When a player joins a new team and if his number is already in use, he may make a deal with another player to acquire the number he wants.
In the case of St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher John Lackey, he offered a bit of baseball history for No. 41, which had been worn by reliever Pat Neshek.
Neshek posted a photo Wednesday on his Twitter page of a baseball signed by Baseball Hall of Famer Babe Ruth and the authentication that came with it.
The baseball was a gift from Lackey, who was acquired July 31 from the Boston Red Sox.
Baseballs with Ruth's signature typically are worth anywhere from $5,000 to $40,000 depending on the condition of the ball, date and other factors. A baseball with Ruth's signature sold for a record $388,375 in 2012.
Lackey requested No. 41 when he arrived in St. Louis, but the Cardinals use seniority and service time when it comes to issuing numbers. Neshek has worn No. 41 all season after being signed as a minor-league free agent earlier this year.
Neshek made his first All-Star Game appearance this season in his hometown of Minneapolis. While he had a hard time giving up No. 41, he eventually gave in and is wearing No. 37.
The Neshek-Lackey swap wasn't the only one for the Cardinals on Wednesday.
A.J. Pierzynski, who has worn No. 35, switched to his normal No. 12 Wednesday night. He and rookie infielder Greg Garcia made a straight trade. Garcia will wear No. 35.
Lackey is 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA in 4 starts with the Cardinals. He was 11-7 in 21 starts with the Red Sox earlier this season.
Neshek is 6-0 with an 0.84 ERA and 4 saves in 57 appearances in his first season in St. Louis.
Johnny, Johnny
News of Johnny Manziel not being named the Cleveland Browns' starting quarterback Wednesday spread quickly on Twitter after the rookie was beaten out by Brian Hoyer, who will start Sept. 7 at Pittsburgh.
It also led to the same joke all over Twitter, with users referring to the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner as "Johnny Bench."
Even the New York Post got into the act.
"Call him Johnny Bench-ed for now: Browns to start Hoyer over Manziel," a Post headline read.
He said it
From Brad Dickson of the Omaha World-Herald:
"On Monday Night Football, somebody trotted out one of those big foam fingers. Wait, that was Johnny Manziel flipping off the Washington bench. Never mind."
"13-year-old Philadelphia little leaguer Mo'ne Davis appears on this week's cover of Sports Illustrated. Which means she has 80-90 years to live with the ensuing curse."
"A NASCAR fan shaved the American flag into his chest hair. A San Antonio Spurs fan had the likenesses of Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Kawhi Leonard cut into his hair. And, still, my barber can't get my sideburns even?"
Headlines
From the satirical sports website sportspickle.com:
"New NFL stadium security protocol requires fans to turn over all cash and valuables upon entry."
"Titans say they won't start Johnny Manziel Week 1 in desperate attempt to make the news."
"Little League announces LLWS will move to new $400 million stadium in Los Angeles."
SPORTS QUIZ
How many All-Star Game appearances has St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher John Lackey made?
ANSWER
One, in 2007 with the Los Angeles Angels.
Sports on 08/21/2014