CLEVELAND, Ohio — CC Sabathia and Tom Hamilton have been part of each other’s lives for nearly three decades — a relationship that started in Cleveland and will come full circle next week when both are honored in Cooperstown during baseball’s Hall of Fame weekend.
Sabathia, who will be inducted as a player, and Hamilton, who will receive the prestigious Ford C. Frick Award for broadcasting excellence, reflected on their special connection Friday.
“I couldn’t be more excited and proud of the class that I’m getting a chance to go into Cooperstown with,” Sabathia said. “Ichiro — we were rookies together. Dave Parker, I got a chance to watch him as a kid growing up in Vallejo and I was a huge fan of his.”
But it was Hamilton who got in on the ground floor for the start of Sabathia’s journey to the big leagues. The left-hander recalled his first radio interview with Hamilton after being drafted by Cleveland, noting how their relationship grew from there.
“Every time since then he always asks about my mom and wife, Amber, and the kids and we just have that great relationship,” Sabathia said.
Hamilton, who called virtually all of Sabathia’s games during his Cleveland tenure, expressed similar sentiments upon learning that the two would be heading to Cooperstown at the same time.
“When you get that phone call, you think, how do you top this?” Hamilton said. “Going in with CC, it just kind of added the cherry on top because I think so much of him and Amber. They’re two of the finest people I’ve ever been around. Everyone that played with CC will tell you he was their best teammate ever. To me, that’s the highest compliment you can give a player.”
The longtime Guardians broadcaster still vividly remembers Sabathia’s first start with the team.
“I’ll never forget it here (at Progressive Field), against Baltimore and he’s throwing like 27 consecutive fastballs at about 98 mph,” Hamilton recalled. “He was so amped up.”
Suggesting the two would now be teammates forever in Cooperstown prompted Hamilton to respond humbly.
“I’m the lucky one that got to watch him,” Hamilton said. “I’m just so happy for him that I don’t feel like I’m going in with him. He’s going in as a player. I’m just lucky to tag along.”
For Sabathia, who now hears Hamilton’s calls from afar, the broadcaster’s talent remains evident. He specifically mentioned Hamilton’s call of the José Ramírez and Tim Anderson fight as one that stands out in recent years.
“Hammy does a great job and I’m just excited to see him,” Sabathia said.
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