52 Will Never Be Worn Again

CC Sabathia spent 11 seasons wearing the pinstripes and watched as Yankees legends were honored with ceremonies at Yankee Stadium. Even after everything he accomplished in New York, Sabathia never imagined that one day he would be the one standing in Monument Park.

That day arrived Friday.

The Yankees officially retired Sabathia’s No. 52, making him the 24th player or manager in franchise history to receive the honor. The Hall of Fame left-hander was celebrated with a special ceremony before the opening game of a doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles.

Sabathia now joins Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte and Jorge Posada as the fifth member of the Yankees’ 2009 World Series championship team to have his number retired and a plaque placed in Monument Park.

“I never envisioned myself going into Monument Park,” Sabathia said during the ceremony. “To be able to be sitting here now, playing here 11 years, is an incredible feeling.”

Sabathia arrived in New York before the 2009 season after signing a seven-year, $161 million contract, which at the time was the largest contract ever given to a free-agent pitcher.

He immediately made an impact.

In his first season with the Yankees, Sabathia went 19-8 with a 3.37 ERA in 34 starts. He was outstanding during the postseason, earning American League Championship Series MVP honors after going 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA as New York defeated the Los Angeles Angels in six games.

He then started Game 1 of the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies as the Yankees captured their 27th championship.

During his 11 seasons in the Bronx, Sabathia went 134-88 with a 3.81 ERA and 1,700 strikeouts. He ranks fourth in franchise history in strikeouts, seventh in starts, 10th in wins and 11th in innings pitched.

Across a 19-year Major League career with Cleveland, Milwaukee and New York, Sabathia finished 251-161 with a 3.74 ERA and 3,093 strikeouts.

His career was recognized with another of baseball’s highest honors when he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2025, receiving 86.8% of the vote.

Friday’s ceremony brought together family, friends and many of Sabathia’s former teammates. Video messages from Jeter, Paul O’Neill, Posada and Bernie Williams were shown during the celebration before Sabathia unveiled his plaque with members of his family and close friends.

Sabathia later threw out the ceremonial first pitch to his son, Carsten, who is a minor league first baseman in the Milwaukee Brewers organization.

For a player who once watched from the sidelines as Yankees legends were honored, having his own No. 52 permanently placed in Monument Park was a moment Sabathia described as even more meaningful than he ever imagined.

“52 forever in Monument Park!!” Sabathia wrote afterward.

For Yankees fans, No. 52 now has a permanent home among the franchise’s greatest legends.