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Ahead of his No. 52 retirement at Yankee Stadium, Hall of Fame pitcher CC Sabathia said a 2018 heart scare — a 90% arterial blockage requiring an emergency stent — pushed him to overhaul his diet and track his LDL-C cholesterol. He now follows a Mediterranean diet and works with Merck and WomenHeart’s ‘Playing with Heart’ campaign to raise awareness of heart health.
Hall of Fame pitcher CC Sabathia said a near-fatal 2018 heart scare — a 90% blockage in an artery leading to his heart — forced him to rebuild his health habits around diet, cholesterol monitoring and long-term wellness, a message he delivered at Yankee Stadium the day before the club retired his No. 52 into Monument Park. Sabathia, who pitched 19 major league seasons including 11 with the Yankees, said the episode could have killed him at age 38 and now wants other people to understand their own cardiovascular risk numbers.
Sabathia told the audience that in November 2018, he woke up in the middle of the night vomiting with symptoms he initially believed were signs of a heart attack. Doctors later found the 90% blockage, and he underwent an emergency angioplasty, a procedure to place a stent. The scare came near the end of his playing career, and he said the consequences could have played out on the field.
“Had I not known or not been on top of everything, I could have passed away at 38 years old from a massive heart attack,” Sabathia said, according to Athletech News. “Like, I’m out here pitching, I could have passed out on the mound. So, it’s important for people to understand their number, check with their doctor and understand what’s going on inside the body.”
The “number” Sabathia referred to is LDL-C, commonly described as “bad” cholesterol, a major risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in the United States. His experience led him to join Merck and WomenHeart‘s “Playing with Heart” program, a campaign involving nine MLB franchises that spreads awareness of bad cholesterol and the importance of monitoring heart health. Yankees manager Aaron Boone, who has dealt with heart conditions since childhood and during his playing days, joined him at the event. On his own habits, Sabathia described a shift to a Mediterranean diet as the biggest step he has taken to improve his LDL-C, saying he has lost weight and can now exercise at his own pace.
Why Sabathia’s Health Push Matters
Sabathia is using the platform of a Hall of Fame career and a franchise honor to draw attention to a leading cause of death in the United States. His case is a reminder that cardiovascular risk can affect even elite athletes in peak physical condition, and that cholesterol levels are not visible from the outside.
His advocacy also comes as professional sports organizations place greater emphasis on long-term player wellness. Sabathia noted that the current generation of athletes is already more health-conscious than his own, pointing to the absence of candy in clubhouses and his 23-year-old son’s attention to his body in rookie ball. Across sports, the NFL has worked with recovery brands such as Hyperice and Whoop, while the NBPA recently added a preferred virtual care provider to give players remote access to more holistic health services, Athletech News reported.
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From 2018 Scare to Monument Park
Sabathia pitched in the majors for 19 seasons, spending the final 11 with the Yankees and winning a World Series with the club in 2009. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and, most recently, had his No. 52 retired by the Yankees in a Monument Park ceremony following his Stadium appearance.
His 2018 cardiac event was not his only public health challenge. Sabathia has also spoken openly about alcohol dependency, and he said at the event that he intends to keep discussing his struggles publicly. “Whether it’s alcohol dependency, my heart or anything that I have going on, I want people to know that I’m going through the same things that some other people are going through, and maybe my story can help you,” he said.
“Had I not known or not been on top of everything, I could have passed away at 38 years old from a massive heart attack.”
— CC Sabathia, Hall of Fame pitcher
What Sabathia Hasn’t Disclosed
Sabathia has not released specific current figures for his LDL-C levels, total weight loss, or the details of any ongoing medical treatment since his 2018 stent procedure. His description of his health improvements is based on his own account rather than independently verified clinical data.
It is also not possible to confirm whether Sabathia’s advocacy has directly influenced younger athletes’ habits; Sabathia himself framed the shift among today’s players as a generational change, saying “this generation athletes are not like my generation athletes.” The broader health trend he described in clubhouses is his personal observation.
Where the Campaign Goes From Here
The “Playing with Heart” program involving Sabathia, Merck and WomenHeart continues across its nine MLB franchise partners, with a focus on encouraging fans to learn their cholesterol numbers and speak with their doctors. Sabathia indicated he intends to keep speaking publicly about his heart history and past alcohol dependency as part of that effort.
Readers interested in their own cardiovascular risk can speak with a healthcare professional about cholesterol screening. General wellness steps like dietary changes and exercise routines are best undertaken with guidance from a qualified medical provider, particularly for those with pre-existing conditions or a family history of heart disease.
Key Questions
What health scare did CC Sabathia experience?
In November 2018, Sabathia woke up at night vomiting with symptoms he initially believed were heart attack-related. Doctors found a 90% blockage in an artery leading to his heart, and he underwent an emergency angioplasty to place a stent.
What is LDL-C, the number Sabathia urges people to know?
LDL-C is commonly called “bad” cholesterol. It is a major risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, which the report identifies as the leading cause of death in the United States. Sabathia encourages people to check their levels with a doctor.
What diet does Sabathia follow now?
Sabathia described his current diet as “straight Mediterranean” and called it the biggest step he has taken to improve his LDL-C. He said he has lost weight and can exercise at his own pace. Anyone considering a major dietary change should consult a healthcare professional, especially with pre-existing conditions.
What is the ‘Playing with Heart’ program?
It is a campaign from Merck and WomenHeart involving nine MLB franchises that aims to raise awareness of bad cholesterol and the importance of monitoring heart health. Sabathia joined the program after his own cardiac scare.
What honor did the Yankees give Sabathia?
The Yankees retired Sabathia’s No. 52 in an enshrinement ceremony in Monument Park at Yankee Stadium. He pitched 19 major league seasons, including 11 with New York, and is a Hall of Famer.
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