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Published on January 22, 2025
CC Sabathia Enters Baseball Hall of Fame with 86.8% Vote in First Ballot, Cleveland Celebrates Legendary PitcherSource: Arturo Pardavila III from Hoboken, NJ, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Baseball's storied pantheon has officially welcomed former Cleveland ace CC Sabathia. In his first shot at baseball immortality, Sabathia clinched his place in the Hall of Fame with an impressive 86.8% of the votes gathered from the Baseball Writers' Association of America, as Cleveland19 reports. The left-hander's career spanned 19 seasons, during which he accumulated a laudable 251-161 record, paired with a sharp 3.74 ERA and a towering 3,093 strikeouts total, which places him comfortably as the third on the list for southpaws.

Drafted back in 1998 by then-Indians, Sabathia's Cleveland tenure was significant as he racked up 106 wins for the team, according to stats quoted from WKYC. Besides being consistent on the mound, he led the majors with 241 innings pitched in 2007—the year he snagged the illustrious Cy Young Award. His mentorship under the guidance of Cleveland pitching coach Carl Willis shaped much of his pitching prowess, with Sabathia stating, "Literally everything that I learned as a pitcher... Carl Willis is responsible for," in a moment of reflection captured by WKYC.

In addition to Sabathia's achievements, News 5 Cleveland notes that he joins the ranks of baseball greats alongside outfielder Ichiro Suzuki, who remarkably fell short by just one vote for unanimous selection, something achieved only by the legendary Mariano Rivera. Former MLB pitcher Billy Wagner will also be a part of the class of 2025, rounding out a diverse group of seasoned talent.

While his later years in New York cemented his legacy where he continued to dominate with three more All-Star appearances and a World Series championship in 2009, Sabathia will enter the Hall with a Yankees cap on his plaque, a decision rooted in gratitude toward the organization that "wanted" him, as WKYC reports. Sabathia's impact on Cleveland will linger regardless of the cap, with a youth baseball field named in his honor, ensuring his legacy endures beyond the diamond.

All eyes, or at least those with a penchant for baseball history, will turn towards Cooperstown come July 27 for what promises to be an induction ceremony laced with nostalgia, achievement, and celebration of baseball's newest Hall of Famers. Cleveland's voice of baseball, Tom Hamilton, will also be recognized, bagging the Ford C. Frick Award for broadcasting excellence as the cherry on top of a sweet sporting siesta.