CC Sabathia, Starting Pitcher, Retired


Date of Birth: 7/21/1980
Birthplace: Vallejo, California

CC Sabathia was an outstanding athlete in high school, playing baseball, basketball, and football. In his senior year, he had a 6-0 win-loss record with a 0.77 ERA. Although Sabathia was planning to play football for the University of Hawaii, he changed his plans when he was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in 1998. In 2001, the Indians called Sabathia up and, at age 21, he became the youngest player in the major leagues at that time.

In his first full season (2001) with the Indians, Sabathia played in 33 games, pitched 180.1 innings, had a 17-5 record, and had a 4.39 ERA. The 2007 season, when he won the American League Cy Young award and the AL Championship series MVP award, was one of Sabathia's best. That season, he played in 34 games, pitched 241.0 innings, had a 19-7 record and a 3.21 ERA, and had 209 strikeouts.

Although Sabathia pitched extremely well for the Indians, they traded him to the Milwaukee Brewers in July, 2008. Sabathia's 2008 split season turned out to be his best, with 35 games played, 253 innings pitched, 251 strikeouts, and a career low 2.70 ERA. That superb year helped Sabathia land a seven-year, $161 million contract with the New York Yankees in December, 2008. Since joining the Yankees, Sabathia has twice (2009, 2010) led the American League in wins.

Sabathia, who had elbow surgery after the 2012 season ended, struggled last season. In 32 games, he had 14 wins and 13 losses with 175 strikeouts to 65 walks. He finished with a career high ERA of 4.78. Sabathia spent the end of the 2013 season on the DL.

On May 11, 2014, Sabathia went on the DL with a knee injury. Two months later, he had season ending surgery on his knee. In 2015, he again spent time on the DL with a knee injury. He finished the season with a 6-10 record, 137 strikeouts to 50 walks, and a 4.73 ERA in 167.1 innings in 29 games.

Sabathia entered an alcohol treatment center on October 5, 2015.

Sabathia pitched in 30 games for the Yankees in 2016. He finished the season with a 3.91 ERA, 9 wins to 12 losses, and 152 strikeouts to 65 walks in 179.2 innings.

Sabathia had a strong 2017 season, finishing with 14 wins and 5 losses and a 3.69 ERA in 148.2 innings in 27 games. In the postseason, he pitched 19.0 innings in 4 games and he gave up 16 hits and 7 runs. He had one win and one loss and he struck out 19 batters and walked 10.

In 2018, Sabathia played again with the Yankees, this time on a one-year contract. He finished the season with 9 wins and 7 losses, 140 strikeouts to 51 walks, and a 3.65 ERA in 153.0 innings in 29 games. He didn't fare well in his only postseason game, pitching just 3.0 innings. It was the game that cost the Yankees the AL division series. Sabathia gave up 5 hits and 3 runs, and he struck out 1 batter and walked 2.

Sabathia spent time on the DL in 2019, first for recovery from cardiac surgery and later in the season for right knee inflammation. He played in 23 games with the Yankees and he had 5 wins and 8 losses and a 4.95 ERA in 107.1 innings. He struck out 107 batters and walked 39. In the postseason, he pitched just 1.0 innings in 2 games and he gave up no hits.

Sabathia retired on October 21, 2019.

Statistics for Sabathia in 19 seasons (2001-2019) in the major leagues include:

  • 12 seasons with 30 or more games played, with a high of 35 in 2008
  • 8 seasons with 200 or more innings pitched, with a high of 253 in 2008
  • 2 seasons with an ERA of 3.00 or less, with a low of 2.70 in 2008
  • 4 seasons with over 18 wins, with a high of 21 in 2010
  • 3 seasons with over 200 strikeouts, with a high of 251 in 2008

Career pitching statistics for Sabathia through 2019 include:

  • 561 games played
  • 3,577.1 innings pitched
  • 251-161 win-loss record
  • 3,093 strikeouts to 1,099 walks
  • 3.74 ERA

Charitable Work

Sabathia started the PitCCh In Foundation in 2008 to aid inner city youth. Information is available at pitcch.org.

Personal Life

Sabathia and his wife Amber have two sons and two daughters.

Sabathia has a personal website at ccsabathia52.com.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - CC Sabathia
ESPN Sports - CC Sabathia