Dodgers Retired Numbers FAQ: Complete Guide
The Los Angeles Dodgers have officially retired 12 uniform numbers, representing 11 Hall of Fame players and managers, plus one beloved coach whose sudden passing altered franchise policy. Alongside Jackie Robinson's universal No. 42 and Fernando Valenzuela's historic No. 34, the team also honors legendary broadcasters Vin Scully and Jaime Jarrín with commemorative microphone displays. If you want a clear, no-nonsense breakdown of who made the cut, how the team decides whose number goes up on the Dodger Stadium pavilion, and who might be next, welcome to our definitive Dodgers retired numbers list FAQ.
The Complete Roster of Retired Dodgers Numbers
The Dodgers franchise has spent well over a century building one of baseball's proudest legacies, spanning Brooklyn and Los Angeles. Despite hundreds of players wearing Dodger Blue, the club has kept its ring of honor extremely exclusive.
Here is every retired number in franchise history in numerical order:
- No. 1 – Pee Wee Reese: Shortstop, team captain, and a crucial ally to Jackie Robinson. Inducted into Cooperstown in 1984; number retired that same year.
- No. 2 – Tommy Lasorda: Two-time World Series champion manager (1981, 1988) who bled Dodger blue for decades. Number retired in 1997.
- No. 4 – Duke Snider: "The Duke of Flatbush" hit 389 of his 407 career home runs with the Dodgers. Inducted into the Hall of Fame and had his number retired in 1980.
- No. 14 – Gil Hodges: The anchor at first base for the Boys of Summer and an eight-time All-Star. His number was officially retired in 2022 following his long-overdue induction into Cooperstown.
- No. 19 – Jim Gilliam: A versatile infielder/outfielder and long-time coach who spent his entire 26-year professional career with the Dodgers. His number was retired in 1978 under tragic circumstances.
- No. 20 – Don Sutton: The franchise leader in pitching wins (233) and strikeouts (2,696). Number retired in 1998.
- No. 24 – Walter Alston: Managed the club to four World Series championships on a run of 23 consecutive one-year contracts. Number retired in 1977.
- No. 32 – Sandy Koufax: Three-time Cy Young Award winner, MVP, and arguably the most dominant peak pitcher in baseball history. Number retired in 1972.
- No. 34 – Fernando Valenzuela: The cultural icon who ignited "Fernandomania" in 1981. Number retired in August 2023.
- No. 39 – Roy Campanella: Three-time NL MVP and barrier-breaking catcher whose career was cut short by a car accident. Number retired in 1972.
- No. 42 – Jackie Robinson: Broke baseball's color line in 1947. Number retired by the Dodgers in 1972 and retired league-wide by MLB in 1997.
- No. 53 – Don Drysdale: Hall of Fame right-hander, 1962 Cy Young winner, and bulldog counterpart to Koufax. Number retired in 1984.
We put together this Dodgers retired numbers list FAQ overview so fans can see every number that hangs above the club level at a single glance.
The Unwritten Rule: Hall of Fame Requirement and Exceptions
A major point of discussion in any Dodgers retired numbers list FAQ is the club's strict criteria. For decades, the organization held an unbending institutional policy: a player or manager had to be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown to have their jersey retired.
Until recently, the sole exception was Jim Gilliam. In 1978, Gilliam was serving as the team's first-base coach when he suffered a massive brain hemorrhage just prior to the postseason. He died on October 8, 1978, at age 49, right before Game 1 of the World Series. The Dodgers were devastated. In an unprecedented move, the O'Malley family retired his No. 19 on the spot to honor his quarter-century of loyalty.
That policy held firm for another 45 years until August 2023, when the club made its second exception for Fernando Valenzuela. While Fernando had not reached Cooperstown via the BBWAA ballot, his cultural footprint on the city of Los Angeles, the Mexican-American community, and the Dodgers brand was undeniable. The front office recognized that no Dodger would ever wear No. 34 again anyway, so they officially hoisted it beside Koufax and Robinson where it belonged.
Honored Voices: Vin Scully and Jaime Jarrín
When you look up at the display wall down the left-field line at Dodger Stadium, you will spot two circular markers that do not have jersey numbers on them. Instead, they feature old-fashioned broadcast microphones.
These honor two legendary voices who soundtracked Dodgers baseball across multiple generations:
- Vin Scully: The gold standard of sports broadcasting. Scully called Dodgers games for an unfathomable 67 seasons (1950 to 2016), moving with the club from Ebbets Field to Chavez Ravine. His display was unveiled in 2017.
- Jaime Jarrín: Known as "The Spanish Voice of the Dodgers," Jarrín called games from 1959 through 2022—64 seasons behind the mic. He was inducted into the broadcaster wing of the Hall of Fame (Ford C. Frick Award) in 1998 and received his stadium microphone honor in 2018.
While technically not jersey numbers, both men are permanently enshrined as part of the team's official retired ranks.
Who Is Next? Future Dodgers Number Retirements
No Dodgers retired numbers list FAQ would be complete without looking forward to who will be next to take their place along the stadium rafters.
- Clayton Kershaw (No. 22): This is a 100% lock. Kershaw is a three-time Cy Young winner, an MVP, a Triple Crown winner, a World Series champion, and the modern face of the franchise. The moment he announces his retirement and enters Cooperstown on his first ballot, No. 22 will immediately go to the rafters.
- Dave Roberts (No. 30): Roberts has steered the Dodgers through one of the most successful sustained eras in baseball history, winning multiple pennants and a World Series title. If he reaches Cooperstown via the Contemporary Era committee down the road, his No. 30 could easily go up next to Tommy Lasorda and Walter Alston.
- Don Newcombe (No. 36) & Maury Wills (No. 30): Both are club icons who have missed out due to the Hall of Fame mandate. While Wills' No. 30 is worn by Roberts, Newcombe's impact as an MVP and Cy Young winner remains beloved by old-school fans.
Frequently asked questions
Why did the Dodgers wait so long to retire Gil Hodges' No. 14?
Because of the Dodgers' strict Hall of Fame requirement. Gil Hodges fell off the regular baseball writers' ballot years ago without getting the required 75%. It was not until the Golden Days Era Committee finally elected Hodges to Cooperstown in December 2021 that the Dodgers officially scheduled his number retirement ceremony, which took place in June 2022.
What was the very first number retired by the Dodgers?
The Dodgers retired their first three numbers simultaneously on June 4, 1972, at Dodger Stadium: Sandy Koufax (No. 32), Roy Campanella (No. 39), and Jackie Robinson (No. 42). Koufax had just been elected to Cooperstown that year, while Campanella and Robinson were already inductees.
Is Fernando Valenzuela in the Baseball Hall of Fame?
Fernando Valenzuela is not in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. However, the Dodgers broke their traditional Cooperstown-only rule in 2023 to retire his No. 34 due to his massive cultural impact, his 1981 Cy Young/Rookie of the Year double, and his four-decade career as an ambassador and broadcaster for the team.
Why isn't Steve Garvey's No. 6 retired?
Despite winning the 1974 NL MVP, four Gold Gloves, and being a key component of the Dodgers' 1981 title team, Steve Garvey has not been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Because of the club's policy, No. 6 remains active and has been worn by several players since, including modern-era Dodgers like Trajan Langdon and other utility players.
Where are the retired numbers displayed at Dodger Stadium?
The retired numbers are mounted prominently on the left-field club level facade, easily visible to spectators throughout the ballpark. The numbers sit on white circular medallions with Dodger-blue borders, accompanied by the microphone markers for Vin Scully and Jaime Jarrín.