Sabathia, a towering 6-foot-6, 300-pound left-hander, capped a 19-year MLB career with the Yankees in 2019. He helped lead the team to a World Series championship in his first season with New York in 2009, the franchise’s most recent title.

The announcement came via the Yankees’ official social media accounts, confirming that Sabathia’s jersey will join the 24 other numbers retired by the team, the most of any Major League Baseball franchise. Among those already honored are Babe Ruth (No. 3), Lou Gehrig (No. 4), Joe DiMaggio (No. 5), Derek Jeter (No. 2), Mariano Rivera (No. 42), and Reggie Jackson (No. 44). Notably, Nos. 8 (Yogi Berra and Bill Dickey) and 42 (Jackie Robinson and Rivera) have both been retired twice.

For Sabathia, the recognition carries deep personal meaning. The 45-year-old posted on X, sharing a photograph with his children and writing, “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.”

The honor cements Sabathia’s place among the Yankees’ all-time greats and ensures that his contributions on the mound will be remembered by generations of fans visiting Monument Park.