Moore to wear Lincecum's No. 55 for Giants
SAN FRANCISCO -- It was bound to happen eventually: Jersey No. 55, which Tim Lincecum wore during his eventful San Francisco Giants tenure, is back in circulation after two seasons on the shelf.
Left-hander Matt Moore has inherited the number. It's listed alongside his name in the Giants roster that appears in MLB's guide to the Winter Meetings, which start Monday in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Moore wore No. 55 since beginning his Major League career with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2011, but was issued No. 45 when the Giants acquired him in the Aug. 1, 2016, deal that sent infielder Matt Duffy and two Minor Leaguers to Tampa Bay.
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Lincecum's 55 was never considered for official retirement. The franchise reserves that honor for Hall of Famers. However, the Giants tend to honor a select few performers unofficially by temporarily or indefinitely suspending the use of their numbers.
For example, no Giant has worn Barry Bonds' No. 25 since his active career ended in 2007. As a Giant, Bonds became baseball's all-time home run leader, won five of his seven National League Most Valuable Player Awards and made 12 All-Star teams.
Another instance: Right-hander Robb Nen's jersey (31) hung in the clubhouse throughout 2005. Nen earned undying respect in 2002 by continuing to pitch despite knowing that he could sustain a career-ending shoulder injury. Right-hander Vinnie Chulk began wearing 31 in 2006.
Lincecum captivated fans with his on-field charisma and ability to throw pitches with startling velocity or movement despite his slight build. He became the fourth pitcher in history to win back-to-back NL Cy Young Awards (2008-09). A four-time All-Star, Lincecum led the NL in strikeouts for three consecutive years (2008-10), threw two no-hitters and excelled in postseason play (5-2, 2.40 ERA).
After pitching his final game as a Giant on June 27, 2015, Lincecum owned a 108-83 record with a 3.61 ERA and 1,704 strikeouts in 1,643 2/3 innings spanning nine seasons.
He underwent left hip surgery in September 2015, signed with the Angels the following year and went 2-6 with a 9.16 ERA in nine starts.