Bold headline: The Yankees are honoring CC Sabathia by retiring his No. 52 this fall, cementing his legacy in Monument Park.
But here’s the full picture you’ll want to know: On September 26, the New York Yankees will retire CC Sabathia’s No. 52. Before that night’s game against the Baltimore Orioles, a dedicated plaque will be unveiled in Monument Park to celebrate the Hall of Famer’s remarkable career. Sabathia becomes the 24th Yankee to have a number retired, and he is the first since Paul O’Neill’s No. 21 ceremony in 2022. To date, the Yankees have set aside 23 numbers, with No. 8 uniquely retired for both Yogi Berra and Bill Dickey.
Sabathia reflected on his milestone moments: from the first number that hung in his locker to the everlasting 52 in Monument Park, his Hall of Fame journey has come full circle. He shared on X (formerly Twitter) that having the Yankees retire his number this year stands as one of the greatest honors of his life, and he celebrated the ongoing LegaCCy.
In a separate post, he expressed gratitude for the support he has received.
The former ace will join a hall-of-fame duo in Monument Park—Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte—and his plaque will be displayed beyond the center-field fence at Yankee Stadium.
Athletically, Sabathia was a six-time All-Star who captured the 2007 American League Cy Young Award with Cleveland and won a World Series title in 2009—the year he joined the Yankees as a high-profile free agent. His career totals include a 251-161 record, a 3.74 ERA, and 3,093 strikeouts, placing him third among left-handed pitchers in strikeouts behind Randy Johnson and Steve Carlton. His 19 seasons spanned Cleveland (2001–2008), Milwaukee (2008), and New York (2009–2019), with a Yankees stretch of 134-88, a 3.81 ERA, and 1,700 strikeouts.
Sabathia’s Hall of Fame status was cemented with his first-ballot election in 2025.
For reference, here are the other Yankees whose numbers have been retired: No. 1 (Billy Martin, 1986), No. 2 (Derek Jeter, 2017), No. 3 (Babe Ruth, 1948), No. 4 (Lou Gehrig, 1939), No. 5 (Joe DiMaggio, 1952), No. 6 (Joe Torre, 2014), No. 7 (Mickey Mantle, 1969), No. 8 (Berra and Dickey, 1972), No. 9 (Roger Maris, 1984), No. 10 (Phil Rizzuto, 1985), No. 15 (Thurman Munson, 1979), No. 16 (Whitey Ford, 1974), No. 20 (Jorge Posada, 2015), No. 21 (Paul O’Neill, 2022), No. 23 (Don Mattingly, 1997), No. 32 (Elston Howard, 1984), No. 37 (Casey Stengel, 1970), No. 42 (Mariano Rivera, 2013), No. 44 (Reggie Jackson, 1993), No. 46 (Andy Pettitte, 2015), No. 49 (Ron Guidry, 2003), and No. 51 (Bernie Williams, 2015).
Additionally, Jackie Robinson’s No. 42 has been retired across Major League Baseball since 1997.
This report includes contributions from the Associated Press.
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