CC Sabathia Gets His Hall of Fame Moment — and Makes It a Family Affair
It finally happened — CC Sabathia, the big lefty with the even bigger heart, has officially been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. And while the ceremony in Cooperstown was delayed by a summer rainstorm, nothing could wash away the emotion, the legacy, and the love that poured from the stage once Sabathia stepped up to speak.
The moment wasn’t just about his stats, though there’s no shortage of those: over 3,000 strikeouts, 251 wins, six All-Star selections, a Cy Young Award, and a World Series ring with the Yankees. He became one of just three left-handed pitchers in MLB history to notch 250 wins and 3,000 strikeouts — sharing that honor with legends like Steve Carlton and Randy Johnson. But this day? This day was personal.
With his mom Margie, wife Amber, and all four kids right there in the crowd, Sabathia used his speech not to list his accolades, but to honor the people who got him there — especially the “village of women” who raised him. His mom, a huge Ken Griffey Jr. fan, used to suit up in catcher’s gear to catch his backyard fastballs. She showed him grit, resilience, and a love for the game — and it was clear just how much she meant to him when he said, “If we’re here, if we’re breathing, if we’re standing — we can get through it.”
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Amber, who Sabathia met in high school, was described as the person who knows how to navigate him like no one else — a true partner through all the ups and downs of nearly two decades in the major leagues. That journey took Sabathia from Cleveland, where he said he "became a man," to a short but heroic stint with Milwaukee, and finally to New York, where he became a legend in pinstripes.
Still, Sabathia didn’t shy away from reflection. He admitted his biggest regret was not bringing a championship to Cleveland. But he also made sure to spotlight the Brewers and the impact of his short, electrifying time there. And of course, he acknowledged the Yankees, where he delivered under the weight of a record-setting contract and helped bring home a title in 2009.
More than anything, Sabathia wanted his story to be a stepping stone — especially for young Black pitchers dreaming of greatness. He proudly called out his place among the “Black Aces,” the elite group of Black pitchers with 20-win seasons, and made it clear: he doesn’t want to be the last.
“I don’t want to be the final Black pitcher standing here giving a Hall of Fame speech,” he said.
So while his plaque now hangs alongside baseball’s immortals, CC Sabathia isn’t done. His legacy is still being written — not just in stats or speeches, but in the generations he’s inspiring to come next.
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