Sports are dominated by a slew of esoteric statistics used to quantify an athlete’s talent; but, there is perhaps no number more important to a player than the one on his back. Players choose their numbers for a variety of reasons from emulation (Lebron James wore Michael Jordan’s 23) to respect (Robinson Cano wears 24, his namesake Jackie Robinson’s number, but backwards). However, when players aren’t comfortable with those digits, the results can be alarming. After Michael Jordan left basketball to pursue his love of baseball, the Bulls decided to retire his number 23. When Jordan returned from his “retirement” he decided to take the number 45 instead of his retired No. 23, but it just wasn’t the same. Critics noted that number 45 lacked the explosiveness of 23 and before long, Jordan was back to wearing his old number. Coincidentally or not, he also seemed to regain his pre-retirement basketball form.
Top 10 Sports Superstitions
From the playoff beard to lucky shorts, sport stars are fond of using of unconventional measures to ensure their team's success in the big game. As the 2011 World Series kicks off, TIME takes a look at superstitions that have become intertwined with the wide world of sports