccer team on the field at a time as well as in a cricket team. Within a school or college, the phrase first eleven (or first XI) - often "first football XI" and "first cricket XI" - generally refers to the first (best) team currently playing. Other teams are often referred to as "the second XI" etc.

• Also in soccer, in the German language (and others like Italian - "gli undici metri" -, countries that predominantly use the metric system) a penalty kick is referred to as "Elfmeter" because the penalty spot is approximately 11m (precisely 12 yards) from the goal line. Historically, in the Pyramid formation that position names are taken from, a left wing-forward in football wears number 11. In the modern game, especially using the 4-4-2 formation, it is worn by a left-sided midfielder. Less commonly a striker will wear the shirt.

• There are 11 players in a field hockey team. The player wearing 11 will usually play on the left-hand side, as in soccer.

• An American football team also has 11 players on the field at one time during play. 11 is also worn by quarterbacks, kickers, punter and wide receivers in American football's NFL.

• In most rugby league competitions (but not the European Super League, which uses static squad numbering), one of the starting second-row forwards wears the number 11.

• In rugby union, the starting left wing wears the 11 shirt.

• In cricket, the 11th batsman is usually the weakest batsman, at the end of the tail. He is primarily in the team for his bowling abilities.

• The jersey number 11 has been retired by several North American sports teams in honor of past playing greats or other key figures:
  • In Major League Baseball:
    • The Chicago White Sox, for Hall of Famer Luis Aparicio. In 2010 and 2011, Aparicio allowed fellow Venezuelan Omar Vizquel to wear the number.
    • The Cincinnati Reds, for Hall of Famer Barry Larkin.
    • The Detroit Tigers, for Hall of Fame manager Sparky Anderson.
    • The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, for Jim Fregosi, who played for the team in its former incarnations as the Los Angeles Angels and California Angels, and also managed the California Angels.
    • The Pittsburgh Pirates, for Hall of Famer Paul Waner.
    • The San Francisco Giants, for Hall of Famer Carl Hubbell, honoring the number's retirement when the team was known as the New York Giants.
    • The Seattle Mariners have yet to retire any numbers, but have not issued #11 since the retirement of Edgar Martínez at the end of the 2004 season.
  • In the NBA:
    • The Detroit Pistons, for Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas.
    • The Sacramento Kings, for Hall of Famer Bob Davies, honoring the number's retirement when the team was known as the Rochester Royals.
    • The Washington Wizards, for Hall of Famer Elvin Hayes, who played for the team in its past incarnations as the Baltimore, Capital, and Washington Bullets.
  • In the NFL:
    • The New York Giants, for Phil Simms.
  • In the NHL:
    • The Buffalo Sabres, for Hall of Famer Gilbert Perreault.
    • The Edmonton Oilers and New York Rangers, for Hall of Famer Mark Messier.
    • The St. Louis Blues, for Brian Sutter.
    • The Washington Capitals, for Hall of Famer Mike Gartner.