Why Does Dodgers Star Mookie Betts Wear No. 50?
Mookie Betts has become one of the top players in baseball. At the age of 27, he has already accomplished a lot throughout his baseball career.
Now, with the LA Dodgers, Betts will look to continue his success on the diamond. One question people have asked is, why did he decide to wear No. 50?
Mookie Betts having success early on in his career
Betts made his MLB debut with the Boston Red on June 29, 2014, and he recorded his first hit against the New York Yankees. He hit his first home run on July 2. During the 2014 season, he spent time playing with the Triple-A affiliate Pawtucket Red Sox after playing a few games in the majors. He played a total of 52 games during the 2014 season and batted .291 with five home runs and 18 RBIs. The MLB got a taste of the type of player that Betts was, and the next season he impressed many people.
In 2015, Betts appeared in 145 games and saw a big increase in his numbers. He hit 18 home runs, had 77 RBIs, and stole 21 bases. Betts had an impressive season in his first full year with the Red Sox, and he quickly became a fan favorite. Betts made his first All-Star team in his third season, and he has been an All-Star ever since. The 2016 season was a big year for Betts. He batted .318 with 31 home runs, 113 RBIs, and 26 stolen bases. Betts won a Silver Slugger Award and a Gold Glove Award, and he finished second in the AL MVP race. Betts has all the tools for a top baseball player. At the plate, he displays power and can hit to all parts of the field, and he has the speed too. In the outfield, he has one of the strongest arms in the majors and is very accurate on his throws.
During the 2018 season, Betts won the AL MVP after leading the league in batting average, slugging percentage, and runs. Not only was he named the AL MVP, but he helped lead the Red Sox to a World Series title. Betts could not have asked for a better season. He has continued to play at a high-level for the past five seasons, and he does not show any signs of slowing down.
Mookie Betts starts new career with the LA Dodgers
After having a lot of success in Boston, Betts was traded to the Dodgers in February of 2020. The trade created a lot of talk and conversation across social media. The Dodgers have been one of the best teams in the MLB for the past few years but could not bring home a title. With the addition of Betts, the Dodgers added another weapon to the team.
The Dodgers signed Betts to a 12-year contract extension through the 2032 season. His contract was worth $365 million and included a $65 million signing bonus, which made it the richest contract in Dodgers’ history. It was apparent that the Dodgers wanted Betts, and they valued him as a top player. Betts will look to help lead the Dodgers back to a World Series appearance and hopefully come away with a title.
Why does Mookie Betts wear No. 50?
For some players, a jersey number means a lot to them. In some cases, there’s a specific meaning to why a player chose to wear their number. No. 50 is not a typical number you see worn in baseball, but that was the number that Betts picked. When Betts first joined the Dodgers, he was asked why he wears that number, and his response was real simple.
“That’s why I keep Np. 50 because no one wants it,” he said. The number does not make the player and Betts has made his number popular based on the success he has had during his career. So we know that there isn’t a backstory to why he chose to wear that number, he picked it because he knew that nobody would want to wear it. When people see No. 50, they will think of Betts.
