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Around his Yankees number retirement, Hall of Fame pitcher CC Sabathia described how a 2018 heart scare — a 90% arterial blockage — led him to overhaul his diet and champion cholesterol awareness through Merck and WomenHeart’s ‘Playing with Heart’ program. He and manager Aaron Boone spoke at Yankee Stadium about long-term wellness.
Hall of Fame pitcher CC Sabathia said a near-fatal heart scare during his final MLB season pushed him to rebuild his health around diet, cholesterol monitoring and long-term wellness — a message he delivered publicly at Yankee Stadium the day before the Yankees retired his No. 52 jersey into Monument Park. Sabathia, who revealed he had a 90% blockage in an artery leading to his heart in 2018, is now working with Merck and WomenHeart’s “Playing with Heart” program to raise awareness of LDL-C, or “bad” cholesterol.
Sabathia pitched 19 major league seasons, including 11 with the Yankees, but told the audience his last seasons nearly never happened. In November 2018, he said he woke up mid-night vomiting with symptoms he initially believed were heart attack-induced. Doctors later found a 90% blockage in an artery leading to his heart, and he underwent an emergency angioplasty, or stent placement.
“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. “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 referenced is LDL-C, widely described as “bad” cholesterol and 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, an initiative involving nine MLB franchises that promotes awareness of bad cholesterol and heart-health monitoring. Yankees manager Aaron Boone, who has his own history of heart conditions dating to childhood and his playing days, joined him at the event and pointed to diet, sleep and exercise as his own priorities.
Why an Athlete’s Cholesterol Story Matters
Sabathia’s case underscores that elite fitness does not eliminate cardiovascular risk. A pitcher who “always lifted and always did cardio” still developed a severe arterial blockage, which he attributes to unmanaged LDL-C. His advocacy directs public attention toward a measurable, modifiable risk factor in a country where heart disease is the leading cause of death.
His openness also reflects a broader shift in professional sports. Sabathia noted that today’s athletes are “very in tune with their bodies,” contrasting current clubhouses — “there’s no candy in here right now” — with the culture he entered in the early 2000s. Recent league-level moves, such as the NFL’s work with Hyperice and Whoop on recovery and the NBPA’s addition of a preferred virtual care provider, point to health and longevity becoming institutional priorities rather than individual concerns.
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Sabathia’s 2018 Scare and Recovery
Sabathia’s heart episode occurred in November 2018, during the window between his final Yankees seasons — he retired after the 2019 campaign and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. The emergency angioplasty addressed the 90% blockage before it caused a heart attack.
Following the scare, Sabathia described changes to his diet as the largest step he has taken to improve his LDL-C. “It’s straight Mediterranean,” he said of his current eating habits, adding: “I feel good. I’ve lost a bunch of weight. I always lifted and always did cardio, but now I can do it at my rate.” He has also spoken publicly in the past about his struggle with alcohol dependency, and said he intends to keep discussing his health challenges openly. “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. It’s important for people to understand their number, check with their doctor and understand what’s going on inside the body.”
— CC Sabathia, Hall of Fame pitcher
What Sabathia’s Health Claims Don’t Tell Us
Sabathia’s current LDL-C levels and specific health metrics were not disclosed, and his characterization of his 2018 symptoms reflects his own account of the episode rather than independently released medical records. His weight loss was described only as “a bunch” without specific figures.
Additionally, Sabathia himself hedged on causation regarding younger athletes’ habits — “whether it’s a result of Sabathia’s activism or not,” as the original report noted — meaning the claim that today’s players are healthier by culture is his observation, not a measured trend. Anyone concerned about their own cholesterol should consult a physician; individual dietary and treatment approaches vary, and a Mediterranean-style diet supports but does not guarantee cardiovascular health.
Playing with Heart’s Run Through Baseball
The “Playing with Heart” program, involving nine MLB franchises, is expected to continue spreading awareness of bad cholesterol and heart-health monitoring at ballparks during the season. Sabathia indicated he will keep speaking publicly about his heart history, alcohol dependency recovery and overall wellness, positioning his post-retirement platform around health advocacy.
His No. 52 now sits in Monument Park alongside Yankees legends, cementing a public profile that his advocacy work is likely to build on. Readers interested in their own risk can ask a doctor about an LDL-C test, sometimes called a lipid panel, which measures cholesterol levels through a simple blood draw.
Key Questions
What happened to CC Sabathia’s heart in 2018?
According to Sabathia, he woke up in November 2018 vomiting with symptoms he initially believed were heart attack-induced. Doctors found a 90% blockage in an artery leading to his heart, and he underwent an emergency angioplasty, or stent placement.
What is LDL-C, the ‘number’ Sabathia talks about?
LDL-C is low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, commonly called “bad” cholesterol. It is a major risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in the United States. Sabathia urges people to know their LDL-C level and discuss it with a doctor.
What diet does Sabathia follow now?
Sabathia described his diet as “straight Mediterranean” and called dietary change the biggest step he has taken to improve his LDL-C. He said he has lost weight and can now exercise at his own pace. Anyone considering a similar dietary change should consult a healthcare professional, particularly with existing conditions.
What is the ‘Playing with Heart’ program?
It is an initiative from Merck and WomenHeart involving nine MLB franchises that raises awareness of bad cholesterol and the importance of monitoring heart health. Sabathia joined the program after his 2018 heart scare.
What did Aaron Boone say about heart health?
Boone, who has a personal history of heart conditions from childhood and his playing career, said diet, sleep and exercise are his priorities, adding that people should take “responsible steps” including moderating sweets.
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