Now You Know the Number

For fans who've been wondering what number Kevin Youkilis would wear with the Yankees -- here's your answer. A couple of days ago, I passed the Yankees Universe store in Times Square where the souvenir shirts for the Yankees top off-season acquisition were on display. While he sported #20 as a Red Sox and White Sox player, that number belongs to (and likely will one day be retired for) Jorge Posada. So it was time for a new pair of digits. Unlike other non-retired numbers, where 30 will always represent either Mel Stottlemyre or Willie Randolph, 38 brings to mind Johnny Blanchard and a pre-Granderson 14 symbolizes either Lou Piniella or Moose Skowron, I can't recall a long-tenured Yankee whose name is quickly linked to #36. Maybe the best answer why Youkilis chose it came from my WFAN colleague Dov Kramer, who told me is represents double-chai (2 times 18), the Jewish numerical symbol for life.

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