Baseball Sport

New York Yankees to retire CC Sabathia’s number 52 in Monument Park tribute

Editorial Team
/ 2 min read
CC Sabathia pitching for the New York Yankees during his tenure at Yankee Stadium

The New York Yankees will retire CC Sabathia’s number 52 jersey in a dedicated ceremony at Monument Park on 26 September.

The tribute is scheduled to take place prior to the team’s home game against the Baltimore Orioles.

Sabathia becomes the 24th individual to receive the franchise’s highest honour, and the first since Paul O’Neill had his number 21 retired in 2022.

Hall of Fame legacy

The announcement follows a landmark year for the former pitcher, who was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on the first ballot earlier in 2025.

Writing on social media, the 44-year-old described the upcoming ceremony as a “full circle” moment in his career.

“From the first number that hung in my locker to 52 forever hanging in Monument Park – this HOF journey has come full circle,” Sabathia said.
“To have my number retired by the New York Yankees this year is one of the greatest honors of my life. The LegaCCy continues.”

He will now join distinguished former teammates, including Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, and Mariano Rivera, with a permanent plaque located beyond the stadium’s centre-field fence.

A dominant force in pinstripes

The commanding left-hander was a transformative figure for the Bronx Bombers, helping the club secure the 2009 World Series title during his debut season in New York.

Over a 19-season major league career, he amassed a record of 251-161 with a 3.74 ERA.

Sabathia retired with 3,093 strikeouts, a total that ranks him third all-time among southpaws, trailing only legends Randy Johnson and Steve Carlton.

During his tenure with the Yankees, which spanned from 2009 to 2019, he recorded 1,700 of those strikeouts and won 134 games.

Yankees retired numbers

Sabathia joins an exclusive list of baseball icons whose numbers have been removed from circulation by the franchise.

Notable retired numbers include:

  • No. 3: Babe Ruth (1948)
  • No. 4: Lou Gehrig (1939)
  • No. 5: Joe DiMaggio (1952)
  • No. 2: Derek Jeter (2017)
  • No. 42: Mariano Rivera (2013)

Additionally, the number 42 belonging to Jackie Robinson was retired across all of Major League Baseball in 1997.