For much of Sunday, it was believed that No. 55, formerly Tim Lincecum’s number, would come out of it’s temporary retirement and be worn by Matt Moore next season. However, that initial report by Chris Haft was false and Lincecum’s number will continue it’s unofficial retirement.
Correction: Giants LHP Matt Moore is NOT inheriting Tim Lincecum's No. 55. I was told the roster I consulted was erroneous. I apologize to all who were upset or inconvenienced in any way. Though the roster appeared in an MLB Winter Meetings guide, I should have double-checked it.
— Chris Haft/SF Giants (@sfgiantsbeat) December 11, 2017
Through the entirety of his 10-year career, Lincecum only wore No. 55. He carried it through a phenomenal nine-year tenure with the Giants; where he was a four-time All Star, won back-to-back Cy Young Awards, and won three World Series championships. It was Lincecum’s number when his career came to an end after nine starts for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 2016.
All the while, Moore also pitched under No. 55 as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays from 2011-2016. However, when he was traded to the Giants last August, Moore switched to No. 45.
This is not the first case of a former Giant having his number unofficially retired. For a time, Robb Nen’s No. 31 was unavailable due to his heroics in 2002. No. 31 was unworn until right-handed pitcher Vinnie Chulk brought it out of retirement in 2005. Similarly, Barry Bonds’ No. 25 remains unworn to this day. Now, it appears as if No. 55 will remain unofficially retired indefinitely.