CC Sabathia stood as an impressive presence on the mound during his 19-year journey in Major League Baseball—not just due to his stature, but also because of his ability to dominate games.

Carsten Charles Sabathia Jr. embodied the term “workhorse” throughout his career. The 6-foot-6 left-handed pitcher was known for his remarkable reliability, rarely skipping a start and often going deep into games, traits that have become increasingly rare in modern baseball.

After finishing as the runner-up for the 2001 AL Rookie of the Year, Sabathia dedicated his first eight seasons with the Cleveland Indians, where he built a reputation for both consistency and strength.

He garnered the AL Cy Young award in 2007, boasting 19 victories and a 3.21 ERA across a league-leading 241 innings. Just before the All-Star break in the following season, he was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers, embarking on the most spectacular phase of his career as he nearly single-handedly propelled the Brewers to the playoffs.

During his 17 games with Milwaukee, he achieved an impressive 11-2 record with a 1.65 ERA, leading the National League in complete games (seven) and shutouts (three). His impact on the Brewers’ playoff run was so profound that he finished sixth in the NL MVP voting despite only being with the team for a brief period.

That offseason, Sabathia signed a groundbreaking seven-year, $161 million contract with the New York Yankees, marking the largest contract for a pitcher in baseball history at that time.

This investment paid off when Sabathia led the majors with 19 wins in 2009, steering the Yankees to a World Series championship. He spent the next decade with New York, earning 134 of his 251 career victories in a Yankee uniform while becoming the 17th pitcher ever to reach 3,000 career strikeouts.

Why Sabathia Deserves a Place in the Hall of Fame

As a six-time All-Star, Sabathia enjoyed impressive highs, particularly during a remarkable seven-year period from 2006 to 2012 when he achieved a record of 122-57 with a 3.14 ERA. His remarkable endurance led to total career stats of 251 wins and 3,093 strikeouts, ranking him third all-time among left-handed pitchers.

Over his 19-year tenure, he played a vital role in helping his teams secure playoff appearances eleven times. Notably, he was named MVP of the 2009 American League Championship Series, allowing only two earned runs in 16 innings (1.13 ERA) over two victories against the Los Angeles Angels, ultimately guiding the Yankees to the World Series.

Sabathia concluded his professional journey with 62.3 Wins Above Replacement according to Baseball-Reference.com, placing him just behind Hall of Famers Bob Feller and Juan Marichal, and ahead of Early Wynn and Jim Bunning.

Arguments Against Sabathia’s Induction

Despite his extensive career, Sabathia’s 3.74 ERA would rank among the highest for pitchers enshrined in Cooperstown, only surpassed by Jack Morris (3.90) and Red Ruffing (3.80) among the 66 non-Negro League starting pitchers in the Hall. However, it is important to note that he pitched during an era characterized by heightened offensive performance, giving his 116 ERA+ a competitive edge over 20 other Hall of Fame pitchers.

While he clinched a World Series title and made 23 postseason appearances, Sabathia did not have as many standout moments in October as some of his contemporaries. His playoff record of 10-7 with a 4.28 ERA is relatively modest.

X Factors in Sabathia’s Career

Beyond his prowess on the mound, Sabathia was one of the game’s most recognizable and vocal Black players, earning widespread admiration from teammates for his selflessness and team-oriented mindset.

A particularly notable incident occurred as his playing career was winding down in 2018, when he was ejected from his final start for retaliating against an opposing pitcher by hitting a batter. This act, motivated by the opposing pitcher’s dangerous pitch that nearly injured a Yankees player, cost Sabathia a shot at a $500,000 contract bonus, yet the Yankees chose to honor the bonus regardless.

Throughout his career, Sabathia also faced a public struggle with alcohol, and his journey towards recovery has made him a relatable and inspiring figure in that regard.

Trends in Voting

Sabathia appears to have strong prospects for his initial run on the BBWAA ballot.

As of January 19, Ryan Thibodaux’s Hall of Fame Tracker indicates that he has received support from 93.1% of public votes collected.

Future Prospects

As one of the last true workhorse pitchers, Sabathia’s total of 3,577⅓ innings pitched stands as the highest among players born after 1966, however, he did not arrive until 1980.

The BBWAA has not inducted a pitcher into the Hall since 2019, when Mariano Rivera, Roy Halladay, and Mike Mussina were honored. Sabathia (along with Billy Wagner) could offer a refreshing change this year.