Yankees retiring CC Sabathia’s number following Hall of Fame enshrinement

TAMPA — CC Sabathia will enter Yankees immortality later this season.

The Hall of Fame left-hander will have his No. 52 retired by the Yankees and a plaque unveiled for him in Monument Park on Sept. 26, the team announced Wednesday night.

Sabathia, who was enshrined in Cooperstown last summer, will become the 24th Yankees player or manager to have his number retired and the first since Paul O’Neill in 2022.

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

A key part of the 2009 World Series championship Yankees, Sabathia spent 11 of his 19 years in the big leagues playing in The Bronx, pitching to a 3.81 ERA across 307 games.

He recorded his 3,000th career strikeout as a Yankee and was also the ALCS MVP in 2009.

A strong presence in the Yankees clubhouse, Sabathia was revered by his teammates and pitched with a bulldog mentality. He retired after the 2019 season, having thrown his last pitch in the ALCS when he walked off the mound with a dislocated shoulder.

“When I think of him, I think of ‘teammate,’ ” said Aaron Boone, who played with Sabathia in Cleveland before managing him in New York. “He brought people together. He connected with a lot of different people from a lot of different walks of life, while having the presence of being a superstar. He made you feel welcome. And then between the lines, just a really great competitor. I loved playing with him because he was so intense.

“Just an awesome competitor and the best of the best in teammates.”