Vallejo native CC Sabathia always had the keys to success on the pitching mound. Now he’s getting the key to the city of Vallejo.
Vallejo, in partnership with the Vallejo City Unified School District and Sabathia’s PitCCh-In Foundation, will honor the baseball legend, philanthropist and hometown hero on Nov. 16.
The big day, recognizing Sabathia for his achievements and contributions his home city, will take place at Vallejo High School’s Corbus Field. Sabathia will be presented with a proclamation, an honorary street renaming, and a key to the city.
The gates to Corbus Field will open at 11 a.m.for children’s activities, and the official ceremony will begin at 1 p.m. with the official program. The event is open to the public.
Baseball Hall of Fame inductee CC Sabathia poses for a photo with his plaque after the National Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Cooperstown, N.Y., Sunday. The Vallejo native said during his speech, “It’s been a long road from Vallejo, California and I wouldn’t have made it all this way without all the women redirecting me when I got lost. Tonight, tell your grannies, your moms, your aunts, your sisters, your wives, your sisters and your daughters how much you love and appreciate them. Thank you baseball hall of fame for making the Sabathia’s a part of your family.’ (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
In July of this year, Sabathia was inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.
“In that moment I felt a big relief,” said Sabathia in July, remembering the phone call from ack O’Connell from the Baseball Writers Association of America. “It was a big anticipation for me and a good validation for my career. But the process was nerve-wracking. I know how important this is and how serious the Baseball Hall of Fame is and how serious it is to go in on the first ballot.
“But man those first 20 minutes waiting for the phone to ring are rough,” Sabathia added with a laugh.
Sabathia retired after the 2019 season, ending a career that featured a Cy Young Award in 2007 and a World Series title with the Yankees in 2009. He finished with 251 wins and 3,093 strikeouts. He started 560 games in his career, including 11 Opening Day games and pitching more innings than anyone else in the last 30 years.
Perhaps Sabathia was just too busy to stop and wonder if he was Hall of Fame material.
“No, I never thought about it. I only thought about how to win games and do the best for my team,” Sabathia said. “In 2017 I had a chance to sit down with Harold Reynolds (MLB Network analyst), and he told me what it would mean to get 250 wins and 3,000 strikeouts. If I did that, there was a very good possibility I’d get in the Hall of Fame.
“But the reflection on my career, that came after it ended. I was always too busy trying to get better and win another World Series.”
Vallejo native and New York Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia prepares to throw a pitch to campers at his free PitCCh In Foundation Baseball ProCamp. (Thomas Gase – Times-Herald)
Sabathia is currently 18th in career strikeouts and one of just four left-handers to hit the 3,000-strikeout mark, along with Randy Johnson, Steve Carlton and Clayton Kershaw.
Throughout his career, Sabathia and his family looked for opportunities to give back.
Emphasis on the word “back.”
To help support the youth and families of Vallejo. CC, along with his wife Amber and his mother Margie, established the PitCCh-In Foundation. He conducts free backpack giveaways to students on the first day of school, or free baseball camps held annually at Corbus Field.
Hazel Wilson, one of the main organizers of the backpack giveaway each year, had nothing but compliments for CC and Amber earlier this year.
“He is a great example for the youth of Vallejo,” Wilson said in July. “He has never forgotten where he came from. I am most proud that he continues to remember the youth of Vallejo with the free baseball camps, annual scholarships and backpacks and school supplies. His donations to the Teacher Store ensure equity of school supplies in the classroom. CC and Amber are truly awesome.”