The Virginia Cavaliers baseball team retired #11 for alumnus Ryan Zimmerman on Saturday, April 30, 2022. It is the first retired by that program.
Zimmerman’s 11 will also be the first retired by the Washington Nationals later these season.
I saw the tribute mowed into the outfield grass and couldn’t help but see the similarity to iconic “circle 11” logo. It’s not exactly the same, but close enough for me to think of WPIX-TV, New York.
Back in the day, when I’d visit family in New Jersey, WPIX was the Yankees broadcaster. I think WPIX has the Mets now. It was something of a superstation too – I remember it being on some Pennsylvania cable systems when I was at Penn State.
A different take on circle 11 is in use now. Pittsburgh’s WPXI has also used a variation of circle 11.
Zimmerman’s Washington number retirement is scheduled for a two-day celebration on June 17-18.
And hey, the Nats took a series in San Francisco this weekend!