The Cubs are wearing 21 on their jerseys to honor Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente, whose number 21 has become a league‑wide symbol of his legacy and humanitarian impact.

What the 21 Means

  • Number 21 was worn by Roberto Clemente, a Pittsburgh Pirates legend and one of the most respected figures in baseball history.
  • MLB uses number 21 as a tribute to Clemente’s excellence on the field and his humanitarian work off it.
  • Teams like the Cubs join in special league‑wide tributes by adding a 21 patch or having select players wear 21 in his honor.

When You’ll See It

  • Around Roberto Clemente Day (each season), all MLB clubs have the option to wear 21 patches or jerseys, including the Cubs.
  • In some recent games, every Cubs player wore a 21 patch, while a few players actually wore jersey number 21 on the field to spotlight Clemente’s legacy.

Why It’s A Big Deal

  • Clemente is often described as “greater than baseball” for his charity work and for representing Latino and Puerto Rican players with pride and dignity.
  • Wearing 21 is meant as both remembrance and a promise to carry on his values of service and leadership, not just a style choice.

Mini Forum‑Style Take

“So no, it’s not some random alternate uniform gimmick. When you see the Cubs with 21 on their jerseys, you’re basically seeing a league‑wide salute to Roberto Clemente and everything he stood for.”

TL;DR: The Cubs have 21 on their jerseys as part of MLB’s tribute to Roberto Clemente, using his number to honor his career and humanitarian legacy during league‑wide remembrance events.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.