Evidently it’s premature to put away your outrage, Yankee fans. Diehards of the Bombers were indignant this spring when non-roster invitee Morgan Ensberg was granted the No. 21 during spring training. No Yankee had donned the number since Paul O’Neill, and it had widely been assumed that the franchise would eventually retire it. However, crisis seemed to be averted when Ensberg changed uniform numbers upon making the team, switching to No. 11 and stating, “I’m not taking Paul O”Neill’s number.”

LaTroy Hawkins, however, has no such qualms, and the reliever snatched up No. 21 while it was still warm. Now before the kicking and screaming begins, bare in mind that Hawkins is wearing the number to honor the great Roberto Clemente, who died in a place crash on December 31, 1972 while on a relief effort to Nicaragua. According to Hawkins, he couldn’t wear his customary No. 32 because it was retired for Yankee great Elston Howard.

You could argue that Hawkins’ situation underscores the argument against retiring O’Neill’s uniform. While O’Neill played nine seasons and was a critical cog on four World Series Champion teams, he did not have a Hall of Fame-caliber career, and with uniform numbers already at a premium, the team could paint themselves into a corner if they don’t raise the standard for enshrinement.