14 (number) - in Sports

In Sports

• The G-14 is a now-defunct union of eighteen football clubs.
• In Association football: The number 14, was the number for Johan Cruyff. Therefore he is often associated with that number and the football club AFC Ajax promised (in 2007) in his honour never to use it again.

• In Major League Baseball, the American League has had 14 teams from 1977 to 2012, and the National League had 14 teams from 1993 to 1997.

• In rugby union:
  • The starting right wing wears the 14 shirt.
  • The Top 14 is the highest-level league in French rugby union.
  • The Southern Hemisphere competition now known as Super Rugby was known from 2006 through 2010, an era in which it had 14 teams, as Super 14.

• In the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, the #14 car is currently owned by Stewart Haas Racing. Since 2009, it has been driven by team co-owner Tony Stewart.

• In the Division I (NCAA) of College Football
  • The number 14 equals the number of National Championships by the Alabama Crimson Tide.

• In Thoroughbred horse racing:
  • The following major races have a maximum field of 14 runners:
    • The Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes, the final two legs of the U.S. Triple Crown.
    • All of the Breeders' Cup races except for the Dirt Mile, Juvenile Fillies, and Juvenile Fillies Turf (limited to 12).

• The jersey number 14 has been retired by several North American sports teams in honor of past playing greats or other key figures:
  • In Major League Baseball:
    • The Boston Red Sox, for Hall of Famer Jim Rice.
    • The Chicago Cubs, for Hall of Famer Ernie Banks.
    • The Cleveland Indians, for Hall of Fame player Larry Doby, who also managed the team.
    • The Minnesota Twins, for Kent Hrbek.
    • The New York Mets, for Gil Hodges, who both played for and managed the team.
    • The Philadelphia Phillies, for Hall of Famer Jim Bunning.
    • The St. Louis Cardinals, for Ken Boyer.
    • The Seattle Mariners have yet to retire any numbers, but have not issued #14 since Lou Piniella, manager from 1993 to 2002, left the team.
    • The Cincinnati Reds have taken #14 out of circulation since Pete Rose accepted a place on MLB's banned list in 1989 for allegedly betting on games (which he would admit to in 2004). Because of the ban, the Reds cannot retire the number for Rose during his lifetime; they have since only issued the number to his son.
  • In the NBA:
    • The Boston Celtics, for Hall of Famer Bob Cousy.
    • The Golden State Warriors, for Tom Meschery, who played for the team in its past incarnations as the Philadelphia and San Francisco Warriors.
    • The Milwaukee Bucks, for Jon McGlocklin.
    • The Portland Trail Blazers, for Lionel Hollins.
    • The Sacramento Kings, for Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson, who played for the team when it was known as the Cincinnati Royals.
    • The Utah Jazz, for Jeff Hornacek.
  • In the NFL:
    • The Cleveland Browns, for Hall of Famer Otto Graham.
    • The Green Bay Packers, for Hall of Famer Don Hutson.
    • The New York Giants, for Hall of Famer Y. A. Tittle.
    • The San Diego Chargers, for Hall of Famer Dan Fouts.
  • In the NHL:
    • The Buffalo Sabres, for René Robert.