15 (number) - in Sports

In Sports

• In all four of the major Gaelic games—hurling, Gaelic football for men and women, and camogie—each team has 15 players on the field at any given time.
• In tennis, the number 15 represents the first point gained in a game.
• In rugby union:
  • Each team has 15 players on the field at any given time.
  • The jersey number 15 is worn by the starting fullback.
  • Starting with the 2012–13 series, the IRB Sevens World Series in rugby union sevens will have 15 "core teams" that participate in each series event.
• In baseball, the National League and American League within Major League Baseball will each have 15 teams starting in 2013.
• In U.S. college athletics, schools that are members of NCAA Division I are allowed to provide athletic scholarships to a maximum of 15 women's basketball players in a given season.
• The jersey number 15 has been retired by several North American sports teams in honor of past playing greats or other key figures:
  • In Major League Baseball:
    • The New York Yankees, for Thurman Munson.
  • In the NBA:
    • The Boston Celtics, for Hall of Famer Tom Heinsohn, who would later serve the team as a head coach and broadcaster.
    • The Dallas Mavericks, for Brad Davis.
    • The Detroit Pistons, for Vinnie Johnson.
    • The New York Knicks have retired the number twice, both for Hall of Fame players. #15 was first retired in 1986 for Earl Monroe. Six years later, it was retired a second time for Dick McGuire, who had worn the number before Monroe's arrival in the NBA.
    • The Philadelphia 76ers, for Hall of Famer Hal Greer.
    • The Portland Trail Blazers, for Larry Steele.
  • In the NHL:
    • The Boston Bruins, for Hall of Famer Milt Schmidt.
  • In the NFL:
    • The Green Bay Packers, for Hall of Famer Bart Starr.
    • The Philadelphia Eagles, for Hall of Famer Steve Van Buren.