Why are all players wearing a #21 patch in baseball?
Because Major League Baseball is celebrating Roberto Clemente Day today, Monday, September 15, 2025.
As part of the league-wide recognition, all players, managers, coaches and umpires are wearing a white “21” patch on the upper left chest. Club nominees in 2025 will get special language on their patches noting their nomination for the Roberto Clemente Award presented.
In addition, players of Puerto Rican heritage, past Roberto Clemente Award recipients, and each club’s 2025 Clemente Award nominee have the option to wear No. 21 as their uniform number during today’s games. As has been the case for several years, active Clemente Award winners continue to wear a “21” patch on the back of their caps as a season-long recognition.
At PNC Park, the Pittsburgh Pirates, the club for which Clemente played his entire career, are once again wearing No. 21 across the roster as they host the Chicago Cubs.
Teams that are not playing tonight will be able to observe Roberto Clemente Day tomorrow (Sept. 16)
A Hall of Famer and global humanitarian, Clemente recorded exactly 3,000 career hits, was a 15-time All-Star, and died in 1972 while delivering earthquake relief supplies to Nicaragua. He was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame via a special election in 1973, and the Pirates retired his No. 21 on April 6, 1973, Opening Day at Three Rivers Stadium.
