LOOKING OUT FOR NO. 1 — AND MORE

From 00 to 99, who’s the greatest at each number? Where would baseball be without No. 3? Who was the best football player to wear No. 12? And is No. 23 the greatest NBA player of all time? Eighty-eight years ago this week, the New York Yankees became the first professional sports team to permanently wear numbers on their uniforms. Which got us thinking about the greatest athletes — across all sports — to wear each number, from 00 to 99. Several of the greats share the same number (we’re looking at you, No. 32. Magic Johnson? Jim Brown?). So for certain numbers, it is almost impossible to choose one top athlete. That’s why we’re letting you try, including polls with five select numbers. Disagree with our picks? Think we left someone off ? Tweet us @USATODAY Sports and let us know. To check out the photo gallery and read the list of top athletes at every number, go to sports.usatoday.com.

2000 PHOTO BY JONATHAN FERREY, GETTY IMAGES Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s No. 3 Chevrolet became an iconic NASCAR car.

1997 PHOTO BY ANNE RYAN, USA TODAY Michael Jordan wore No. 23 for most of his NBA career.

1967 PHOTO BY USA TODAY SPORTS Carl Yastrzemski’s No. 8 was retired by the Red Sox.

MATTHEW EMMONS, USA TODAY SPORTS Like some other legendary QBs, Tom Brady wears No. 12.