equal time Phil Mushnick Yankees retiring CC Sabathia’s number shows the sad state of our standard for greatness By Phil Mushnick Published Feb. 28, 2026, 2:00 p.m. ET CC Sabathia will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this summer. AP If we listen closely, we can hear the grandfather, a lifelong Yankees fan, speaking to his grandson:
“Oh, yeah, so many memorable moments. Did I ever tell you that I was in Yankee Stadium the day they retired CC Sabathia’s number? Yeah, what a special moment!
“What was his number? Darned if I remember. It was one of those big ones, fifty-something. Or was that the number he wore during his eight years with Cleveland?”
Everything about Yankee Stadium — except ticket prices, parking fees, and the cost of eats and drinks — seems to be done on the cheap and the cheesy.
