What's With Those Football Numbers?

Kyle Blanks of the A's is part of an accelerating trend by players to wear higher and higher numbers. He's far from the only guy to wear a uniform number more apropos to the NFL than baseball. White Sox rookie slugger Jose Abreu wears 79. A few years ago, Manny Ramirez adopted 99 with the Dodgers. Now, their Yasil Puig is making 66 famous.

I'll give Yankee rookie standout Dellin Betances a pass.

Being 6-foot-8 seems to give him the right to choose 68 -- much as several Hawaiian players over the years, such as Sid Fernandez honor their native state with 50.
It used to be cool comparing different players with the same numbers -- 9 was Ted Williams as well Roger Maris. 44 was shared by Willie McCovey, Hank Aaron and, later, Reggie Jackson.  The first "big" number I recall was Jim Bouton's number-56 with the Yankees. If I recall, that was a higher number than the club's 1960s batting practice pitcher Spud Murray wore. But where did breaking convention and going for the high numbers over 50 really begin? Sure, in spring training and in September when rosters expand, we'll see big numbers (and more crowded dugouts) with unfamiliar names. But there used to be a point when once a player became established, they took a lower number. Bob Gibson made his first appearance for the Cardinals wearing 58 -- today #45 is retired in his honor.
Question time: do you own a replica uniform top or tee shirt with a player's number on it? Do you have a "lucky number" that matches the one worn by a favorite player?