Sabathia elected to 2024 class of Guardians Hall of Fame
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HOUSTON -- The Guardians waited until 1:52 p.m. ET on May 2 to announce that CC Sabathia will be their newest member of their Hall of Fame.
The timing wasn’t random. The hour was in honor of Sabathia making his Major League debut in ’01. The minutes and date represented the No. 52 that he sported on his back throughout his 19-year career. The extra attention to detail was just a minor way for the organization to honor his importance to Cleveland. And the Sabathia-related festivities are only getting started.
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The Sabathia family will be welcomed to Progressive Field on Aug. 3 for a pregame Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The first 15,000 fans in attendance that day will also receive a Sabathia bobblehead, courtesy of Discount Drug Mart.
“We are so very excited to honor CC Sabathia as the newest member of the Guardians Hall of Fame,” said Guardians senior vice president of public affairs Bob DiBiasio in a statement. “Following his selection as our No. 1 Draft pick in the 1998 June Draft, CC burst onto the Cleveland baseball scene in grand fashion. His rookie season of 2001, at age 20, saw him win 17 games. A commanding presence on the mound, CC also had a commanding spirit for his teammates and those in need of a helping hand off the field. The PitCCh In Foundation, created by Sabathia and his wife, Amber, aims to enrich the lives of youth through educational and athletic activities and will be the lasting legacy of a big man with an even bigger heart.”
Sabathia split his career mostly between Cleveland and New York with a brief stop in Milwaukee in the middle. He spent eight seasons in Northeast Ohio, accumulating a 3.83 ERA in 1,528 2/3 innings with 1,265 strikeouts in that span. He was a three-time All-Star with Cleveland (one of 10 pitchers in club history with three or more All-Star selections), and he won the AL Cy Young Award in 2007.
The southpaw etched his name all over Cleveland history books. He ranks seventh in strikeouts, 13th in wins (106) and 15th in innings pitched in franchise history. For seven seasons, he recorded at least 11 wins, which tied him with Sam McDowell for the most by a Cleveland left-hander.
Sabathia becomes the 48th member of the Guardians Hall of Fame, which was established in 1951. This may be the start of post-career accolades, as he’s set to make his debut on the National Baseball Hall of Fame ballot this winter with a strong chance of being part of the Class of 2025.