After 11 seasons in New York, 7.5 in Cleveland and half a marketing campaign in Milwaukee, CC Sabathia didn’t want a lot time to consider what cap his Corridor of Fame plaque will characteristic ought to he be enshrined in Cooperstown.
“Absolutely,” the 44-year-old rapidly mentioned when requested if he’ll enter the Corridor of Fame as a Yankee.
Sabathia, talking at East Rutherford’s American Dream Mall throughout a charity occasion for his PitCCh In Basis earlier this month, is a first-time candidate on the Baseball Writers’ Affiliation of America’s 2025 Corridor of Fame poll. Whereas it stays to be seen if he’ll get in on his first attempt — former teammate and fellow first-timer Ichiro Suzuki is a lock — Sabathia definitely has a case for induction.
“I’m excited,” Sabathia mentioned. “That’s something that I never thought about when I was playing or dreamt about, but to have people consider me to be a Hall of Famer is exciting. We’ll see what happens.
“I mean, I played. I did my thing. Now it’s just up to the writers to do the voting.”
Sabathia ended his profession with six All-Star alternatives, 251 wins, a 3.74 ERA and three,093 strikeouts over 3,577.1 innings. He’s one in all 19 pitchers within the 3,000-strikeout membership. The one non-active members of that group not within the Corridor of Fame are Roger Clemens, who has ties to the Steroid Period, and Curt Schilling, whose lengthy historical past of bigoted and inflammatory remarks didn’t do him any favors with voters.
Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer are additionally within the membership however stay energetic.
Whereas Sabathia gained a Cy Younger in Cleveland in 2007 and is within the franchise’s personal Corridor of Fame, he boosted his résumé with the Yankees, successful ALCS MVP in 2009 earlier than securing the one World Collection title of his profession in his first season with the staff.
Sabathia had a 1.98 ERA over 5 begins through the Yankees’ playoff run that yr — they haven’t gained a title since — and he completed his profession with a 3.42 ERA over 105.1 whole postseason innings for the Bombers.
Whereas Sabathia didn’t say he’s positive he’ll make the Corridor of Fame — in 2025 or down the highway — he does like his probabilities.
“I feel pretty good having 250 wins and 3,000 strikeouts,” he mentioned. “That’s a huge accomplishment for me. It was always just about surviving. I really started playing just to help me and my mom out, so I never thought I would end up in Cooperstown. To have people consider my career that way, it’s just a blessing in itself.”
Sabathia and Suzuki are usually not the one ex-Yankees on the 2025 BBWAA Corridor of Fame poll. Others embrace Bobby Abreu, Carlos Beltrán, Curtis Granderson, Andruw Jones, Russell Martin, Brian McCann, Andy Pettitte, Álex Rodríguez and Troy Tulowitzki.
These candidates could have a harder time getting 75% of the vote, the minimal required for induction.
The outcomes of the 2025 poll can be introduced on Jan. 21. Induction Weekend for this incoming class will happen from July 25-28 in Cooperstown.
Initially Revealed: December 26, 2024 at 8:00 AM EST
