CC Sabathia

Carsten Charles "CC" Sabathia is a former professional baseball pitcher who had a career spanning 19 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). Sabathia's MLB journey started with the Cleveland Indians before he moved on to the Milwaukee Brewers and, finally, the New York Yankees. His MLB debut was on April 8, 2001, and over the course of his career, Sabathia earned a reputation as a dominant pitcher. This dominance was reflected in his numerous accolades, including the AL Cy Young Award in 2007, six-time All-Star recognition (2003, 2004, 2007, 2010-2012), and the World Series title with the New York Yankees in 2009.

Sabathia's prowess on the pitcher's mound was not just limited to his time with the Yankees. He led all of MLB in wins in 2009 and 2010 and was named the ALCS MVP in 2009. His career saw him tied with Bob Gibson for the second-most wins by a Black pitcher in MLB history. At the time of his retirement in February 2019, Sabathia led all active MLB players in career wins, career innings pitched, and career strikeouts. Sabathia's career with the Cleveland Indians alone saw him notch a total of 106 wins and 1,265 strikeouts. As a testament to his speed and control, he threw the fastest fastball in the AL in 2005, averaging 94.7 miles per hour.

Retirement did not mark the end of Sabathia's involvement with baseball. He was hired by Major League Baseball as a special assistant to the commissioner after his retirement. Apart from his accomplishments on the field, Sabathia has shown resilience in his personal life. He battled alcoholism, sought treatment, and opened up about his struggles in an essay for The Players' Tribune. Additionally, Sabathia lost 60 pounds through a diet and exercise program. Outside of baseball, Sabathia co-hosts the R2C2 podcast with Ryan Ruocco and has a field named "CC Sabathia Field at Luke Easter Park" in his honor.