https://www.mlb.com/news/former-mlb-players-reflect-on-wearing-number-42

 

Jack Perconte was the quintessential 1980s second baseman: a .270 career hitter over seven seasons, more walks than strikeouts, two career home runs in 1,630 plate appearances, able to steal 30 bags in a full season, and a solid defender. He debuted with the Dodgers in 1980 before spending two seasons each in Cleveland and Seattle. His final stop was with the White Sox in 1986.

“I was given forty-two for my short stint with the Chicago White Sox,” he wrote on his website. “That memory is right up there with my few accomplishments on the big-league stage, and with each passing year, I consider it my proudest achievement.”

That first game in Chicago, on Aug. 25, 1986, was memorable for another reason, he wrote: “For my first night with the White Sox, along with the number 42 on my jersey, was the name Preconte. I played with a misspelled last name for an entire game. That is how sports go; the low is never far behind every high. Ha.”

But the importance of the jersey number didn’t resonate with Perconte right away.

Edited April 15, 20242 yr by caulfield12

I did a couple of his camps as a kid, great guy. 

Man, those were some ugly...albeit colorful, uniforms that year.

A far cry from the iconic hat style coming just a few short years later.

Spelled his name wrong...typical. ?