Best D-backs to wear each uniform number

PHOENIX -- What number has been worn by more players and coaches in D-backs history?

That would be No. 32, which has been worn by 18 people.

Some numbers have been worn far less frequently.

Right-hander Jeff Suppan wore No. 20 during the team’s inaugural season in 1998, and then it was given to a newly acquired outfielder named Luis Gonzalez the following season. It has never been worn since, and it is one of Arizona's two retired numbers not including No. 42, which has been retired throughout baseball in honor of Jackie Robinson.

The D-backs retired No. 51 for Randy Johnson in 2015. The only other player to have worn that jersey was outfielder Mike Robertson, who made 13 plate appearances while wearing it in 1998, the year before Johnson joined the team.

They were obviously the best players to wear those numbers in D-backs history, but what about the rest? Here's a look at the best player to wear every number in franchise history:

No. 1: Orlando Hudson
The O-Dog played for the D-backs from 2006-08, winning a pair of National League Gold Glove Awards and helping the D-backs to the '07 NL Championship Series.

No. 2: Aaron Hill
Hill was acquired following the Trade Deadline in 2011, and he was a key contributor down the stretch as the D-backs won the NL West. Hill also will be remembered for hitting for the cycle twice in '12.

No. 3: Carlos Baerga
Baerga was past his prime when the D-backs got him in 2003, but he was an excellent roleplayer for them for two seasons. Manager Bob Melvin, who wore this number as bench coach on the '01 World Series team and as manager of the '07 NLCS squad, gets an honorable mention here.

No. 4: Craig Counsell
Expect current D-back Ketel Marte to one day claim this spot, but for now we’ll stick with Counsell, who was the MVP of the 2001 NLCS and hit a key home run in Game 1 of the World Series.

No. 5: Tony Womack
Womack played five seasons in Arizona, and he is best remembered for his game-tying double off Yankees closer Mariano Rivera in the ninth inning of Game 7 of the 2001 World Series.

No. 6: David Peralta
Stephen Drew also got a lot of consideration in this spot, but Peralta gets the nod. Signed out of independent ball, the left fielder has continued to get better, winning an NL Silver Slugger Award in 2018 and an NL Gold Glove in '19 -- all while becoming a fan favorite with the nickname “Freight Train.”

No 7: Welington Castillo
Castillo was the D-backs' main catcher from 2015-16, hitting 31 homers over that stretch, and he was a respected force in the clubhouse.

No. 8: Gerardo Parra
“G” played for the D-backs from 2009-14, and was a favorite of then-manager Kirk Gibson for the way he hustled and always brought energy to the clubhouse. Parra won two NL Gold Gloves during his time with Arizona, and he had a cannon for an arm.

No. 9: Matt Williams
An original D-back, Williams came to Arizona just after the 1997 Expansion Draft, and he was part of the 2001 World Series championship team. At various times, he also held such roles in the organization as minority owner, broadcaster, coach and Minor League manager.

No. 10: Justin Upton
Upton was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 Draft, and he played on a pair of division-winning teams during his six years in Arizona. He finished fourth in NL Most Valuable Player Award voting in '11.

No. 11: A.J. Pollock
Pollock was one of the team’s two first-round Draft picks in 2009, and he was an NL Gold Glove winner in center field in '15, during what was one of the best individual seasons in franchise history.

No. 12: Steve Finley
“Fins” was signed as a free agent prior to the 1999 season, and he won a pair of NL Gold Gloves and a World Series ring during his six years with Arizona.

No. 13: Nick Ahmed
Ahmed was acquired in the trade that sent Justin Upton to Atlanta, and he established himself as the team’s starting shortstop in 2015. “Slick Nick” won NL Gold Gloves in '18 and '19.

No. 14: Ryan Roberts
Roberts became a cult hero of sorts during his time with the D-backs from 2009-12, coming up with clutch hits on Arizona's run to the playoffs in '11. He was nicknamed “Tatman” because of his plethora of tattoos.

No. 15: Dan Haren
Haren was acquired prior to the 2008 season in a blockbuster trade with the A’s, and he pitched well for the D-backs for two-plus seasons before being dealt to the Angels for Tyler Skaggs and Patrick Corbin. World Series-winning manager Bob Brenly, who also wore this number, gets an honorable mention.

No. 16: Conor Jackson
Jackson was a first-round pick in the 2003 Draft and was in the big leagues two years later. After a career best OPS+ of 110 in '08, Jackson contracted Valley Fever the following spring and was never able to get his career going again.

No. 17: Mark Grace
We’ll give No. 17 to “Gracie,” who started the ninth-inning rally off Mariano Rivera in Game 7, and save No. 55 for Brandon Webb.

No. 18: Chad Tracy
In his first three years in the big leagues (2004-06) Tracy slashed .291/.348/.470, but injuries hampered him in '07 and he was not able to get back to that level of success again.

No. 19: Jake Lamb
“Lamber” played for the D-backs from 2014-20. His best season came in '17, when he hit 30 doubles and 30 homers. He made the All-Star team that year, and he was a big reason why the D-backs won the NL’s top Wild Card spot.

No. 20 (retired): Luis Gonzalez
“Gonzo” quickly became a fan favorite after coming over to the D-backs prior to the 1999 season. In eight years in Arizona, Gonzalez appeared in five All-Star Games, hit 57 homers in 2001 and had an OPS+ of 130 over that span. Oh yeah, and he also delivered a bloop single to walk off the Yankees in Game 7 of the '01 World Series.

No. 21: Zack Greinke
Signed to a six-year, $206.5 million free-agent deal prior to 2016, Greinke was Arizona’s top starter until he was traded to the Astros at the '19 Deadline.

No. 22: Greg Swindell
“Zeke” signed as a free agent prior to the 1999 season, and he was part of the 100-win team in '99 and the World Series championship club in 2001.

No. 23: Lyle Overbay
Overbay had two stints with the D-backs, who drafted him in the 18th round in 1999. He played for them from 2001-03 and '11-12. First baseman Paul Goldschmidt, who was a rookie in '11, credits Overbay as one of his earliest mentors in the big leagues.

No. 24: Chris Young
Young played for the D-backs from 2006-12, and he was part of two division-winning teams. He finished fourth in NL Rookie of the Year voting in '07, and he was an All-Star in '10.

No. 25: David Dellucci
Dellucci excelled in a part-time role for the D-backs, particularly in 2001, when he hit five home runs in a pinch-hit role.

No. 26: Miguel Montero
“Miggy” was one of the team’s most popular players during his time with the D-backs from 2006-16, winning a pair of division titles and making two All-Star Game appearances.

No. 27: Mark Reynolds
Reynolds had prodigious power, hitting 121 home runs during his time in Arizona from 2007-10, including 44 in '09.

No. 28: Greg Colbrunn
“Colby” was one of the veteran leaders on the 2001 World Series championship team. In a part-time role from 1999-2002, he had an average OPS+ of 131. He made a brief return in '04 after spending '03 with Seattle.

No. 29: Brad Ziegler
The submarining right-handed reliever had two stints with the D-backs, from 2011-16 and the second half of '18.

No. 30: Gregg Olson
Olson was the D-backs' first closer, saving 30 games during the 1998 expansion season.

No. 31: Ian Kennedy
Kennedy pitched for the D-backs from 2010-13. His best year came in '11, when he lead the division-winning team with a 21-4 record and finished fourth in NL Cy Young voting.

No. 32: Todd Stottlemyre
“Stott” was legendary for his competitiveness, and though his tenure with the D-backs (1990-2002) was marred by injury, he was a valuable leader in the clubhouse.

No. 33: Jay Bell
The D-backs signed Bell to a free-agent contract the night of the Expansion Draft, and he had a monster year for them in 1999, when he hit 38 homers and drove in 112 runs. He scored the game-winning run in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series.

No. 34: Tony Clark
“TC” had a huge 2005 for the D-backs, slashing .304/.366/.636 and hitting 30 homers. He was the '07 NLCS team’s unofficial captain, coining the phrase “Anybody, anytime,” which was used as a rallying cry.

No. 35: Kelly Stinnett
“Grinder” was selected from the Brewers in the Expansion Draft, and he served two stints with the D-backs (1998-2000, '05). He was known for his work behind the plate and how he handled a pitching staff.

No. 36: Wade Miley
Miley was an All-Star in 2012, while also finishing second in NL Rookie of the Year balloting after going 16-11 with a 3.33 ERA.

No. 37: Junior Spivey
Spivey debuted in 2001 and was a part-time contributor on the World Series championship team. His best year came in '02, when he slashed .301/.389/.476 and was an All-Star. He was dealt to the Brewers following the '03 season.

No. 38: Curt Schilling
Schilling pitched for the D-backs from 2000-03, and since his trade to the Red Sox, his number has been worn by Brandon Lyon, Luke Carlin, Sam Demel, Will Harris and Robbie Ray.

No. 39: Max Scherzer
Selected by the D-backs in the first round of 2006 Draft, Scherzer pitched for the D-backs from '08-09 before being traded to the Tigers as part of a three-team deal that Arizona would come to regret.

No. 40: Andy Benes
Benes was signed as a free agent in February 1998, and he threw the first pitch in franchise history when he started the opener against the Rockies. He won 14 games in '98 and 13 the following year before signing with the Cardinals. J.J. Putz gets an honorable mention here.

No. 41: Daniel Hudson
“Huddy” came to the D-backs at the Trade Deadline in 2010 and after excelling as a starter, he reinvented himself as a reliever following back-to-back Tommy John surgeries.

No. 43: Miguel Batista
Batista tends to get overlooked, but the right-hander played a big role on the 2001 team, appearing in 48 games and making 18 starts. He had two stints with the D-backs -- '01-03 and '06.

No. 44: Paul Goldschmidt
This is likely the next number the D-backs will end up retiring. “Goldy” was drafted and developed by Arizona, and he was the face of the franchise from 2011-18 before being dealt to the Cardinals.

No. 45: Vicente Padilla
Padilla did not have a long tenure with the D-backs (1999-2000), but he gets the nod. The reliever had a good first half of 2000, which allowed the team to trade him to Philadelphia as part of the deal that brought Curt Schilling to Arizona.

No. 46: Patrick Corbin
Corbin came to the D-backs as part of the return for Dan Haren at the 2010 Trade Deadline, and he pitched for Arizona from '12-18 before signing a big free-agent deal with the Nationals.

No. 47: Jose Valverde
“Papa Grande” was signed out of the Dominican Republic by the D-backs in 1997, and by 2003, he was closing games for them. Over five seasons, he had 98 saves, including an MLB-best 47 for the '07 NLCS team.

No. 48: Randall Delgado
Delgado was part of the D-backs' return from the Braves in the Justin Upton deal prior to the 2013 season, and he spent the next six seasons in Arizona, moving from the rotation to the bullpen as needed.

No. 49: Byung-Hyun Kim
“BK” was signed out of Korea by the D-backs, and he made his big league debut in 1999 at age 20. He saved 19 games as the closer on the 2001 World Series championship team, and he was even better in '02, when he had 36 saves with a 2.04 ERA in 72 games.

No. 50: Chad Qualls
Qualls pitched for the D-backs from 2008-10 and saved 45 games over that span.

No. 51 (retired): Randy Johnson
Johnson is the lone D-back in the Hall of Fame, and his resume is well known. He won four straight NL Cy Young Awards for Arizona from 1999-02, he was the '01 World Series co-MVP and he was arguably the best pitcher of his generation.

No. 52: Zack Godley
Godley pitched five seasons in Arizona. His best was 2017, when he had an ERA+ of 139.

No. 53: Christian Walker
Walker has been outstanding for the D-backs over the past two seasons since taking over for Paul Goldschmidt. Glenn Sherlock, the only other person to wear this jersey, gets an honorable mention. He joined the franchise as a Minor League manager in 1995 and was on the Major League coaching staff from 1998-2016.

No. 54: Vidal Nuño
The left-hander was acquired from the Yankees in exchange for right-hander Brandon McCarthy, and in parts of two seasons (2014-15) he compiled a 3.49 ERA over 17 games (14 starts).

No. 55: Brandon Webb
“Webby” won the NL Cy Young Award in 2006, and then finished second in the voting in each of the next two seasons. Unfortunately, his career was cut short when he suffered a shoulder injury on Opening Day '09. He never threw another pitch in the big leagues.

No. 56: Fernando Rodney
In his lone season with the D-backs (2017), Rodney saved 39 games and helped the team capture an NL Wild Card berth.

No. 57: Chase Anderson
Anderson was drafted by the D-backs in 2009, and he pitched for them from '14-15, going 15-13 with a 4.18 ERA.

No. 58: Jeremy Hellickson
The right-hander pitched one year for the D-backs (2015) before being traded to the Phillies.

No. 59: Zac Gallen
I cheated a bit here, as Gallen switched to No. 23 in 2020 after initially getting assigned No. 59 following his acquisition at the '19 Trade Deadline. The right-hander was the team’s best pitcher in '20.

No. 60: J.J. Hoover
Hoover helped the D-backs get off to a good start in 2017 after winning a spot in the bullpen as a non-roster invitee. He appeared in 52 games that year.

No. 61: Livan Hernandez
Hernandez was acquired at the Trade Deadline in 2006, and in a year and half with the D-backs, he won 15 games.

No. 62: Brandon Drury
Drury came over from Atlanta in the Justin Upton trade, and he spent his first three big league seasons (2015-17) with the D-backs.

No. 63: Doug Slaten
A left-handed specialist, Slaten pitched for the D-backs from 2006-09. His best season was '07, when he had a 2.72 ERA in 61 appearances.

No. 64: Keury Mella
Mella pitched for the D-backs in 2020, and had a 1.80 ERA in 11 games. He is the first D-back to wear No. 64.

No. 66: Yoshihisa Hirano
One of only two players to wear the number, the right-hander was outstanding for the D-backs in 2018, compiling a 2.44 ERA in 75 games. He lasted one more year in Arizona, appearing in 62 games with a 4.75 ERA in '19.

No. 67: Vladimir Nunez
The only D-back to wear No. 67, the right-hander pitched for the D-backs from 1998-99 but is best remembered for being part of the package sent to the Marlins in '99 for closer Matt Mantei.

No. 68: Socrates Brito
The only D-back to wear No. 68, Brito (2015-18) was a talented outfielder who had trouble staying healthy and on the field.

No. 72: Peter O’Brien
The only D-back to wear No. 72, O’Brien played in parts of two seasons (2015-16) for Arizona.

No. 76: Mike Koplove
A 29th-round pick by the D-backs in 1998, the right-hander made his debut in 2001 and was a big part of Arizona's bullpen through '04. In '03, he had a 2.15 ERA with an ERA+ of 219. Koplove chose the number in honor of his beloved Philadelphia 76ers.

No. 77: D.J. Carrasco
The right-hander was acquired by the D-backs at the 2010 Trade Deadline, and he had a 3.18 ERA in 18 games.

No. 99: Taijuan Walker
When Walker was acquired by the D-backs prior to the 2017 season, he had to choose a new number. He had been No. 44 in Seattle, but that was Paul Goldschmidt’s jersey in Arizona. Walker took No. 99, figuring that way, he'd never have to switch jerseys again.