Yankees retire Hall of Famer CC Sabathia’s No. 52 and honor him with plaque in Monument Park

Sabathia became the 24th player or manager to get his number retired and the Hall of Fame left-hander was honored with a plaque in Monument Park during a ceremony before a doubleheader opener against Baltimore on Friday.

Sabathia joined Derek Jeter , Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte and Jorge Posada as the fifth member of 2009 World Series champion Yankees with a retired number and plaque.

"I never envisioned myself going into Monument Park and I think that was the reason why I was so scared to come here is because you don't ever think you're going to win the Yankee fans over or the city over," Sabathia said. "So to be able to be sitting here now, playing here 11 years is an incredible feeling and that's why I've said the last couple of weeks, this feels bigger to me than the Hall of Fame because I know what was at stake when I came here."