Former Yankee great CC Sabathia was honored this weekend in Cooperstown, NY as he received his plaque and induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Sabathia played for the Indians, Brewers and the Yankees, but he went in wearing the interlocking NY on his cap. CC became a New York favorite from the moment he put on the pinstripes and every time it seemed that he was nearing the end, he would reinvent himself and show even more to the fans.
Sabathia is just one of three left-handed pitchers in history to join the 250-Win, 3,000-Strikeout Club, joining Randy Johnson and Steve Carlton. He was dominant in a way few pitchers ever are. He had five straight top five finishes for the Cy Young award, winning the award in 2007. Sabathia could have won the CY in both league in 2008 when he was traded to Milwaukee during the year. He then went on to lead both leagues in shutouts and although he pitched for the Brewers for just 3 months, he still received NL Cy Young votes.
He then signed with the Yankees and continued that streak of Cy Young top finishes with three straight top five finishes in 2009, 2010, and 2011. He then cemented his place in Yankee lore with a post season and a ring in 2009. He started every game 1 in the playoffs and World Series and ended the post season that year with under a 2 ERA.
Sabathia was the ace that every Yankee fan was clamoring for and he delivered. Sabathia then embraced New York and was a stanch advocate for youth baseball and devoting his time to making sure the younger fans were a part of the game.
Sabathia enters the Hall of Fame on the first ballot as he received 342 votes (86.8 percent).