CC Sabathia officially became the 24th player or manager in New York Yankees history to have his number 52 retired on Friday, an honor he admitted feels even bigger than his Hall of Fame induction. He also got a plaque in Monument Park, joining 2009 World Series champs Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte, and Jorge Posada as the fifth member of that legendary squad with a retired number and plaque. Talk about an exclusive club, right?
“I Knew What Was at Stake”
Sabathia’s words hit hard about the weight of this moment. “I never envisioned myself going into Monument Park… I was so scared to come here… you don’t ever think you’re going to win the Yankee fans over or the city over,” he said. He added, “To be able to be sitting here now, playing here 11 years is an incredible feeling and that’s why I’ve said… this feels bigger to me than the Hall of Fame because I know what was at stake when I came here.” Real talk, right? Feeling that pressure, then owning it! The ceremony kicked off with video messages from Jeter, Paul O’Neill, Jorge Posada, and Bernie Williams. Sabathia unveiled his plaque with his wife Amber, two children, friends, and his mother Margie. He waved from a golf cart, then received a blue blazer, a framed plaque, and a ring from GM Brian Cashman, who got booed by the crowd, which, let’s be honest, is peak New York fandom.
The Monster Contract and the 27th Title
GM Brian Cashman convinced Sabathia to sign a whopping $161 million, seven-year contract before the 2009 season. It was the biggest deal for a free-agent pitcher at the time, a true game-changer. Sabathia delivered immediately. In his first year, he went 19-8 with a 3.37 ERA in 34 starts. He absolutely dominated the AL Championship Series, snagging the MVP award with a 2-0 record and a ridiculous 1.13 ERA in their six-game win over the Los Angeles Angels. He then started Games 1 and 4 as the Yankees beat Philadelphia for their 27th title. Talk about earning your paycheck, what a debut!
A Legacy Etched in History
Sabathia’s career numbers are just insane. Over 19 seasons with Cleveland, Milwaukee, and the Yankees, he piled up a 251-161 record with a 3.74 ERA and 3,093 strikeouts. That’s third all-time among left-handers, behind only Randy Johnson and Steve Carlton. During his 11 seasons in New York, he was 134-88 with a 3.81 ERA and 1,700 strikeouts, ranking fourth in franchise history for Ks, seventh in starts, tenth in wins, and eleventh in innings. He hit the Hall of Fame on the first ballot in 2025 with 86.8% of the vote, inducted alongside Billy Wagner and former Yankee teammate, Ichiro Suzuki. “That ceremony was incredible, surreal,” Sabathia reflected. He capped it off by throwing out the first pitch to his son, Carsten, who’s in the Milwaukee minor league system. What a way to honor a legend, and look to the future of the game!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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