{"id":21159,"date":"2025-01-22T00:12:22","date_gmt":"2025-01-22T00:12:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=21159"},"modified":"2025-01-22T00:12:22","modified_gmt":"2025-01-22T00:12:22","slug":"aaron-judges-past-cc-sabathia-stance-resurfaces-amid-yankees-icons-hall-of-fame-bid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=21159","title":{"rendered":"Aaron Judge’s Past CC Sabathia Stance Resurfaces Amid Yankees Icon’s Hall of Fame Bid"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A legendary CC Sabathia story that was re-told on Tuesday before MLB Hall of Fame ballots are released includes a telling quote from Aaron Judge.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\"Dec<\/picture><\/figure>\n
Dec 21, 2022; Bronx, New York, USA; Aaron Judge speaks during a press conference after being named captain at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jessica Alcheh-Imagn Images \/ Jessica Alcheh-Imagn Images<\/div>\n
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The results of the 2025 MLB Hall of Fame ballot will be released on the evening of January 21.<\/p>\n

There is a ton of excitement about these results within the\u00a0New York Yankees<\/a>\u00a0fanbase. While nothing is guaranteed at this point, all indications are that Yankees legend CC Sabathia will receive the 75% support required, which will get him inducted and immortalized in Cooperstown.<\/p>\n

Sabathia (who has made it clear that\u00a0his Cooperstown plaque would show him wearing a Yankees hat<\/a>) spent over seven seasons with the Yankees. In his MLB career, he produced 251 wins, a 3.74 ERA, and 3,093 strikeouts (making him one of 19 pitchers in league history in the 3,000-strikeout club) over 3,577.1 innings.<\/p>\n

Despite his staggering success on the mound, Sabathia’s impact might be more keenly felt in the clubhouse. This is shown in a January 21\u00a0article from\u00a0The Athletic’s<\/em>\u00a0Brendan Kuty<\/a>, which re-told a classic Sabathia story.<\/p>\n

“It was Sept. 27, 2018. Sabathia was set on revenge against the\u00a0Tampa Bay Rays, after reliever\u00a0Andrew Kittredge\u00a0aimed a 93-mph fastball at [Yankees catcher Austin] Romine\u2019s head and narrowly missed in the top of the sixth inning with the New York Yankees ahead, 7-0, at Tropicana Field,” Kuty wrote.<\/p>\n

“He decided he was going to hit catcher Jes\u00fas Sucre to lead off the bottom of the inning to send a message. He was going to do it even it meant getting ejected and finishing the season just short of a contract incentive that would have netted him $500,000.”<\/p>\n

Kuty later continued, “After Sabathia forfeited the half-a-million dollar bonus by plunking Sucre on the butt and getting thrown out, he pointed to Kittredge in the Rays\u2019 dugout and TV cameras could read his lips:<\/p>\n

“That’s for you, b****<\/a>.”<\/p>\n

After the game, Sabathia’s teammate and 2024 AL MVP Aaron Judge was quoted saying, \u201cThat\u2019s the type of guy you want to go to battle with.\u201d<\/p>\n

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