of course there's been exceptions as well. Jamie Carragher's #23 for example.

"Number 1 is Carragher. Number 2 is Carragher. Number 3 is Carragher.

We all dream of a team of Carraghers!"

couldn't resist

Don't forget that 1 is normally the goalkeeper.

Having grown up in Argentina, it always annoyed me seeing players in any sport with numbers that don’t resemble certain position or role.

That is basically all this study is showing. The NFL (American football) used to subscribe to this and had strict rules over what numbers people could wear. 1-19 were reserved for the smallest players (quarterbacks, punters, and kickers). That was loosened roughly 25 years ago to allow slightly bigger players (wide receivers). They loosened it even more drastically within the last few years to allow most players to wear 0-19. It therefore isn't a surprise that people who see small numbers have a bias to think that player is smaller as that has been historically true. It would be interesting to repeat this study among younger generations of Americans and then international people who have no knowledge of the NFL. I would expect the first group would have a weaker effect and it might disappear entirely for the second group.

*Number ranges used to be used to indicate a player position, not their size... The average quarterback is significantly larger than the average cornerback, for example, and punters or kickers have no typical size (body size/shape doesn't factor into kicking ability).

Same with rugby. 1 and 3 are the largest / heaviest players on the field.

Also smartest, most brave, and the best dancers etc.

4 & 5 might be even heavier in some teams. But the 1-8 (forwards) will outweigh 9-15 (backs) by a lot.

I’ll avoid posting ChatGPT pretty much always but this was very interesting

The cultural, historical, and sometimes superstitious significance of numbers in sports is a fascinating topic that ties into broader social narratives and even religious or mystical beliefs. In sports like soccer (football), American football, baseball, and basketball, certain numbers often have deep-rooted meanings.

### Soccer - *No. 10*: Traditionally worn by the "playmaker," often considered the best player on the team (e.g., Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi). - *No. 7*: Usually worn by fast, skillful wingers (e.g., Cristiano Ronaldo). - *No. 9*: Typically the team's leading striker. - *No. 8*: Usually central midfielders who are good at both attacking and defending. - *No. 6*: Defensive midfielders or center-backs. - *Higher Numbers*: Often given to younger and academy players.

### American Football - *Quarterbacks*: Usually 1-19 - *Wide Receivers*: 80-89 or 10-19 - *Linebackers*: 50-59

### Basketball - *Double Zero (00)*: Uncommon but symbolizes someone who wants to stand out.

### Baseball - *No. 42*: Retired across all teams in honor of Jackie Robinson.

### Religious/Magical Context - *No. 7*: In Western culture, this number has long been considered lucky or magical, often because of its biblical significance (7 days of creation). - *No. 18*: In Hebrew, the number 18 signifies "life."

Historically, numbers have had various roles in sports, from simple identifiers to symbols of certain positions or abilities. It's fascinating to see how these numerical conventions can sometimes overlap with 'magic numbers' from religious or mystical traditions, such as the number 7 in Christianity or 18 in Judaism. In some ways, the numbers on a jersey don't just indicate who should be where on the field; they can tell you something about the game's own traditions and the society that cherishes it.

Certainly, let's explore some iconic jersey numbers and the athletes who have worn them in various sports around the world.

### Soccer - *No. 10*: Aside from Maradona and Messi, Pelé and Zinedine Zidane are other legends associated with this number. - *No. 7*: David Beckham wore this at Manchester United, as did George Best before him. At Real Madrid, Raul wore No. 7 for many years.

### American Football - *No. 12*: Symbolizes elite quarterbacks like Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers. - *No. 52*: Linebackers like Ray Lewis have immortalized this number.

### Basketball - *No. 23*: Michael Jordan, then LeBron James made this number iconic. - *No. 33*: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Larry Bird both wore No. 33 but played very different roles on the court.

### Baseball - *No. 3*: Babe Ruth wore this number based on his batting order. - *No. 24*: Willie Mays wore it, as did Ken Griffey Jr., both generational talents in the outfield.

### Cricket - *No. 10*: Sachin Tendulkar, considered one of the greatest cricketers, wore this jersey for India.

### Rugby - *No. 10*: Usually worn by the Fly-half, a key playmaking role. Notable players include Jonny Wilkinson and Dan Carter.

### Ice Hockey - *No. 99*: Uniquely tied to Wayne Gretzky, it’s the only number retired league-wide in the NHL.

### Cultural Context - *No. 13*: Considered unlucky in Western culture but is popular in other cultures. Alessandro Nesta, a famous Italian soccer player, wore it. - *No. 8*: In China, this number is considered very lucky and is highly sought after.

It's evident that the power of a number often transcends the sport itself, moving into the realm of cultural icons. These numbers become synonymous with the legacy of the players who wore them and the values or superstitions of the cultures they come from.

Honestly, keep avoiding it please.

There's also a "share" button on ChatGPT. One of the things I find objectionable about ChatGPT posts is that they take up a huge amount of real estate that I feel should be reserved for human commenters. A share link is economical and opt-in.

I appreciate that you called out that it was generated by ChatGPT. Regardless of how the post lands with the HN community.

I think it would be interesting to study the effect in sports that have no restrictions on who gets what number. Like (I think) basketball.