Latest news with #CCSabathia
UPI
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- UPI
Famous birthdays for July 21: CC Sabathia, Chrishell Stause
1 of 4 | CC Sabathia arrives on the red carpet at the Garden Of Laughs Comedy Benefit at Madison Square Garden in New York City on March 27, 2024. The baseball legend turns 45 on July 21. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo July 21 (UPI) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Cancer. They include: -- Pope Sixtus IV in 1414 -- Musician Chauncey Olcott in 1858 -- U.S. first lady Frances Cleveland in 1864 -- Writer Ernest Hemingway in 1899 -- Musician Isaac Stern in 1920 -- Musician Kay Starr in 1922 -- Producer Norman Jewison in 1926 File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI -- Actor/comedian Don Knotts in 1924 -- Former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno in 1938 -- Actor Edward Herrmann in 1943 -- Musician Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, in 1948 (age 77) -- Cartoonist Garry Trudeau in 1948 (age 77) -- Actor/comedian Robin Williams in 1951 File Photo by Alexis C. Glenn/UPI -- Actor Jon Lovitz in 1957 (age 68) -- Musician Emerson Hart (Tonic) in 1969 (age 56) -- Musician Fitz (Fitz and the Tantrums) in 1970 (age 55) -- Actor Charlotte Gainsbourg in 1971 (age 54) -- Actor David Dastmalchian in 1977 (age 48) -- Musician Damian Marley in 1978 (age 47) File Photo by Gary I Rothstein/UPI -- Actor Justin Bartha in 1978 (age 47) -- Actor Josh Hartnett in 1978 (age 47) -- Baseball Hall of Fame member CC Sabathia in 1980 (age 45) -- Musician Romeo Santos (Aventura) in 1981 (age 44) -- Actor Chrishell Stause in 1981 (age 44) File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI -- Actor Diane Guerrero in 1986 (age 39) -- Actor Betty Gilpin in 1986 (age 39) -- Actor Juno Temple in 1989 (age 36) -- Actor Jasmine Cephas Jones in 1989 (age 36) -- Actor Rory Culkin in 1989 (age 36) -- Model Sara Sampaio in 1991 (age 34) -- Actor Jessica Barden in 1992 (age 33) -- Musician Lia (Itzy) in 2000 (age 25) File Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI
New York Post
4 days ago
- Sport
- New York Post
The ‘welcome to the Yankees' moment that put CC Sabathia on path to become Bronx legend
CC Sabathia paved the way for the Yankees' most recent World Series title in his first season with the team and finished in the top four in the AL Cy Young Award voting three straight years after coming to The Bronx. But the lefty said Friday that his 'welcome to the Yankees'' moment came against the Red Sox in early August of that season, when Sabathia tossed 7 ²/₃ scoreless innings in a win at Yankee Stadium on Aug. 8. It began an 11-start stretch for Sabathia in which the Yankees won 10 times and he pitched to a 2.16 ERA. Advertisement CC Sabathia of the New York Yankees delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox on August 23, 2009 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. Getty Images 'I became a Yankee in that moment,'' Sabathia said on a Zoom call Friday in advance of his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame on July 27 in Cooperstown. 'That's the biggest moment I think I'll take away from the [Yankees-Red Sox] rivalry, was being able to have a big game and … pitch well.'
Forbes
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
CC Sabathia On Being Inducted Into Baseball Hall Of Fame With Ex-Yankees Teammate Ichiro Suzuki: ‘Everything Comes Full Circle'
CC Sabathia gives his thoughts on being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame and how he developed ... More into one of the best pitchers ever at 6-foot-7, 300 pounds. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./) CC Sabathia was one of the most dominant pitchers of his generation. The 6-foot-7, 300-pound left-handed pitcher was a thorn for batters across nearly two decades, using a commanding fastball along with an arsenal of off-speed pitches such as his sinker and slider to get the better end of batters. Sabathia made a name for himself with the Cleveland Indians early on in his career, winning the AL Cy Young Award in 2007, and leading the franchise to an ALCS appearance. However, it was with the New York Yankees where he cemented his all-time great status. Sabathia lived up to the expectations after signing the largest contract in MLB history for a pitcher at the time (seven years, $161 million). He not only led the majors in wins during the 2009 and 2010 seasons, he was the ace as the Yankees won their last World Series in 2009. While Sabathia is often overlooked by fans when it comes to discussing the greatest pitchers of all time, he's thankfully not overlooked by the media and the Baseball Hall of Fame. That's because the 44-year-old – in his first year of eligibility – is being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. He'll be going in with his former Yankees teammate – and the guy who beat him out for the AL Rookie of the Year in 2001 – Ichiro Suzuki. 'Having a chance to play with Ichiro, we came into the league together, we were rookies in 2001 and finished one-two in the Rookie of the Year voting,' says Sabathia. 'To have a chance to play together for three years, we had some battles. Even when he was in Seattle, it was always a good battle facing him. I'm super, super excited to be able to go in Ichiro, we had a great conversation up there in January. 'I just think it's one of those baseball things, everything comes full circle,' Sabathia continues. 'It always kind of ties back in. It's really fun to be able to have him to go in and Dave Parker.' Sabathia and Suzuki will enter the Baseball Hall of Fame alongside Billy Wagner and Dave Parker. Parker was voted into the Hall of Fame by the Classic Baseball Committee and was a player that Sabathia – a California native – looked up to as the former NL MVP starred for the Oakland Athletics and California Angels, winning the World Series with Oakland in 1989. Parker sadly passed away in June due to complications of Parkinson's Disease just a month prior to his induction into Cooperstown. 'Dave Parker played on those mid-to-late 80's Oakland teams when I was a kid, and he was my dad's favorite,' says Sabathia of Parker. 'One of the guys that I always looked up to. It's unfortunate that he won't be able to be there with us.' Sabathia – who was the first pitcher to debut in the 21st century and win 250 games – says there wasn't really anyone he looked up to or molded his pitching career after because nobody was like him. When you think of 6-foot-7, 300-pound pitchers with a left-handed pitching arsenal, Sabathia is in a class of one. 'Nobody,' says Sabathia when asked if he molded his game after anyone. 'There was nobody. I looked up to Dave Stewart, he looked like me, so I could see him out on the field. I always knew that there was nobody like me, and I felt like that's what made me myself, that's what made me unique.' The dominant left-handed pitcher says he actually always had the mindset that he was an 'athlete' and trained as if he was an offensive tackle. That actually makes sense considering Sabathia's build is very similar to that of most offensive tackles you see in football, rather than anyone you'll see on the baseball diamond. 'I always felt like I was an athlete, like I was a football player, playing baseball,' says Sabathia. 'I once had this strength coach named Tim Maxie. He told me to train, like an offensive lineman – think of yourself like an offensive tackle. Once he told me that, I feel like my career just took off at once. I embraced being my size and who I am. I've always loved that part of myself. Being one of one was something that I've always felt like I knew I was.' The former Cy Young winner once again hammers home how 'excited' he is to be a part of this Hall of Fame class. 'I am just super excited that I am a part of this class,' says Sabathia. Sabathia has been keeping busy during his post-playing career, serving as an MLB and Mastercard ambassador. He actually made some headlines during 2025 MLB All-Star week for winning the MVP award at the All-Star Celebrity Softball Game. Mastercard has been partnered with MLB since 1997 and Sabathia is active every year during All-Star Game week, helping promote small businesses. 'I've been an ambassador now for four years, and it's just been a great partnership,' says Sabathia. 'Started off with the priceless moments, small business campaigns. Being able to have a chance to partner with Mastercard for me – especially with the Stand Up To Cancer campaign – I think everything that they do with me in baseball has been awesome.' Anne Valentzas, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Sponsorship for Mastercard, details Sabathia's role with the company. 'He's a fantastic ambassador, another really genuine individual,' says Valentzas. 'We look for ways to connect with fans through their passions. He's one of these ambassadors who's really good with the fans, who really wants to give back. We've worked with him in many, many different ways. He's done fan experiences with us. He's also worked with our B-to-B partners. He's come into customer events and interacted with our customers.' Valentzas further details why Sabathia is the 'perfect' ambassador for Mastercard as the company looks to continue to connect with consumers through 'passion and purpose.' 'He's larger than life, he's very warm,' says Valentzas. 'He's warm, but he's very approachable. He wants to give back to the fans. He wants to engage with them. He's generous. I would say he's very generous with his time, with his commitment, with hhis passion. That's really where fans feel that connection, and that's what feels priceless.' Mastercard unveiled their partnership with the Jonas Brothers during the 2025 MLB All-Star Game, which is to help promote their 'Stand Up To Cancer' campaign. The campaign is created to shine a light on perserverence and support as people stand up and support those they love. 'I lost my father to cancer in 2003, so it's something very near and dear to me and my family's heart,' says Sabathia of why the campaign means a lot to him. 'It's just a message that's a great partnership with baseball, something that affects a lot of families.'
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
CC Sabathia
CC Sabathia originally appeared on Athlon Sports. While CC Sabathia retired from Major League Baseball in 2019, the first-ballot Hall of Famer remains closely tied to the game. The New York Yankees legend, who started working with Commissioner Rob Manfred in 2022, acts as a liaison between players and the league. While in Atlanta for the 2025 MLB All-Star Game this week, Sabathia wore many hats. In addition to being a brand ambassador for Mastercard, a major sponsor of the Midsummer Classic, he also participated in the 24th annual All-Star Celebrity Softball Game, where he had his own "priceless" moment. While the six-time All-Star will be enshrined in Cooperstown due to his work on the mound, he won the MVP Award after launching a monster home run during the American League team's softball win. Sabathia, however, was happy to return to the stands to watch the Home Run Derby and the All-Star Game, the latter of which ended with a National League win following a historic Home Run Swing-Off in lieu of a 10th inning. Looking ahead to the second half of the season, I asked Sabathia which team he believes will win the 2025 World Series. "Man, I think the Dodgers are obviously a very good team if they can get healthy. So I'll have to go with them in the National League right now. "And then the Yankees, they need some bullpen help. They need a third baseman. But I do think if the Tigers can make some moves and get some bull pen help with [Tarik] Skubal, they can give the Yankees a run. So, I'm going to go Tigers right now." So, if it all comes down to the Dodgers, the 2024 World Series Champions, against Tigers this October -- who wins? "Dodgers," Sabathia answered. "Back to back."This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Times
07-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
How CC Sabathia's 2008 Milwaukee summer smoothed a path to Cooperstown
It was the sweetest kind of summer fling, the kind you wish could last forever while knowing it never will. CC Sabathia and the Milwaukee Brewers were never going to stay together. But for 90 days in the heart of a Hall of Fame career, the man, the moment, the market and the mix made baseball magic. Advertisement 'He basically said, 'Guys, get on my back, let's go for a fun ride,'' said Doug Melvin, who traded for Sabathia 17 years ago Monday. 'And that's what happened.' Melvin will represent the Brewers in Cooperstown, N.Y., this month for Sabathia's induction to the ranks of the immortals. He will fly from his summer home in Utah to Detroit to Syracuse, N.Y., then rent a car and drive to the charming, timeless village on Otsego Lake. Nobody gets to Cooperstown easily. That is what makes it so special. Sabathia might have gotten there without the 11 victories and 128 strikeouts he collected as a Brewer. But he wouldn't have had nearly as much fun. 'I felt like I left a big impression on Milwaukee,' Sabathia said in January, after the writers elected him on the first ballot. 'But Milwaukee has left a huge impression on me.' For Sabathia, 2008 sits between his Cy Young season with Cleveland and his championship with the Yankees. He won no awards that year and lost in the first round of playoffs. But he earned incalculable karma from the baseball gods. Fueled by a fierce and instant bond with his new clubhouse, which included more Black teammates than he'd had since childhood in Vallejo, Calif., Sabathia assumed a bigger workload than any pitcher has undertaken since. He won his first start, the day after the trade. He fired complete games in five of his next 10 starts through the end of August. Then, in late September, on the precipice of free agency, Sabathia made his final three starts on three days' rest. He completed the final one, in Game 162, and the Brewers reached the playoffs for the first time in 26 years. For the 2008 season, Sabathia faced a staggering 1,023 batters. No pitcher has faced that many since, and the way the sport has evolved, nobody ever will. 'Anytime you bring CC up – although he is going to the Hall of Fame as a Yankee and he's had a bunch of accolades pre- and post-Milwaukee – there's not one negative thing about that name,' said Rickie Weeks, the Brewers' second baseman then and now their associate manager. 'I think the fans understood: this is not real, this is not something that's common for somebody to come in on a contract year and put his arm on the line for an organization that he barely knows to go out and win a game. That's the best compliment anybody can have as a player, if you ask me.' The Brewers were in their fourth year under owner Mark Attanasio, who was eager to reframe the franchise's reputation. The playoff format offered only one wild card in each league, and the Brewers were tied for it, with St. Louis, on July 7. Melvin was willing to pay more to act early, believing – correctly – that extra starts by Sabathia could make the difference. Advertisement He knew Cleveland had hoped to draft first baseman Matt LaPorta the year before, but Milwaukee got him instead. Including LaPorta in the deal got the Indians' attention, and Melvin also offered pitchers Zach Jackson and Rob Bryson. The final piece would be a player to be named – Class-A infielder Taylor Green or future All-Star outfielder Michael Brantley, then in Class AA. 'How about if we do this?' Melvin said, recalling what he told Indians general manager Mark Shapiro. 'If CC comes over and we get to the playoffs for the first time in (26) years, then you get to pick if it's Green or if it's Brantley. And if something happens, if CC gets hurt or it just doesn't really help us that much, then I get to pick the fourth player.' That unusual – and unofficial – arrangement finalized the deal. Melvin told Sabathia he could take his time and be ready for a start in six days. Instead, Sabathia reported immediately and started the next day; his red Cleveland spikes had to be painted Brewers' blue. Sabathia would make 10 starts at the stadium then called Miller Park, and eight of them drew more than 41,000 fans. Sabathia was pitching for the city, to be sure, but more deeply for his new teammates. He knew reliever David Riske, a close friend from their days in Cleveland. That helped. So did the makeup of the roster. 'When I walked into the Milwaukee clubhouse for the first time, I looked around and couldn't believe what I saw: five Black faces,' Sabathia wrote in 'Till The End,' his 2021 memoir with Chris Smith. 'That may not sound like a big number, but on a major-league roster, it was huge.' Sabathia wrote that he had, at times, been the only Black player with Cleveland. And while he had plenty of Latino and White friends, like Riske, he did not realize how lonely he had been until arriving in Milwaukee. Advertisement 'To be Black in America is to constantly be on guard,' Sabathia wrote. 'With the Brewers, for the first time in my baseball life, I could be more at ease.' The other Black players on the Brewers were Weeks, infielder Bill Hall, first baseman Prince Fielder and outfielders Mike Cameron and Tony Gwynn Jr. Another, Ray Durham, soon arrived in a trade. 'We're all still really close,' Sabathia said last spring, at a Hall of Fame event with Fielder and Gwynn. 'And I only played there for three months.' It was like a clubhouse from the 1980s, when Black players made up more than 18 percent of MLB rosters. That figure has since been cut by two-thirds; according to MLB, only 6.2 percent of players on 2025 opening day rosters were Black. It's a multilayered issue that baseball has struggled to solve. 'I got a chance to play in an era where I saw three or four Black guys on a team, and when you came to their city, they took care of you,' said Cameron, who reached the majors in 1995, when Sabathia was still in high school. 'That was part of it, kind of like the Latin guys now, they bring food, they have a chance to understand (each other). I like that.' Cameron, like Sabathia, was a clubhouse unifier with a wide, diverse circle of friends. But the composition of the Brewers clubhouse offered something intangible and resonant that made a newcomer at home. 'When you're joking, jawing, carrying on and everything, it's something we never really get a chance to express unless you're around your family at Thanksgiving or Christmas,' Cameron said. 'So when you have that type of energy going on, when you have two or three guys that legitimately understand what you've been through, it made it so good.' As Sabathia described it, Cameron was the wise older brother; Weeks was quiet and shy but cutting with a well-timed jab; Fielder the loud trash talker; Hall the 'down-home dude' from Mississippi; Gwynn the consummate professional. Advertisement 'It was great because we weren't afraid of confrontation,' Weeks said. 'And confrontation doesn't mean fighting. We weren't afraid to call somebody out. Guys posted, and what I mean by posted is guys showed up to play. There was no 'I'm trying to save myself.'' As the pennant race reached its frenzied finish, another starter facing free agency, All-Star Ben Sheets, tried to pitch through elbow pain and tore a ligament. Even with that sobering example – and against the advice of his agent, Brian Peters – Sabathia began taking the ball on short rest. His teammates were awed by that selflessness. 'I look back on it and it just really speaks to his greatness, right?' Gwynn said. 'I mean, the mere fact that he was going out there every third day – and not just going out there but dominating – it was one of the craziest things I've ever been a part of. And he didn't blink. When he was asked, it was like a no-brainer. 'I imagine that would never happen again. Guys are way too business-conscious to pull that off going into free agency. That's nuts.' After Sabathia completed the final game of the regular season – and the Florida Marlins helpfully eliminated the Mets in New York – the Brewers had finally returned to the postseason. It ushered in a new era for the franchise, which reached 3 million fans for the first time in 2008, then did it again in 2009 and 2011, four years before Melvin transitioned to an advisory role. 'They've done well since,' Melvin said of the Brewers, who have reached the postseason in six of the last seven years. 'But I'd like to think that 2008 sort of jump-started the change of how the franchise looked at things.' Alas, in the fall of 2008 – well, it turned colder, that's where it ends. Sabathia started the second game of the division series in Philadelphia, again on three days' rest, and couldn't get out of the fourth inning. He walked the opposing pitcher, Brett Myers and gave up a grand slam to Shane Victorino. The Brewers lost in four games. Advertisement 'We pushed him so much that he had nothing left for the Phillies,' Cameron said. 'He battled, but he didn't have that same sharpness, that same late-inning grit. And that's our fault. He shouldn't have been put in that situation. And we didn't do much as an offense, either. We didn't give him the proper sendoff.' The Yankees signed Sabathia, of course, attracted by his outsized talent and leadership qualities. Melvin got a courtesy meeting with Sabathia's agents at the winter meetings, but the sides didn't even talk money. The final deal with the Yankees – seven years, $161 million – was a record for a pitcher. And Sabathia, having fit so seamlessly into a new setting in Milwaukee, did the same with the Yankees. As soon as he arrived, he was all in. 'To see him get there and see how he embraced it, and how they embraced him, that's one of the superpowers he has,' Gwynn said. 'He's just naturally a good dude. By that time he had been seasoned by the vets that he had come up with in Cleveland, and it was like he was blooming at the exact time for him to go out on his own. The timing couldn't have been any better.' Neither could the setting for Sabathia's last preview before Broadway, on his way to Cooperstown. (Photo of CC Sabathia's first start with the Brewers in 2008: Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images)
