Photo: (Photo by Seth Wenig-Pool/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND – CC Sabathia will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Union Home Mortgage during 22nd Greater Cleveland Sports Awards presented by Medical Mutual and Ancora which will be held on Wednesday, March 23, 2022 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse (RMFH). Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
Sabathia spent eight seasons in Cleveland after being picked 20th in the first round of the 1998 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft. In 2007, he went 106-71 with a 3.83 ERA, 19 complete games and led the American League with 241 innings pitched (IP).
A three-time MLB All-Star, Sabathia was also named a 2007 CY Young Award Winner, a Central Division Champion in 2001 and 2007, Franchise Top 10 for pitchers with over 1,000 innings pitched and the 2001 Rookie of the Year Runner Up.
The lefty spent 19 seasons in MLB featuring a short stint with the Milwaukee Brewers before landing with the New York Yankees. During his career, Sabathia ranked seventh in strikeouts (K) 1,265, strikeout rate (K%) 19.8%, strikeouts per nine innings pitched (SO/9) 7.45 and strikeout to walk ratio (SO/BB) with 12.0%. Sabathia ranks ninth in win-loss (W-L%) record with .599%.
In addition to his impressive career, Sabathia was incredibly active in the local community off the mound. During his tenure with the Cleveland club, he was a big supporter of the Boys and Girls Clubs which continued during his trade to the New York Yankees
In June 2019, when the Yankees played a three-game series at Progressive Field, Sabathia was presented with a $5,200 retirement check to donate to Boys and Girls Clubs of Cleveland.
Sabathia founded the PitCCh In Foundation, a non-profit enriching the lives of inner city youth by raising their self-esteem through education and athletic activities, in 2008 during his final season in Cleveland while pitching. His foundation is focused on All-Star Camps, School Backpack Program and Field Renovations.
Cleveland Guardians Charities have partnered with PitCCh In and Get In The Game, a social equity initiative formed by Tom Walter, Wake Forest baseball coach, to pilot a school program at Cleveland Metropolitan School District’s Garrett Morgan High School focused on racial justice and equity in our Cleveland community.
In 2021, Sabathia had a baseball field at Luke Easter Park, previously built during 2019 MLB All-Star Week festivities, renamed in his honor to recognize his efforts on and off the field.
Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Union Home Mortgage is given to a person who has dedicated their lives to the advancement of sports in Cleveland. Past recipients have ranged from former Guardians’ franchise greats and Browns legends to high school football coaches in the region.
Sports Awards is the premier annual sports fundraiser that supports Greater Cleveland Sports Commission and celebrates a year of athletic achievements in Northeast Ohio from high school stars to professional athletes.
Hosted by Maria Taylor, Cleveland’s sports scene will gather for a night of networking, libations, appearances from local and national sports celebrities and feature a live awards show mirrored on the venue’s big screen.
Recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award include:
2002 – Jim Brown, former running back, Cleveland Browns
2003 – Mark H. McCormack, Founder, International Management Group (IMG)
2004 – Bob Feller, former pitcher, Cleveland Indians
2005 – Richard Jacobs, former owner, Cleveland Indians
2006 – Herb Score, former pitcher & announcer, Cleveland Indians
2007 – Joe Tait, former broadcaster, Cleveland Cavaliers
2008 – Chuck Kyle, Head Football Coach, St. Ignatius High School
2009 – Bob Kain, former CEO, IMG
2010 – Dr. John A. Bergfeld. M.D., Senior Orthopedic Surgeon & team physician, Cleveland Clinic
2011 – Reggie Rucker, former wide receiver, Cleveland Browns
2012 – Austin Carr, former guard & current broadcaster, Cleveland Cavaliers
2013 – Bernie Kosar, former quarterback, Cleveland Browns
2014 – Tom Hamilton, sportscaster & announcer, Cleveland Indians
2015 – Jim Donovan, radio & TV personality, WKYC & Cleveland Browns
2016 – Mike Hargrove, former first baseman & manager, Cleveland Indians
2017 – Zydrunas Ilgauskas, former center, Cleveland Cavaliers
2018 – Sandy Alomar Jr., coach and former catcher, Cleveland Indians
2019 – Dolan Family, owners, Cleveland Indians
Packages and tickets for Sports Awards are available for purchase through Seat Geek via clevelandsportsawards.com.