CC Sabathia is on track for Hall of Fame induction, reflecting on his remarkable career
Looking back, that investment changed the franchise. Now, Sabathia is expected to be part of the Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025, with the voting results coming out soon. As of now, he’s on 93.4% of the public ballots, which is a strong sign he’ll get the 75% needed for induction.
Sabathia shared how he never imagined reaching this point. He started playing to help his mom, and now people are considering him for Cooperstown. It’s a huge honor. This is his first year on the ballot, and he had an impressive career with a 251-161 record, a 3.74 ERA, and over 3,000 strikeouts across 19 seasons with teams like Cleveland, Milwaukee, and the Yankees.
He’s one of only three left-handed pitchers to hit 3,000 strikeouts and one of 15 with 250 wins. Sabathia was a workhorse, throwing more innings than anyone who debuted after 1989. He spent his last 11 seasons with the Yankees, winning the 2009 World Series and becoming a respected leader in the clubhouse.
Originally drafted by Cleveland in 1998, he made his MLB debut at just 20 years old. He had a standout rookie season and won his only Cy Young Award in 2007. After being traded to the Brewers in 2008, he stepped up big time during their playoff run, finishing strong and entering the free-agent market as a top pitcher.
The Yankees were eager to sign him after missing the playoffs for the first time in 14 years. There were worries he might not want to play in New York, but Cashman and the team managed to convince him, landing him with the biggest contract ever for a pitcher at that time.
Sabathia quickly proved his worth, shining in the 2009 postseason and helping the Yankees win their most recent World Series. He also played a key role in creating a tight-knit clubhouse culture.
During his first four seasons with the Yankees, he consistently pitched over 200 innings and won at least 15 games each year. He finished his Yankee career with a solid 134-88 record and 1,700 strikeouts.
Even in his final years, he was a reliable presence on the mound. In his last start in 2018, he got ejected for hitting a batter, which cost him a bonus, but the Yankees still gave it to him as a gesture of goodwill.
Sabathia’s connection with fans and the team is strong, and he’s said he’d love to go into the Hall as a Yankee. He’s set to be the first Yankee inducted since Derek Jeter in 2020 and Mariano Rivera in 2019.
Another former teammate, Ichiro Suzuki, is also expected to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. He had an incredible career, racking up over 3,000 hits in MLB and more in Japan, making him the all-time hits leader.
Other former Yankees on the ballot include Carlos Beltran, Andruw Jones, Alex Rodriguez, and Andy Pettitte, each with varying levels of support. Rodriguez, despite his impressive stats, faces challenges due to past controversies. Players can stay on the ballot for up to 10 years, as long as they get enough votes each year.
