Top 5 Hall Of Fame: CC Sabathia

On July 27th, the Hall of Fame will officially recognize 5 new members. As I have done in years past, I will be honoring these great ball players in my own way throughout the week. Today's inductee is one of the greatest left handed pitchers to ever step on a mound, Carsten Charles Sabathia. In tribute to his extraordinary career, I humbly present my 5 favorite cards of his that I own:

 

2011 Topps - Diamond Duos (Series 1)

#DD-CS Steve Carlton/CC Sabathia

 

In the history of the game, there have been only 4 left handed pitchers to amass over 3,000 strikeouts. Two of them are on this card. (The other two: Randy Johnson and the newest member of the 3K Club Clayton Kershaw.)

 

2015 Topps #468 CC Sabathia

It's not easy for a Red Sox fan like myself to heap praise on a Yankee player, but when a player overcomes major obstacles in his life you can't help but root for the guy. One of those obstacles came to the forefront in 2015, when Sabathia left the team just before the playoffs to check himself into rehab for alcohol addiction. It takes a big man (not a jab there) to admit he needs help, and to open himself up like he did for an article in The Player's Tribune.

 

2016 Topps Heritage #415 CC Sabathia

 

Since all the cards I own of his are from his New York days, it's weird to talk about him and not bring up the beginning half of his career. As I mentioned yesterday, Sabathia was the Rookie of the Year runner up in 2001 after a 17 win season for Cleveland. For eight years he was a rock solid ace for the Indians, making 3 All-Star games and winning a Cy Young Award in 2007. In 2008, he was traded to the Brewers and became arguably one of the best trade deadline acquisitions in history.  With Milwaukee, he went 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA. Despite only making 17 starts, he led the entire National League in complete games (7) and shutouts (3)! That finish helped him earn the largest free agent contract for a pitcher when he signed with the Yankees for $161 million over 7 years.

 

2019 Topps #486 CC Sabathia

 

Sabathia retired after the 2019 season. His last appearance on the mound was memorable: In Game 4 of the ALCS against the Astros, CC appeared as a reliever in the 8th inning. He got the first 2 outs, but as he was pitching to George Springer, he felt discomfort and took himself out of the game in the middle of the at-bat. Sabathia told the media afterwards his exit from the game in his last season was "...kind of fitting. I threw until I couldn't anymore."

 

2021 Topps Archives - Movie Poster Cards

#MPC-14 Black Aces

(Blue/Stewart/Willis/Sabathia/Gooden/Gibson/Jenkins) 

 

I'll admit, watching Sabathia pitch, I didn't see a Hall of Fame player. It wasn't until after he retired and I got a chance to look at his career stats that I saw where he stood among the giants. The 3,000 strikeouts obviously stood out, but the factoid that truly amazed me was that he is one of only six players all-time with 3,000 strikeouts, 250 wins and a win percentage over .600! The two other Hall of Famers on this card (Bob Gibson and Ferguson Jenkins) can't make that claim, neither can the previously mentioned Steve Carlton. 

 

Congrats to you, Mr. Sabathia! Welcome to the Hall of Fame!