CC Sabathia is a former American professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 19 seasons. He was born on July 21, 1980, in Vallejo, California, and grew up in nearby Pittsburg. Sabathia was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in 1998 and made his MLB debut with them in 2001.
Over his career, Sabathia played for the Cleveland Indians, Milwaukee Brewers, and New York Yankees, winning a World Series championship with the Yankees in 2009. He was a six-time All-Star, won the American League Cy Young Award in 2007, and finished in the top five in voting for the award four other times. He also won the Warren Spahn Award for the best left-handed pitcher in MLB in 2007 and 2008.
Sabathia retired from baseball in 2019 with a career record of 251-161 and an ERA of 3.74. Off the field, he has been active in various charitable endeavors, including his PitCCh In Foundation, which focuses on empowering and helping children in underserved communities.
CC Sabathia has been open about his struggles with substance abuse and addiction, particularly with alcohol. In 2015, he checked himself into an alcohol rehabilitation center in the middle of the baseball season, citing concerns about his health and family. Sabathia had been struggling with alcohol for years, and his decision to seek treatment was seen as a brave and important step in his recovery.
Following his time in rehab, Sabathia returned to the Yankees and spoke candidly about his struggles with addiction, hoping to raise awareness and reduce the stigma surrounding substance abuse. He has since become an advocate for addiction recovery and has shared his story with others to inspire them to seek help.
In 2019, Sabathia announced that he had been sober for five years, and he continues to work on his recovery every day. His honesty and courage in speaking openly about his addiction have made him a role model for many, both within and outside of the baseball community.
