Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Mantle … Sabathia.
Hall of Fame southpaw CC Sabathia will join a select list of New York Yankees legends when his No. 52 is retired and a plaque in his honor is added to the team’s Monument Park during a Sept. 26 ceremony.
Sabathia will become the 24th Yankee to have his number retired and the first since Paul O’Neil in 2022. He also joins Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera as the fifth member of New York’s 2009 World Series championship squad, the Yankees’ last title team, to have his number retired.
“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 on X on Wednesday night. “To have my number retired by the New York Yankees this year is one of the greatest honors of my life. The LegaCCy continues.”
Sabathia, 45, will receive the Yankees’ highest honors one year after receiving baseball’s highest honor, when he was inducted into Cooperstown as a first-ballot selection. The left-hander posted a career record of 251-161 and a 3.74 ERA with three different teams, including Cleveland and the Milwaukee Brewers.
Sabathia joined the Yankees in 2009 and spent the last 11 years of his career in New York. His tenure began with baseball glory, as he helped the Bronx Bombers claim their 27th championship. Sabathia notched a 1.98 ERA over five games and 36 1/3 frames during the title run, earning American League Championship Series MVP honors.
The California native also made three All-Star teams as a Yankee and finished third in 2010 AL Cy Young Award voting. He went 134-88 with a 3.81 ERA for New York.
Sabathia sits fourth in franchise history with 1,700 strikeouts. He also is 10th on the club’s all-time wins list, and he ranks seventh with 306 starts and 11th with 1,918 innings pitched.
“Thank you all for the support, it means everything!!!” Sabathia added on X.
–Field Level Media
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