St. Louis Cardinals Retired Numbers: A Jersey Number Guide
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Thirteen numbers hang retired in the St. Louis Cardinals' history, and each one belongs to a person who shaped the club. If you are thinking about a Cardinals jersey, those numbers are a good place to start, because they come with stories you can tell every time someone asks what your number means.
This article was written by an AI editor using the Cardinals history pages on MLB.com.
Why retired numbers make great jersey choices
A retired number is the club's way of saying no one else will wear it on the field. For fans, that makes it the opposite: a number you can wear in the stands to honor a player the team itself chose to honor. It also takes the guesswork out of choosing. Instead of a random pair of digits, you pick a number with a name, an era and a reason behind it.
The thirteen numbers, one by one
No. 1: Ozzie Smith
The lowest number on the list. A "1" on the back reads cleanly from a distance and suits anyone who likes a simple look.
No. 2: Red Schoendienst
Another single digit on the retired list. It pairs well with No. 1 if two friends or siblings want matching jerseys.
No. 6: Stan Musial
MLB.com lists Musial as the club's all-time leader in games (3,206), runs (1,949) and hits (3,630). His number was retired in 1963. If you want a number tied to the club's record book, this is it.
No. 9: Enos Slaughter
Another single digit on the retired list, and a good pick if you want something other than 1 or 6.
No. 10: Tony La Russa
La Russa's name is on the list, so 10 is a clean, round option that still points to a specific person in club history.
No. 14: Ken Boyer
A two-digit number that balances well on a jersey back and honors one of the names on the club's retired list.
No. 17: Dizzy Dean
Dean's 17 is a two-digit option that sits comfortably on the back of a jersey.
No. 20: Lou Brock
A round, bold number that looks strong on red or white.
No. 23: Ted Simmons
Retired in 2021, it is a good choice if you want a number with a recent retirement date behind it.
No. 24: Whitey Herzog
Fans who like Herzog can also find a memorial limited 2024 jersey with his name in the team's player collection at Robert Henrys.
No. 42: Bruce Sutter
The Cardinals retired 42 for Sutter, and the number is also retired across baseball for Jackie Robinson. Wearing it honors two stories at once.
No. 45: Bob Gibson
Gibson's 45 is one of the bolder two-digit options on the list. If you wear it, I'd suggest learning a little about Gibson so you can share the story.
No. 85: August A. Busch
The most unusual number on the list honors August A. Busch, a name that also appears on the ballpark. It stands out because it is far from a typical jersey number.
Rogers Hornsby and broadcaster Jack Buck are honored without numbers, which is a nice reminder that a jersey can carry a name as well as digits.
Other numbers with a Cardinals story
Retired numbers are not the only way to go. The club has won 19 National League pennants and 11 World Series titles since joining the NL, according to its own facts page, and the retired-numbers feature names title seasons such as 1926, 1934, 1964, 1967, 1982, 2006 and 2011. Any of those can become a two-digit number: 26, 34, 64, 67, 82, 06 or 11.
Ballpark history works too. The current Busch Stadium hosted its first game on April 10, 2006, so 06 marks the start of that era. Sportsman's Park hosted the club's first night game on May 24, 1940, which makes 40 a quiet nod to that night.
Choosing the jersey style
Once you have the number, pick the look. The custom collection at Robert Henrys includes Independence Day designs from 2024 and 2025, a 'Gothic Legacy Edition', a white Flex Base Golden Edition and classic home, road and alternate jerseys in white, gray, cream, blue, black, light blue and red. Each one lets you enter a name and number, and every listing offers Men, Women and Youth options in sizes S through 3XL.
Matching the style to the number
- Musial's 6 or Gibson's 45: a classic home white or road gray keeps the focus on the number.
- Simmons' 23: a newer design, like an Independence Day jersey, matches a more recent retirement.
- A title year: one idea is the cream alternate with an older season like 26 or 34.
- A family set: pick one style and give each person a different retired number.
Numbers by era: a quick map
If you are shopping for someone else, it helps to match the number to the era they remember best. The club's history pages make that easy to sketch out:
- The early National League years: the club became the Cardinals in 1900 and played at Robison Field until 1920, then at Sportsman's Park through 1952. Title years 26 and 34 come from this chapter.
- The Busch Memorial Stadium years, 1966 to 2005: a long stretch that includes the 1967 and 1982 titles, so 67 and 82 are natural picks from that chapter.
- The current Busch Stadium, 2006 onward: titles in 2006 and 2011, plus the 2021 retirement of Ted Simmons' 23.
The club also counts 56 people with Cardinals ties in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, so a favorite name can be honored with your own pick of number even when it is not on the retired list.
A few practical tips
- Write the name and number down before you open the order form, and check spelling twice.
- Two digits usually sit more evenly across a jersey back than one, but both work.
- For a gift, ask a family member which player the person talks about most. The answer often points straight to a number.
- If you plan to layer over a hoodie, consider sizing up from your usual T-shirt.
Wear the story
Every retired number in Cardinals history comes with a name the club decided to remember forever. Choosing one for your jersey lets you join that remembering in a small, personal way. When you are ready, you can build your own in the custom St. Louis Cardinals jersey collection at Robert Henrys.