The White Sox’s retired number list reads as a kind of introduction to the history of the team. When I walked into U.S. Cellular Field for the first time in 2005, I didn’t know who Nellie Fox and Luke Appling were, but I did know that these must be some of the greatest of greats in franchise history. It got me curious about the history of the White Sox, and I learned about that pesky little second baseman who struck out 216 times in his career, and Old Aches and Pains, who hit .388 in 1936.
I imagine that the retired numbers serve the same purpose for many young fans.