CC Sabathia could laugh about it Friday because of everything that followed the decision.
The World Series title in 2009. The three All-Star Game appearances. His 132 victories, 3.81 ERA and 1,700 strikeouts in pinstripes in 11 seasons.
But before he decided to join the Yankees, Sabathia was intimidated by New York City. He saw other players come here and get swallowed up by the pressure of the big city.
Then, he let general manager Brian Cashman into his home.
“We had the initial meeting at the winter meetings in Las Vegas. I wasn’t convinced, I was still looking for other options,” Sabathia, a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 2025, who received 86.8 percent of the vote, recalled. “I flew home that night. ‘Cash’ came to my house that night. He sat down on the couch with me and Amber. He was like, ‘I’ve waited three years. There were other guys I could’ve signed but I didn’t sign because I was targeting you to come here. I know you can change my clubhouse, I know you can change the structure of the way this team is.’ … That conversation was the reason I ended up signing.”
Clearly, it was a very good decision.
Sabathia helped lead the Yankees to their 27th and most recent title, and became a favorite of teammates and fans alike.
On Friday, his No. 52 jersey was retired. When he arrived in The Bronx in 2009, the big left-hander couldn’t have imagined joining all the great Yankees in Monument Park. He had been part of these ceremonies before, but this was obviously different.
“That ceremony was incredible, surreal,” Sabathia, 46, said. “I was saying out there I have so many famous teammates whether it’s Mo [Mariano Rivera], Derek [Jeter], Andy [Pettitte]. So I’ve been at the ceremony a bunch of times but to have that ceremony be for me is special and to have my family out there was cool.”
Sabathia was joined by his wife Amber, mother Margie and two of his children. The ceremony included video messages from Jorge Posada, Paul O’Neill, Bernie Williams and former Yankees manager Joe Girardi. Teammates Jeter, Dellin Betances, Pettitte and Chris Young were a part of the festivities.
Sabathia was presented with a blue blazer, a framed version of his plaque and retired number, along with a ring commemorating his career.
He threw out the ceremonial first pitch to son Carsten, a first baseman in the Brewers minor league system, after becoming the fifth member of the 2009 World series champions to have his number retired by the Yankees. The others are Jeter, Pettitte, Rivera and Jorge Posada.
“I never envisioned myself going into Monument Park and I think that was the reason why I was so scared to come here is because you don’t ever think you’re going to win the Yankee fans over or the city over,” Sabathia said. “So to be able to be sitting here now, playing here 11 years, is an incredible feeling and that’s why I’ve said the last couple of weeks this feels bigger to me than the Hall of Fame because I know what was at stake when I came here.”
