Maryland Baseball: Why I Wear My Number

Maryland’s baseball team opens the home schedule this Friday against Rutgers. We all know how important numbers are in baseball. Did you ever wonder why a player wears a certain number? There are some pretty interesting reasons, ranging from favorite players, to family connections to birthdays. Check out why each of our Dirty Terps are wearing the number they wear in 2021.

#1 Benjamin Cowles - I chose to wear #1 because my dad wore it in high school. 

#3 Randy Bednar - I chose #3 because I wanted to set the standard for the team. I think of Zach Jancarski and Anthony Papio and how they led the team. I wanted to follow in their footsteps and hold myself accountable to giving nothing but my best. No matter what I do wearing #3 reminds me to take pride in everything. 

#4 Maxwell Costes - Even though I wore #16 before I got to Maryland, I chose #4 in pursuit of a new start. I wanted to follow in the footsteps of of other Terps that wore #4 like Kevin Smith and Charlie White, while leaving my own personal mark on the number.

#5 Tommy Gardiner - I wear #5 is because growing up Albert Pujols was my favorite player. My whole career I have always worn #5 because of Albert Pujols. 

#6 Matt Shaw - I chose #6. It was a relatively low number and low numbers usually look better on position players. Also, my brother was #6 throughout his baseball career so I get to carry on his legacy. 

#8 Kevin Keister - I chose #8 because my favorite player on one of my dad's college teams was #8. He was an infielder so I looked up to him and that’s been my lucky number ever since.

#9 Riley Langerman - I did not choose #9, but I believe everything happens for a reason and #9 is now my favorite number. 

#11 Chris Alleyne - I chose #11 because I love Jimmy Rollins and it was also the best number available. And it looks cool on jerseys I think.

#12 Tyler Blohm- Tom Brady 12. TB12. Tyler Blohm 12. TB12. We’re both very old. Fitting

#13 Matt Orlando- I chose #13 because many great MLB infielders have worn it such as Manny Machado and Alex Rodriguez. 

#14 Troy Schreffler- I chose #14 because Pete Rose wore it. I try to mimic the way I play after him because he always played the game hard. 

#15 Sam Bello- I chose #15 because it was my high school number and I decided to stay with it as it brought me a lot of success and good memories.

#16 Chris Chaney- I chose #16 to honor the late Jose Fernandez. I was always a huge fan as to how Fernandez conducted himself on the mound and the passion he had for the game. He was an electric pitcher and enjoyed every moment when being on the field. 

#17 Trevor LaBonte: I chose the #17 because it is a mix of the number I wore in high school (12) and the number my dad wore in college (7). 

#18 Sean Burke - I chose to wear #18 because my birthday is on December 18th.

#20 Ryan Murphy - I chose #20 because I’ve been wearing it all my life in basketball and baseball. It’s been my lucky number my whole life

#22 Sean Heine - I chose #22 because it’s sick and comes with a good nickname. 

#23 Drew Wilden - I ultimately chose #23 because of the great athletes who have donned it like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Jimmy Butler while he was on the 76ers.

#25 Justin Vought - Ben Simmons and Barry Bonds. 2 goats

#26 Connor Staine - My lucky number is 25 so I thought why not try 26. It also stood for new beginnings because the #25 I wore my whole life, had ended on a perfect note. It was time to build a new story for a new number. Also, the only MLB baseball player with Tourette syndrome (which I also have) was Jim Eisenreich, and his number was 56 so I thought that was cool to have had each of those numbers on my uniform for a certain portion of my life.

#27 Luke Shliger- I choose #27 because It was one of the few numbers left, and Mike Trout is pretty sick so I thought it would be a cool number to have. Also, I have never worn #27 so it’s a fresh start.

#28 Dave Falco- I chose #28 because the number I’ve used all of my life was already taken. I ultimately chose #28 because while my dad played football in college he wore #82. I decided that I would wear the opposite of what he wore.

#29 Elliot Zoellner- I wear #29 because I was born on the 29th of November.

#30 Sean Fisher - I chose #30 because it was one of the last few numbers available on my travel team when I was a kid. Just rode with it ever since. 

#32 Ryan Ramsey - I chose #32 out of high school, because of Sandy Koufax, one of the best lefty pitchers of all time. I have been able to keep it all the way into college. 

#33 Mark DiLuia- It was either #33 or #50 and #33 it is. 

#34 Zach Thompson - I just thought #34 was the coolest number out of the few options left. It means a lot more to me now that I have worn it for 4 years here. I use it on my PS4 gamer tag. (Zachjuicy34). 

#35 Aaron Perez - I chose the #35 because of Brandon Crawford who’s currently the San Francisco Giants shortstop. He plays the game at ease and is a fenced ice wizard on the field. I try to model the way I play infield after him. 

#36 Tucker Flint - I chose #36 because my other favorite numbers were chosen and that was the round I was drafted in and it was a reminder to myself to improve each day to be picked higher.

#37 Logan Ott - I was given number #37 and now, that I look it the many great players that have worn it like Stephen Strasburg, I’m proud to wear #37.

#38 James Heffley - The #38 chose me so I’m rolling with it. But it’s a good number and a fresh start to college. It also reminds me of 38 Special which is a pretty sweet band so it worked out well. 

#39 Gavin Stellpflug - I thought I chose #37 but on the first day I found out I got upgraded to #39. It’s still a win because the great Sparky Lyle once wore #39

#40 Michael Bouma - I chose #40 because I thought it was the best number that best fit me from what was left. Plus Bartolo Colon is one of my favorite pitchers of all time and wore #40.

#41 Bobby Zmarzlak- I chose #41 because I was #14 in high school and I wanted to switch it up, so I reversed the numbers.

#42 Nick Dean - I chose #42 because Ryan Howard was my favorite player growing up and was always #6. I wasn’t able to have #6 and 4+2=6.

#43 Austin Chavis - I chose #43 because it was the best option out of what I was offered. I see the number everywhere now and think it was given to me as a message to stand out.

#45 Jason Savacool - I chose #45 because my favorite #18 was taken by Sean Burke, but I respect the #45 due to the greats that have worn it and are wearing it now. Some of these include Pedro Martinez, Gerrit Cole, etc.