Yankees' Frazier denies asking for Mantle's No. 7

The story of Clint Frazier's apparent request for a retired number now appears to be in the category of myth.

New York Yankees broadcaster Suzyn Waldman undoubtedly made a lot of folks in the Bronx question the intelligence of Frazier, the team's No. 2 prospect, after sharing a bizarre anecdote on the radio Wednesday. Waldman told WFAN's Joe Benigno and Evan Roberts that Frazier had reportedly asked to wear Mickey Mantle's No. 7, which has been retired since 1968; she added that Frazier had also asked if the team ever unretired numbers.

But any burgeoning number controversy that could have rivaled the chaos that surrounded Frazier's hair in spring training was quickly put to rest by general manager Brian Cashman, who thoroughly debunked the story on Wednesday afternoon. The executive told ESPN's Andrew Marchand that he spoke with minor-league officials in the Yankees' system and found that Frazier never requested Mantle's number.

"(It's) totally untrue," Cashman told Marchand. "(It) never happened."

Frazier, who's beginning the 2017 season in Triple-A, cleared the air on Twitter and said Waldman had called him to apologize.

The Yankees' 20 retired numbers in honor of 22 different players - Nos. 8 and 42 have each been retired twice - are among the most by any North American professional sports team. Every single-digit number save for No. 0 has been taken out of circulation by the Yankees (Derek Jeter's No. 2 will officially be retired in May).

While the tale of Frazier's request for Mantle's number must now take its place in the pantheon of baseball myths, there are still many ways for the 22-year-old Frazier to honor the Hall of Famer if he so chooses. Perhaps he could name one of his future children Seven, since the number is a beautiful name for a boy or a girl.