The New York Yankees will soon retire the number of longtime pitcher CC Sabathia, a man who helped change the franchise.
Videos by FanBuzz
According to the announcement, the MLB team will retire Sabathia's No. 52. They will also dedicate a plaque in his honor ahead of the Sept. 26 game against the Baltimore Orioles.
"From the first number that hung in my locker to 52 forever hanging in Monument Park — this HOF journey has come full circle," Sabathia posted to X.
"To have my number retired by the New York Yankees this year is one of the greatest honors of my life. The LegaCCy continues."
Photo credit: Getty Images
Sabathia is the 24th member of the Yankees to have his number retired. Paul O'Neill was the most recent as the Yankees retired his No. 21 in 2022. The No. 8 has been retired and linked to both Yogi Berra and Bill Dickey.
Some of the other prominent players with retired numbers include Derek Jeter (2), Babe Ruth (3), Don Mattingly (23), Mariano Rivera (42), Reggie Jackson (44), and Ron Guidry (49). Jackie Robinson's No. 42 has been retired by all MLB teams.
Sabathia, a 2025 inductee into the Hall of Fame, started his career with Cleveland. He spent eight years in Ohio before ultimately joining the Yankees in 2009 as a free agent.
This first season in New York saw Sabathia achieving success. He went 19-8 as a starter during the season and then the team went 4-1 in his postseason starts before winning the World Series. He earned the American League Championship Series MVP Award.
Sabathia ultimately spent 11 years with the Yankees while making three consecutive All-Star teams (2010-2012). He also overcame a season-ending knee surgery in 2014. He nearly took the Yankees to another World Series in 2017, but the team fell just short after losing the series to the Astros.
Last year, Sabathia became a member of the Hall of Fame in a class also featuring Billy Wagner and Ichiro Suzuki.
"The jersey in my locker said 52," Sabathia wrote on X. "That was a high number for a pitcher, the kind of number that told people you were just filling out the spring roster and were a long shot to ever play in the majors. But at least they hadn't given me a number in the sixties or seventies.
"I saw 52 and thought, 'F—, I'm making the team!' But that wasn't the only thing I saw in 52. What I saw was a number no other player would ever ask to take away from me. It would be mine, one thing in the world that I wouldn't have to worry about losing. I loved 52 right away. I thought, 'I'm keeping this high-ass number because it will always be mine.'"
