Retired Numbers
For the remainder of time, Bethune-Cookman Baseball will no longer allow players to wear the numbers 24 or 42 for historical reasons. The number 24 is officially retired and was most notably worn by B-CU Hall of Fame player and coach Mervyl Melendez. As for the number 42, the number is in regard to the connection Bethune-Cookman University, as a whole, holds with Jackie Robinson, and the city of Daytona Beach with the Wildcats playing at venerable Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
Jersey #42 – Jackie Robinson
The Bethune-Cookman University baseball program honors the retirement of jersey number 42 in tribute to Jackie Robinson, reflecting the profound historical connection between the legendary player and the institution. Number 42 was retired throughout Major League Baseball on April 15, 1997, marking the 50th anniversary of Robinson breaking baseball's color barrier, making it the only number retired across an entire professional sports league at that time.
This retirement holds special significance for Bethune-Cookman due to the deep ties between Jackie Robinson and the university's founder, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune. Dr. Bethune hosted Jackie and Rachel Robinson on campus numerous times during Robinson's historic 1946 spring training in Daytona Beach, and her work in building connections between Black and White communities created the political climate in Daytona Beach that made Robinson's first integrated game possible.
Playing their home games at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach, the Wildcats compete on the same field where Robinson made history. On March 17, 1946, the first racially integrated Spring Training game took place in Daytona Beach, where fans at City Island were the first in America to support Robinson. The ballpark, which was renamed in Robinson's honor in 1990, also serves as home to the Daytona Tortugas – the minor league team affiliate of the Cincinnatti Reds.
The retirement of number 42 represents more than just a tribute to Robinson's athletic achievements; it honors the collaborative spirit between Dr. Bethune and the Daytona Beach community that helped launch one of the most important chapters in American sports and civil rights history. As Pittsburgh Courier sportswriter Wendell Smith noted, "Without Mrs. Bethune and her college, Daytona Beach would probably be like Jacksonville to Robinson and Wright -- a city of prejudiced barriers."
By retiring this number, Bethune-Cookman Baseball ensures that Robinson's legacy and his connection to the institution and community remain permanently honored, while the Wildcats continue to play at the historic ballpark where integration in professional baseball first took root.
Jersey #24 – Mervyl Melendez
Effective immediately, jersey number 24 has been permanently retired from the Bethune-Cookman University baseball program in honor of Mervyl Melendez whose extraordinary contributions to our institution span over almost two decades as both a player and head coach. With the number 24 worn by Edwin Sanchez during B-CU’s 2025 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) regular season and tournament title-winning campaign, with special permission from Melendez due to Sanchez’s roots as a fellow native of Puerto Rico – similar to Melendez who is a native of Carolina, the number 24 is now retired from all use.
During his playing career from 1995-96, Coach Melendez finished his playing career as the all-time leader in doubles (30) and batting average (.342). He also starred as a relief pitcher for the Wildcats, in addition to his regular role at third base. His exceptional performance wearing number 24 helped elevate the program's national profile and established a foundation of excellence that continues today.
Following his graduation, Coach Melendez was named an assistant coach at then Bethune-Cookman College under Head Coach Richard Skeel in 1996, and two years later became the head coach. He helped guide the program for 11 seasons, transforming the team into a perennial powerhouse within the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). Under his leadership, the program achieved unprecedented success, where he became the school’s winningest baseball coach with 379 career victories. He was named MEAC Coach of the Year eight times, while the Wildcats collected 11 MEAC Tournament titles, 11 NCAA Regional appearances, in addition to three undefeated conference seasons (2006, ’10, ’11). His innovative coaching methods, inception of “La Familia” with a host of student-athletes arriving from his home country of Puerto Rico and throughout South America, as well as his commitment to developing student-athletes both on and off the field earned him induction into the Bethune-Cookman Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016.
He would go on to hold head coaching positions at Alabama State, where he won the 2016 SWAC Eastern Division and Tournament title with an undefeated regular season, as well as later becoming head coach at Florida International.
Beyond statistics and victories, Coach Melendez embodied the values and spirit of Bethune-Cookman University, and those of its founder Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune. His mentorship shaped hundreds of young men, many of whom have gone on to successful careers in professional baseball and other fields. His dedication to academic excellence, community service, and athletic achievement represents the highest ideals of collegiate athletics.
In recognition of his immeasurable impact on Bethune-Cookman Baseball and university, as a whole,, number 24 will be permanently retired. No future player will wear this number, ensuring that Coach Melendez’s legacy remains forever honored in the annals of Bethune-Cookman University.
