Get ready to witness history! The legendary CC Sabathia is about to have his iconic number permanently etched into the annals of the New York Yankees.
For years, the sight of T-shirts bearing CC Sabathia's No. 52 has been a familiar and inspiring presence at youth baseball camps in Vallejo. Now, that number is about to become truly legendary, as you'll never see it donned by another New York Yankee player again.
The esteemed New York Yankees organization officially announced on Tuesday that Sabathia's No. 52 will be retired on September 26th. This momentous occasion will take place during a game against the Baltimore Orioles, and will be further celebrated with the unveiling of a special Sabathia plaque in the hallowed grounds of the franchise's renowned Monument Park.
Sabathia himself shared his profound emotions on the social media platform X, stating, "From the first number that hung in my locker to 52 forever hanging in Monument Park — this HOF journey has come full circle. To have my number retired by the New York Yankees this year is one of the greatest honors of my life. The LegaCCy continues."
Although Sabathia stepped away from professional baseball in 2019, his impact has continued to resonate powerfully. A recipient of the Cy Young Award, a key contributor to the Yankees' 2009 World Series championship, and a pitcher with an impressive 251 career wins, Sabathia has remained remarkably active. Just last August, he was deservedly inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame.
But here's where it gets truly remarkable: Sabathia's greatness extended far beyond the pitcher's mound. With 560 career starts, including 11 Opening Day games, and an astonishing record of pitching more innings than anyone else in the past 30 years, his on-field achievements were immense. Off the field, his commitment to giving back is equally impressive. Through his PitCCh-In Foundation, he annually organizes free backpack giveaways for Vallejo students at the start of the school year and hosts free baseball camps at Corbus Field.
In a testament to his enduring impact on his hometown, CC and his wife, Amber Sabathia, were honored in November with the key to the city and a series of proclamations recognizing their significant contributions to Vallejo over the past two decades. And in a symbolic gesture, a street in North Vallejo was renamed "CC Sabathia Way" – a permanent reminder of his legacy.
Vallejo Mayor Andrea Sorce beautifully encapsulated Sabathia's spirit, saying in November, "When I often travel outside of the city, people ask me to describe Vallejo. I say it’s a city of heart and resilience and spirit and strengths, but really what I should be saying is that it’s the story of CC Sabathia. It’s that heart and that grit and that unbelievable pride. We punch above our weight class in talent, which leaves the city and comes out of the city. And it’s because of people like you, CC, and Amber. Even when you leave, you always stay rooted and are incredible ambassadors of our community."
And this is the part most people miss... Sabathia will hold the distinction of being the 24th Yankee player or manager to have his number retired. He follows Paul O’Neill (No. 21) in 2022, and his number is the 23rd to be retired (note that Yogi Berra and Bill Dickey both share the honor of having No. 8 retired).
He joins an elite group of players from the Yankees' most recent World Series-winning era (1996-2009) who have also had their numbers retired: Derek Jeter (2), Andy Pettitte (46), Jorge Posada (20), and Mariano Rivera (42).
Interestingly, securing a single-digit number with the Yankees is an incredibly rare feat, almost as rare as being struck by lightning! Currently, only the number zero is available as a single digit. The numbers of legends like Billy Martin (1), Jeter (2), Babe Ruth (3), Lou Gehrig (4), Joe DiMaggio (5), Joe Torre (6), Mickey Mantle (7), Dickey and Berra (8), and Roger Maris (9) are all retired and unavailable.
Josh Ramos, Vallejo High School's Athletic Director and head baseball coach, commented on Thursday, "I mean that franchise is so deep in history, I never realized that all the single digits were basically gone. But just the number 52 itself, I can’t really think of any other famous athlete who wore number 52. It truly belongs to CC."
Ramos, who traveled to Cooperstown in August to witness Sabathia's Hall of Fame induction alongside other Vallejo residents, shared a personal anecdote. He purchased a Sabathia jersey and, at the ceremony where Sabathia received the key to the city, he had CC sign his name where the last name typically appears on a Yankees jersey. This jersey, now a prized possession adorned with an MLB Hall of Fame patch, is destined to be a lifelong display piece on his wall.
What do you think about the Yankees retiring CC Sabathia's number? Is it a decision that's long overdue, or are there other players who you feel deserve this honor more? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
