The New York Yankees announced Feb. 25 that CC Sabathia will have his place among Yankees legends, cemented with the retirement of his No. 52, and the dedication of a plaque in his honor in Monument Park. The ceremony will take place on Saturday, Sept. 26, prior to the Yankees’ 7.05 p.m. game vs. Baltimore. Fans can purchase tickets at www.yankees.com.

 

According to the Yankees, Sabathia becomes the 24^th Yankees player or manager to have his number retired, and the first since Paul O’Neill (21) on Aug. 21, 2022. Other Yankees teammates from Sabathia’s playing days who have had their numbers retired are Derek Jeter (2), Andy Pettitte (46), Jorge Posada (20) and Mariano Rivera (42). They said Sabathia’s No. 52 is the 23rd number retired by the Yankees, as No. 8 was retired for catchers Bill Dickey and Yogi Berra on July 22, 1972.

 

Yankees officials said Sabathia was signed by the Bronx Bombers as a free agent on Dec. 18, 2008, and led the team to a World Series championship in his first season with the club, going 19-8 with a 3.37 ERA (Earned Run Average) in 34 starts in 2009. They said that postseason, the team went 4-1 in his five starts, and he earned the ALCS MVP (Most Valuable Player) Award, going 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA (16.0IP, 9H, 2ER, 3BB, 12K, 1HR) in the Yankees’ six-game series win over the Los Angeles Angels.

Yankees officials said that over his first four seasons with the team (2009-12), the Vallejo, California native went 74-29 (.718) with a 3.22 ERA and nine complete games in 129 starts, logging 905.0 innings pitched and making three AL (American League) All-Star teams (2010-12). They said he led the Majors in winning pct. over that stretch (min: 50 dec.), and was second in wins, third in innings pitched and sixth in strikeouts (821).

 

Yankees officials went on to say that in his 11 seasons in pinstripes (2009-19), the lefthander posted a 134-88 (.604) record with a 3.81 ERA (1,918.0IP, 811ER) and 1,700K in 307 games (306 starts). They said in franchise history, Sabathia ranks fourth in strikeouts, seventh in starts, 10th in wins and 11th in innings pitched.

 

They went on to say that among Yankees pitchers who began their MLB careers with another team, Sabathia is first in strikeouts, second in starts (behind Hall of Famer Red Ruffing) and fifth in wins. They said he is one of five pitchers in franchise history to make at least six Opening Day starts (2009-14), and only the second to make at least six Opening Day starts in consecutive seasons, joining Hall of Famer Lefty Gomez (1932-37).

 

Yankees officials said that as a Yankee in the postseason, Sabathia went 8-4 with a 3.42 ERA (105.1IP, 40ER) in 21 games (18 starts), and in home playoff contests at Yankee Stadium, he went 5-2 with a 2.17 ERA (49.2IP, 12ER) in 10 games (eight starts). They said Sabathia went undefeated over eight consecutive postseason starts with the Yankees from Nov. 1, 2009 (World Series Game 4 at Philadelphia) through Oct. 12, 2012 (ALDS Game 5 vs. Baltimore), marking the fifth-longest stretch of undefeated playoff starts by a Yankee in franchise history (Roger Clemens-10, Andy Pettitte-9, Orlando Hernández-9 and David Cone-9).

Regarded as a clubhouse leader and exceptional teammate, Yankees officials said Sabathia’s goodwill and generosity was mirrored in his what they described as his “profound engagement with the community.” They said that in 2008, he and his wife, Amber, established the “PitCCh In” Foundation, which they said remains committed to the care and needs of inner-city children, helping to raise their self-esteem through sports activity and education.

 

They said that regular programming includes field renovations, All-Star baseball clinics, the Nathan Berhel Scholarship at Vallejo High School, backpack giveaways, mentorship programs and a holiday caravan at the Madison Square Boys & Girls Club.

 

Described as one of his generation’s greatest pitchers, Yankees officials said Sabathia was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2025. In 19 Major League seasons with Cleveland (2001-08), Milwaukee (2008) and the Yankees, they said he totaled a 251-161 (.609) record with a 3.74 ERA, 38 complete games, 12 shutouts and 3,093K in 561 games (560 starts). They added that he is one of only four left-handed pitchers in Major League history to reach the 3,000K plateau, joining Randy Johnson (4,875), Steve Carlton (4,136) and Clayton Kershaw (3,052).