CC Sabathia: Yankees’ pitcher announces retirement and plans for his final MLB season
Left-handed pin-striped pitcher CC Sabathia held a press conference this weekend and informed the world that his coming season with the Bigs will be his final one. Sabathia, who is entering Year 19 playing for Major League Baseball, said he’d be calling it quits at the end of the 2019 season.
“I just wanted to make this announcement that 2019 is my final season,” Sabathia said at the start of his news conference at the New York Yankees’ spring training complex. ~ Per ESPN
Accompanied by his wife, Amber, and three of his four kids, Sabathia seemed to be holding back the tears as he announced his retirement and thanked his wife and parents for helping make his dreams come true.
… the 38-year-old credited his mother — “I owe her the world” — and wife for their support at multiple stages of his baseball life. He also reflected fondly on his late father, remembering a conversation shared at the outset of Sabathia’s big-league career.
“He always told me I’d play for the Yankees,” Sabathia said. “And when I was in Cleveland, I’d be like, ‘No, no chance. I’m going to be an Indian my whole career.’ He always said, ‘When you’re a free agent, the Yankees are going to come get you, and you’re going to win a World Series with the Yankees.'”
The popular south paw has been experiencing knee problems of late and said that he wants to be able to spend more time at home with his wife and children. He lamented missing out on his kids’ sports activities and dance recitals over the years and wants to make up for that. He also said,
“I didn’t want to overstay my welcome or anything like that. I wanted to be effective and be able to go out and feel like I have a chance to help the team win,” Sabathia said. “I feel like I’m still able to do that.
“Being able to go out with my last year and just giving everything, hopefully that’ll turn out good for me and not trying to save something for 2020 or years after that. This is it. This is the final year.”
ESPN reminded us that Sabathia is only 14 strikeouts away from joining the 3,000-strikeout club. He’s also four wins away from becoming the 14th player with 3,000 career strikeouts and 250 career wins.
To celebrate his 19th and final season, Sabathia
will host 52 children from local Boys & Girls Clubs at Yankee games in each
American League city this season, as well as one National League series. Groups
will be invited to the first game of the last away series with all American
League opponents, as well as at Oracle Park in San Francisco on April 26th, as
a nod to Sabathia’s Bay Area roots.
When he was growing up in Vallejo, California, the Boys & Girls Club
offered Sabathia a safe place to go after school. The Club also provided him
the opportunity to attend his first Major League Baseball game and to meet his
hero, Oakland A’s pitcher Dave Stewart. To show his gratitude to the
organization and mentor children much like his former self, Sabathia and his
wife Amber partnered with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, hosting a myriad
of events throughout his career, such as holiday parties, baseball clinics and
career panels.
“The Boys & Girls Club was a huge part of my life growing up and a major influence on where I am today,” said Sabathia. “So many people at the organization touched my life and I’m excited to have them be a part of my final season. I hope by doing this that my legacy will inspire a new generation of youth to be unstoppable!”
The PitCCh In Foundation, which Sabathia and his wife Amber founded in 2008 enrich the lives of inner-city youth by raising their self-esteem through educational and athletic activities, will fund the season long program, providing transportation, tickets to the game, food vouchers, custom shirts and an on-field meet & greet with the World Champion and six-time All-Star.
Below, see the complete list of games and markets Sabathia will host Boys & Girls Clubs members. Follow Sabathia’s final season with the hashtag the #LegaCCy Season on social media.
April 26 – San Francisco Giants*
May 24 – Kansas City Royals
June 7 – Cleveland Indians
June 13 – Chicago White Sox
July 22 – Minnesota Twins
August 5 – Baltimore Orioles
August 20 – Oakland Athletics
August 23 – Los Angeles Angels
August 26 – Seattle Mariners
September 6 – Boston Red Sox
September 10 – Detroit Tigers
September 13 – Toronto Blue Jays
September 22 – New York Yankees (Last Yankees home game)
September 24 – Tampa Bay Rays
September 27 – Texas Rangers
*Indicates National League Game
Statement from Yankees
Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner:
“CC has been a great ambassador for our game, and we are proud that he has represented our organization for the past decade. His competitive spirit is matched only by his devotion to family and his relentless philanthropic pursuits. CC has always been a pillar in our clubhouse, and we look forward to him further cementing his impressive legacy this season and contributing to our championship goals.”
Statement from Former Yankees Shortstop Derek Jeter:
“I had the pleasure of competing against CC and also with him, and have always considered him one of my favorite teammates. He rose to and exceeded the expectations and pressure, especially during his time with the Yankees, and was a key piece to the 2009 championship team. CC embodies what it means to be a professional athlete and has been an incredible ambassador for Baseball. He has an unwavering commitment to success on the field and an even greater desire to give back through his foundation work off the field.”
(Source: MLB)
~ Posted by: Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Connect with Richard on Facebook and Twitter
