data _null_;
put "1";
run;
You put text to the console. Therefore, "1" and 1 are identical, practically speaking. You cannot put unformatted numbers, only formatted (ie, text). Even putting a numeric variable would work that way:
data _null_;
x=1;
put x;
run;
That actually puts the number 1 formatted with BEST1.
format (you can override the format if you choose).