CC Sabathia was one of the best pitchers in MLB during his time in the league. Fans may remember Sabathia for pitching with the New York Yankees, as he retired with New York and spent 11 seasons with the team. However, eight of his big league seasons came with the Cleveland Indians (now Cleveland Guardians).
On Thursday, The Guardians announced that Sabathia will become the 48th member of the team’s Hall of Fame.
“The road to Cooperstown started in Cleveland and circles back through The Land as we introduce CC Sabathia as the 48th member of the Cleveland Guardians Hall of Fame. We’ll see you for induction day on August 3rd, @CC_Sabathia!” The Guardians wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Sabathia, who won the 2007 American League Cy Young Award while pitching for Cleveland, responded on X.
“Grateful beyond words. Thank you Cleveland – the organization, fans, staff, coaches, players, and everyone who has played a part in my journey. Honored to join the @CleGuardians HOF,” Sabathia wrote.
CC Sabathia’s Cleveland career
Cleveland performed well in the 1990s after previously not making the playoffs since 1954. In the ’90s, the team won two American League pennants on the back of a stellar offensive attack.
Heading into the 2000s, however, Cleveland had some questions to answer. Fortunately, they had a future ace make his big league debut in 2001.
Today, most people around the MLB world know the Guardians for their ability to develop starting pitching. In the ’90s it was all about offense for Cleveland, though. They still had a number of talented starting pitchers, but their pitching development was not as consistent as it is today.
CC Sabathia became one of the best pitchers in Cleveland baseball history, however.
The big left-handed starting pitcher struggled during his first two years in the league. He found his footing in 2003 and made the first All-Star team of his career. Sabathia would go on to earn two more All-Star selections with Cleveland.
He also led the team to three playoff appearances in 2001, 2005 and 2007. During the ’07 campaign, Cleveland fell just short of reaching the World Series. They led the Boston Red Sox 3-1 in the American League Championship Series, but the Sox shocked Cleveland and completed the comeback.
Nevertheless, Sabathia won the 2007 AL Cy Young Award after recording a 3.21 ERA and 209 strikeouts across a league-leading 34 starts and 241 innings pitched.
Sabathia’s legacy still impacts Guardians
Cleveland traded Sabathia to the Milwaukee Brewers in 2008, and he ended up joining the New York Yankees in 2009. He made three more All-Star teams in New York before retiring after the 2019 season.
Sabathia still plays a role in the MLB world. In 2022 he became a special assistant for MLB commissioner Rob Manfred. Sabathia is also still making an impact on the Guardians.
Guardians pitcher Triston McKenzie addressed his admiration for Sabathia in 2022.
“I think just the interactions we’ve (McKenzie and Sabathia) had over the past couple of years… when I first met CC, I’m overjoyed. Like a little kid in a candy store,” Mckenzie said, via Russell Dorsey of Yahoo Sports. “Can’t wait to tell him how much I looked up to him growing up. All this little stuff. You are one of my favorite players. And one of the first things he ever said to me was ‘dude, I’m a huge fan of you.’”
Cleveland baseball fans loved watching Sabathia pitch. He was a fan-favorite who always gave everything he had every time he stepped on the mound. And now he is set to join the Cleveland Guardians Hall of Fame.
