Not unprecedented, though very rare in pro sports, a team has unretired a jersey number for a current player. The White Sox, with Luis Aparicio's blessing, have unretired the Hall of Famer's #11 Chisox jersey to allow newcomer Omar Vizquel to wear it in 2010.

Both Aparicio and Vizquel are shortstops, both are Venezuelans, Aparicio is in Cooperstown, and Vizquel has a very good chance of one day joining him.

Occurring a handful of times, previous number unretirements in pro sports that I am aware of include the following:

The Sox again, mothballing Harold Baines' #3 following his trade to Texas in 1989, then re-issuing it to him when he returned to the club several yars later.

The Seattle Seahawks, asking for and receiving permission from, Steve Largent when Jerry Rice joined the team and sought to wear #80.

The Philadelphia 76ers, where, again with the retiree's OK, broke out Billy Cunningham's #32 Sixers jersey and allowed Charles Barkley (normally #34 in Philly) to wear the number for one season as a tribute to the then just-retired Magic Johnson.

Can anyone think of any other similar occurrences?

Dave Miedema
Chicago area