CC Sabathia’s Road to Cooperstown Includes Unexpected Stop

It was an all-too-relatable moment from one of the most dominant pitchers of his generation. And it set the tone for what promises to be a weekend filled with celebration, family and fun.

Sabathia Set for Cooperstown Induction on Sunday

Sabathia will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday, July 28, as part of the Class of 2025. He was elected in his first year on the ballot, receiving 86.8% of the vote, and has chosen to be enshrined with a New York Yankees cap on his plaque.

The left-hander spent 11 of his 19 big-league seasons in the Bronx, winning a World Series with the Yankees in 2009 and serving as a rotation cornerstone well into his mid-30s. But his legacy extends beyond one team.

Sabathia broke in with the Cleveland Guardians in 2001, won the American League Cy Young Award in 2007, and helped carry the Milwaukee Brewers to the postseason during a remarkable run in 2008. In total, he made 560 starts, threw over 3,500 innings, and reached several rare statistical milestones.

A Career Worthy of Cooperstown

Sabathia finished with a 251–161 record, a 3.74 ERA, and 3,093 strikeouts—good for third all-time among left-handers and 18th overall in MLB history. He’s one of just 18 pitchers to reach the 3,000-strikeout mark and one of only 14 pitchers in league history with 250 wins and 3,000 strikeouts.

He was a six-time All-Star, the 2009 ALCS MVP, and a key piece of the Yankees’ most recent championship. Beyond the numbers, he was known for his leadership, resilience, and ability to adapt late in his career as injuries forced him to evolve from a power pitcher into a crafty veteran.

Hall of Fame Weekend Gets a Human Moment

Sabathia told reporters earlier this month that he postponed knee replacement surgery until after the induction ceremony, not wanting to appear in front of the crowd with a noticeable limp. Instead, he’s rolling into Cooperstown the way fans have always known him: banged up and determined.

He was heading into Cooperstown in his style, even if it meant calling for roadside assistance along the way.

As thousands of fans head to upstate New York for Hall of Fame Weekend, Sabathia’s photo struck the perfect tone. It was a reminder that even legends get stuck in traffic—or on the shoulder.

For all his dominance on the mound, CC Sabathia never lost touch with what made him relatable. And now, as he prepares to join the game’s most exclusive club, his latest post has just added one more reason why fans still love him.