Amazing ALCS 2009
It was exciting to watch CC pitch against the Los Angeles Angels on short rest in the 2009 ALCS. In two starts he dominated the Angels, and only allowed two runs in 16 innings. In game one he pitched eight innings of one-run baseball and had another good outing in game four. It's no wonder why he was named the ALCS MVP, and that was just the start of a storybook ending for his first season in pinstripes.
Red Sox Shutdown in 2009
I won't forget the early Saturday game after an exhausting 15 inning game the night before that ended with an exciting walk-off home run from Alex Rodriguez. The next day CC took the mound and set down the first 13 batters and had a no-hitter into the sixth inning before Jacoby Ellsbury ended his no-no. Even with his no hitter gone, he pitched seven innings with 123 pitches getting another win for the Yankees.
It was a big moment in the new stadium. CC was the first pitcher to take the mound at the new Yankee stadium and got to pitch against his old team the Indians. He got the first strikeout in the stadium in the first inning and held the Indians to just one run in 5 2/3 innings.
The 2017 postseason
He looked like vintage CC when CC took the hill for the winner-take-all deciding game 5 against the Indians. He set down a powerful lineup in the first three innings and struck out nine over 4 2/3 innings and eventually the Yankees won and advanced to the ALCS. The ALCS started off bumpy so the trailing 2-0 Yankees put all of their trust in their veteran starter to come in and save the day. That's exactly what CC did, he put the Yankees back in the series.
Winning it all in 2009
CC struggled against the Phillies in the World Series. He lost his start in game 1 but he battled through his Game 4 start on short rest and put the Yankees into a 3-1 lead in the series and eventually got his World Series ring. Hopefully, we can add one more before he retires at the end of the season.
The almost no-hitter
For 110 pitches, CC dominated the Rays on the road in 2010. It was only his second start of the year and had a great ground ball game going. Unfortunately, Kelly Shoppach broke up his no-no on his 111th pitch and after the hit Joe Girardi pulled CC in the eighth inning and put Mariano Rivera in to close out the game despite the large lead. This was the closest CC got to throwing a no-no in his career.
It wasn't a playoff game, but it sure felt like it. I like to think of CC as the MLB version of the Enforcer in hockey. If someone messed with a Yankee, CC is always there to answer the call. The Yankees were dominating the Rays in the sixth inning almost a year ago and Andrew Kittredge threw behind Austin Romine. CC wasn't going to stand by and watch someone go after one of his guys and he answered back in the bottom of the inning by hitting Jesus Sucre in the leg. He was ejected from the game just two innings shy of a $500,000 bonus the Yankees were going to pay him, but he didn't care. It wasn't about money for CC, he's already made lots of that. He chose to stand up for his teammate again like he has his entire career and his profane words shouted toward the Rays dugout will never be forgotten.
Bonus realized: the real lesson learned
I love the Yankees for this one. CC may have missed his contracted innings requirement for his $500,000 bonus but the Yankees still paid it to him anyway. He stood up for his teammates and the Yankees returned the favor by paying him the money. It's a classy move for a gutsy guy that has always had his teammates backs. This is what I will miss most about CC Sabathia.
I hope to add one more to this list....a World Series ring for 2019. It would be nice to send him into retirement with another ring. There have been so many moments over the years. It's hard to pick just a few and I am sure I missed some, but it is fun to look back on. What does your list look like? Comment and tell us.
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @nyprincessj
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