CC Sabathia didn’t make it to the Nationwide Baseball Corridor of Fame by himself.
That’s why the longtime Yankees ace devoted a lot of his induction speech to the ladies and men who guided him alongside the way in which, together with his mom, Margie, whom he described as “the reason that I’m a baseball fan.”
“When I was young, she put on the catcher’s gear so I could throw in the backyard, and years later, after my starts in Cleveland, we would sit in the garage and talk [about] pitch selection,” Sabathia mentioned Sunday in Cooperstown.
“My mom is here today, just like she has always been there for me.”
(L-R) CC Sabathia’s mom Margie Sabathia and spouse Amber Sabathia pay attention as CC Sabathia is inducted into the Nationwide Baseball Corridor of Fame on July 27, 2025 in Cooperstown NY. (Andrew Schwartz/New York Every day Information)
Sabathia was formally inducted into the Corridor of Fame throughout a ceremony on the Clark Sports activities Middle, serving to to headline a category additionally together with former Yankees outfielder Ichiro Suzuki, former Mets nearer Billy Wagner, and sluggers Dave Parker and Dick Allen.
(L-R) Baseball Corridor of Fame inductees Billy Wagner, Ichiro Suzuki and CC Sabathia, pose for a photograph on the Nationwide Baseball Corridor of Fame on July 27, 2025 in Cooperstown NY. (Andrew Schwartz/New York Every day Information)
The left-handed Sabathia went 251-161 with a 3.74 ERA and three,093 strikeouts in 3,577.1 innings over 19 seasons with Cleveland, Milwaukee and the Yankees from 2001-19.
He gained the American League Cy Younger Award in 2007 with Cleveland, and he was a six-time All-Star. Sabathia is considered one of 4 left-handers to file at the very least 3,000 strikeouts, and considered one of 15 pitchers with 3,000 strikeouts and 250 wins.
Sabathia recalled Sunday eager to signal with the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier than the 2009 season as a result of it might enable him to play nearer to his hometown of Vallejo, Calif.
Baseball Corridor of Fame inductee CC Sabathia speaks on the Nationwide Baseball Corridor of Fame Induction ceremony on July 27, 2025 in Cooperstown NY. (Andrew Schwartz/New York Every day Information)
“I definitely didn’t want to go to New York and play for the Yankees, the furthest team away,” Sabathia mentioned.
However Sabathia and his spouse and agent, Amber, finally selected New York, viewing it as a spot the place they may increase their younger household.
“Winning mattered, and money made a difference, but my free agent decision was really about where we were going to spend our lives,” Sabathia mentioned, including, “We had three kids, and we wanted to plant roots. That’s what we talked about. That’s how we made the best decision we ever made.”
The 6-6, 300-pound Sabathia signed a seven-year, $161 million contract with the Yankees and instantly lived as much as his lofty billing, performing as an ace on the sector and a culture-setter within the clubhouse.
Sabathia went 3-1 with a 1.98 ERA through the 2009 postseason, incomes ALCS MVP whereas serving to the Yankees win the World Collection. He spent his ultimate 11 seasons with the Yankees, with whom he went 134-88 with a 3.81 ERA and 1,700 strikeouts over 1918 innings.
“Baseball has always been a great game for Black athletes, but baseball culture has not always been great for Black people,” Sabathia mentioned. “Through The Players Alliance and our work with the commissioner’s office and the (Commissioner’s Ambassador Program), I hope we’re starting to turn that around.”
He continued, “I don’t want to be the final member of the Black Aces, a Black pitcher to win 20 games in the big leagues, and I don’t want to be the final Black pitcher standing here, giving a Hall of Fame speech.”
Sabathia is the twenty second particular person to enter the Corridor as a Yankee, becoming a member of an inventory that features former teammates Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter, who had been among the many Corridor of Famers on the dais Sunday.
“You have to be talented, but talent only gets you far,” Jeter mentioned in a video introducing Sabathia. “It takes that drive and dedication, and he had it.”
Sabathia and Suzuki had been each voted into the Corridor by the Baseball Writers’ Affiliation of America (BBWAA) of their first years of eligibility, whereas Wagner obtained the requisite 75% in his tenth and ultimate 12 months on the poll.
Parker and Allen had been chosen by the Traditional Period Committee and had been posthumously enshrined. Parker died final month at age 74 after a battle with Parkinson’s illness.
The Japanese-born Suzuki totaled 3,089 hits throughout 19 MLB seasons, regardless of not debuting within the majors till age 27.
He was the primary Japanese place participant to attain MLB superstardom, profitable AL MVP and AL Rookie of the Yr with the Mariners in 2001.
In 2004, Suzuki set the MLB single-season file with 262 hits.
“When I came to America, many people said I was too skinny to compete with bigger major leaguers,” Suzuki mentioned Sunday. “The first time I ran out on the field, I was in awe of the competition. But I knew if I stuck to my beliefs about preparation, I could overcome the doubts. Even my own.”
Suzuki spent his first 10 ½ seasons with the Mariners — and was an All-Star and a Gold Glove winner within the first 10 — earlier than the Yankees acquired him halfway by means of the 2012 season.
The speedy proper fielder stayed with the Yankees by means of 2014, hitting .281 over 360 video games. Suzuki additionally spent three seasons with the Miami Marlins earlier than returning to the Mariners on the finish of his profession.
“Three-thousand hits or 262 hits in one season are achievements recognized by the writers. Well, all but one of you,” Suzuki deadpanned, referencing the nameless lone voter who didn’t embrace him on the poll.
Wagner, whose 422 saves rank eighth in MLB historical past, pitched for the Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies, Mets, Boston Purple Sox and Atlanta Braves throughout his 16-year profession from 1995-2010.
Baseball Corridor of Fame inductee Billy Wagner poses along with his plaque on the Nationwide Baseball Corridor of Fame ceremony on July 27, 2025 in Cooperstown NY. (Andrew Schwartz/New York Every day Information)
His profession ERA of two.31 is the second lowest amongst pitchers to throw at the very least 900 innings since 1920, behind solely Rivera’s 2.21.
Wagner is of course right-handed however discovered as a toddler to throw from the left facet after twice breaking his proper arm. He’s the primary left-handed reliever to be inducted into the Corridor of Fame.
Baseball Corridor of Fame inductee Billy Wagner speaks on the Nationwide Baseball Corridor of Fame Induction ceremony on July 27, 2025 in Cooperstown NY. (Andrew Schwartz/New York Every day Information)
“I wasn’t the biggest,” Wagner, who stands at 5-10, mentioned Sunday. “I wasn’t left-handed. I wasn’t supposed to be here. There were only seven full-time relievers in the Hall of Fame. Now, there are eight, because I refused to give up or give in. I refused to listen to the outside critics, and I never stopped working.”
Wagner spent components of 4 seasons with the Mets from 2006-09, pitching to a 2.37 ERA. His 101 saves with the Mets rank sixth in franchise historical past.
“For a small-town guy like me going into a big city, Fred Wilpon and his son, Jeff, and the Mets organization made it easy to come to the field every day and compete, because I got to ride in with Tom Glavine,” mentioned Wagner, a local of Marion, Va.
“They always had a great team surrounding me, and that helped me reach this stage today.”
Initially Revealed: July 27, 2025 at 5:19 PM EDT
