NEW York Yankees legend CC Sabathia made sure to let the world know about his mother, Margie, and how she made him the Hall of Famer he is today.
Sabathia told The U.S. Sun about his mom and what was behind his touching words about her during his National Baseball Hall of Fame induction speech in Cooperstown, New York, on Sunday, July 27.
New York Yankees legend CC Sabathia credited his mother, Margie, and others during his acceptance speech during the Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on July 27[/caption]
The first-ballot Hall of Fame lefty pitcher Sabathia gave an 11-plus minute speech in which he thanked the women in his life, from his wife, Amber, and mother, both of whom were in attendance, his grandmother, and his aunts.
But Sabathia shared that it was his mom who taught him to be a fan of baseball and how to play the game as a kid in Vallejo, California.
“My mom loved the game, too,” Sabathia said at the ceremony podium. “When I was young, she’d put the catching gear on and catch me in the backyard.
“My mom is the reason I’m a baseball fan.”
Sabathia then mentioned that his parents split up when he was 12 and that he lost several family members, but that his mother “kept going,” which taught him that “if we are here, if we are breathing, if we are standing, we can get through it.”
Sabathia would go on to be a six-time MLB All-Star and solidify his Cooperstown status thanks to his 11-year tenure with the Yankees, where he helped the franchise win the World Series in 2009.
After his speech, Sabathia took part in a post-ceremony media conference inside the Clark Sports Center.
The last question saw The U.S. Sun ask Sabathia about crediting Margie in the speech and what his mother meant to him for his stellar career, and getting him eventually enshrined in Cooperstown.
“She’s the goat. She was incredibly savvy,” Sabathia began.
Sabathia then recalled a key moment in his life that displayed his mother’s good judgment.
The 45-year-old brought up his senior year in high school when he really became a highly touted baseball player but had to decide whether to focus on the sport or continue to play football and basketball.
While the outside perception was that he’d only play baseball in his final high school year, Sabathia’s mom advised against playing only one sport.
“I remember having a conversation with my mama riding in the car, and she said, ‘If you’re going to be this baseball player that you think you’re going to be, and everybody thinks you’re going to be, you need to play these other sports,’” he recalled Margie’s advice.
‘This is going to be your last time playing organized football.
Sabathia hugs his mother during a home dinner after pitching seven shutout innings in a 2004 game[/caption]
‘You’ve been playing with these kids since you were, you know, 13, 14 years old.
‘You need to play this basketball season and enjoy your senior year.’”
“It was just always things like that, little nuggets like that.”
Sabathia then shared the process of being drafted in the first round by the Cleveland Indians in the 1998 MLB Draft.
Sabathia with his mother after learning that he’s been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in January[/caption]
The then-17-year-old didn’t sign an agent to make decisions for him during his senior year in high school.
But Sabathia and his mom would be in a meeting with a college or MLB team at their house every night and she’d let them know she’s the agent.
Then, when he got selected with the 20th overall selection, Margie looked up the previous Draft No. 20 pick’s signing bonus and made a similar deal.
Sabathia noted during his speech that he’s given a nod for his father, Corky, who died early in his baseball career.
Sabathia has been enshrined wearing the cap of the Yankees where he played 11 seasons and was the ace of the team’s championship team in 2009[/caption]
But the 3,000-plus strikeout maestro made sure to highlight his mother’s influence on the man he is today.
“So I always tell the story about my father, and you know, I owe him everything is the reason, one of the reasons why I’m here. But my mom is my anchor,” Sabathia told The U.S. Sun.
“She’s my rock. She’s the goat, like I said.
“And you know, I felt like I had to tell that story today.”
