CC Sabathia Shares Touching Theme for His Baseball Hall of Fame Speech

CC Sabathia, newly elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, seems to have had little time to catch his breath since the big announcement. From being whisked to Cooperstown to jetting off for events like the Los Angeles Dodgers-Chicago Cubs series in Tokyo and visiting the New York Yankees during spring training, life has been a whirlwind for the former pitcher. Somewhere in between, he’s managed to watch his son, Carsten Sabathia III, play college baseball for the Houston Cougars.

But amidst all the excitement, Sabathia has started crafting what could be one of the most significant speeches of his life—his Hall of Fame induction speech. When asked about the theme of his address, Sabathia revealed a heartfelt intention: "I feel like I want the theme of it to be … I was raised around a lot of strong Black women. And I feel like, without them, I would not be able to be in this position."

He cited the influential women in his life, including his grandmother, mother, aunts, and wife Amber, as the bedrock of his success. Sabathia reminisced about his grandmother’s backyard, where he practiced pitching with grapefruits, and his mother Margie’s sacrifices, which even included donning catcher’s gear to help him train. As for Amber, his high school sweetheart, she stood by him through his career’s ups and downs, helping him build a family and a charitable foundation.

Sabathia’s upcoming speech also intends to highlight the role of Black culture in shaping his identity as a baseball player and a person. From his signature crooked hat and baggy jersey to the Jordans he wore for every start, Sabathia carried the spirit of hip-hop, a genre he grew up with in the ‘80s and ‘90s. "If I saw myself out on the mound when I was 9 years old, I would [say], ‘I want to be like that,’" he said, reflecting on the idols he admired, like Ricky Henderson and Dave Stewart, who inspired him with their style and swagger.

Sabathia will have his chance to deliver this heartfelt tribute on July 27 in Cooperstown. While he’ll undoubtedly acknowledge the teammates and coaches who contributed to his career, it’s clear that the speech will belong to the women and cultural influences that shaped his journey.

On a lighter note, Sabathia also opened up about battling allergies during his playing days and now in retirement. He’s found relief with Xyzal, a medication he’s partnered with, which has become a nightly ritual for him and his son, Carter. While it might not be as glamorous as a Hall of Fame induction, dealing with allergies is just one more challenge Sabathia has tackled with the same determination he brought to the mound.