NEW YORK -- When voters considered CC Sabathia’s candidacy for the National Baseball Hall of Fame last winter, they examined his performance on the field, comparing the fierce workhorse’s statistics against the most formidable pitchers of his era.
That consistency and dominance paved the way for Sabathia’s selection as a first-ballot Hall of Famer, sealing his memorable journey to the hallowed halls of Cooperstown, N.Y., this past July. Inside the Yankees clubhouse, though, Sabathia’s legacy endures as a connector and a fantastic teammate.
The Yankees recognized Sabathia’s Hall of Fame induction with a pregame ceremony on Sunday. Driven around the warning track in a golf cart by longtime teammate Andy Pettitte, Sabathia thanked numerous members of the club hierarchy, then said, “Most importantly, I want to thank the fans.”
“Thank you guys for showing up every single night, bringing the energy,” Sabathia said. “I hope you guys understood and appreciated what I tried to bring the mound every fifth day."
In recognition of Sabathia’s Hall induction, the Yankees made a $250,000 donation to the PitCCh In Foundation. Sabathia was also presented with a 1-of-100, limited edition Jeff Hamilton custom-designed Supreme jacket, autographed on the inside by Hamilton.
Just the third left-hander to record at least 250 wins and 3,000 strikeouts, Sabathia spent 11 of his 19 Major League seasons in pinstripes (2009–19), helping deliver the club’s 27th World Series title in his first year.
It almost didn’t happen. Initially hesitant to commit to New York, Sabathia told general manager Brian Cashman he was eyeing a team closer to his California home (later revealed to be the Dodgers) and that he had heard unfavorable reviews of the Yankees’ clubhouse atmosphere.
Cashman did not dispute that, telling Sabathia: “That’s why we need you.”
Signed to what was then the richest contract ever issued to a free-agent pitcher, Sabathia anchored the rotation, as he had previously done for Cleveland (2001-08) and the Brewers (’08). He also reshaped the team chemistry, a ripple effect that continues to this day.
The shift was noticeable in the early days of Spring Training during that first season in ’09, when Sabathia organized dinners and rented suites so teammates could attend Orlando Magic NBA games together. By November, the bonds were strong enough to carry the Yankees through a championship dogpile in the Bronx.
“I think it started in high school, and I think it’s because everybody I played was my friend. So I just wanted that experience, I guess,” Sabathia said. “And then when I got into the Cleveland organization, it's what they stress: Just being a good teammate, taking care of your guys and really getting to understand and learn where they come from. I took it to heart. It’s just kind of something that stuck with me my whole career.”
That was still in place when Aaron Judge arrived in 2016.
“He treated guys with respect, and brought up the younger guys to [believe], ‘This is your clubhouse. You’re part of this team, whether you’ve got one day in the big leagues or 10 years of service time,’” Judge said. “For me, it welcomed me into the clubhouse and made me feel like I was part of everything.”
Yankees manager Aaron Boone described Sabathia as “a killer on the field,” noting that as a younger player with Cleveland, the lefty would grow emotional on the mound if a call didn’t go his way. Those rough edges sanded down over time, but they never completely vanished.
One of Sabathia’s most enduring moments came in 2018 against the Rays at Tropicana Field, when he retaliated to defend teammate Austin Romine, who had been buzzed by a fastball earlier in the game.
Immediately ejected, Sabathia did not feign ignorance; he pointed at the Tampa Bay bench and left no question about his intent.
“He was the ultimate clubhouse guy and brought people together,” Boone said. “He’s a big driver of what I feel like is our culture in our clubhouse, passed down to the Gardys [Brett Gardner] and Judgies of the world where guys are able to come in there and feel welcome.”
The numbers -- 251 wins, 3,093 strikeouts, six-time All-Star, 2007 AL Cy Young Award winner - continue to speak loudly, forever emblazoned upon the Hall of Fame plaque that traveled down from Cooperstown on Sunday.
But for those who shared a dugout with him, the man was even greater than the pitcher.
“To me, for being a Hall of Famer and the career that he had, his biggest legacy is the teammate he was,” Boone said. “You want to leave this game saying, ‘That guy was a great teammate.’ And CC was that.”