Ahead of induction into Guardians HOF, CC hosts clinic at namesake field
Mandy Bell
CLEVELAND — A 9-year-old CC Sabathia was awestruck at the sight of Major Leaguer Dave Stewart.
Sabathia, then a member of his local Boys & Girls Club in Northern California, would often participate in the baseball clinics hosted by the group, and sometimes a big league baseball player would stop by. It was then that Sabathia knew exactly what he wanted to do with his future.
“Not only did I want to be a baseball player,” Sabathia recalled, “now I want to be a philanthropist.”
We can sit here and list the accolades Sabathia earned on the field — including a Cy Young Award, six All-Star Game nods and, as of tomorrow, a place in the Guardians Hall of Fame. But none of that would have mattered as much to Sabathia if he didn’t also have his PitCCh In Foundation.
The foundation was established in 2008 when Sabathia and his wife, Amber, were determined to figure out the best way to give back to the communities that have treated them so well. That’s why nearly two decades after Sabathia left Cleveland, he still comes back annually to be involved with the Northeast Ohio community.
On Friday, Sabathia kicked off his induction weekend with a trip to CC Sabathia Field at Luke Easter Park to host 200 kids in a baseball clinic with the help of his partnership with Guardians minority owner Matt Kaulig. Children in grades one through eight had the opportunity to show off their skills in front of Sabathia and ask questions, take pictures and get autographs from the former Major League pitcher.
“It makes it super special to still have these connections to the city,” Sabathia said. “To be able to come here to Luke Easter Park, CC Sabathia Field and throw a camp ahead of going into the Guardians Hall of Fame, it just sums up the whole weekend and what my career was about.”
Sabathia lives in New Jersey now, but he still finds his way to Ohio every year. And why wouldn’t he? This is where he bought his first home. This is where he got married. Three of his four kids were born here. No matter what, Cleveland will forever hold a special place in his heart.
“I grew up in California,” he said, “but I think I grew into a man here in Cleveland.”
Sabathia still can’t process seeing all the campers wearing his treasured No. 52 jersey. All of the participants split off into stations, practicing fielding, hitting and throwing with the help of local coaches. Kaulig stood off to the side, grinning ear-to-ear, watching the impact that Sabathia still has.
“Just to see all these kids out here today,” Kaulig said, “and wanting to see him and get his autograph and taking pictures with him and learn about baseball from one of the best ever, is really cool.”
Sabathia took time to mingle with the campers and tried to relay one specific message: Have fun.
“I had so much fun,” Sabathia said. “So, 38-, 37-year-old CC felt the same as I did when I was 7, 8 years old. I love the game of baseball and hopefully we can just turn these kids into fans that turn into baseball players.”
Sabathia is preparing for a long, emotional and exciting induction weekend for him and his family. He’s ready to reconnect with former teammates as he is enshrined into the Guardians’ Hall of Fame on Saturday evening. He’s looking forward to reminiscing about the beginning of what may become a Cooperstown-worthy career.
But he wouldn’t have been here without that first interaction with Stewart at a local baseball camp when Sabathia was just 9 years old. He knows that, and he’s hoping that his small part in the community will hopefully lead to others following in his footsteps.
“If it turns out that one of these kids has an organization that turns into the PitCCh In Foundation,” Sabathia said, “then it was all worth it.”
