Sabathia’s 3,000th strikeout cements Hall of Fame legacy
Before CC Sabathia fanned Diamondbacks catcher John Ryan Murphy in the bottom of the second inning on April 30, 2019, the Yankees left-hander already had a Hall of Fame-worthy resume.
But when Murphy went down swinging, Sabathia became just the third lefty in history to join the 3,000-strikeout club. And that all but started production on Sabathia’s bronze likeness in Cooperstown.
“He’s a Hall of Famer,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone told the USA Today Network. “To me, he’s a no-brainer.”
Six years ago today, @CC_Sabathia became the third left-hander and 17th pitcher in the 3,000-strikeout club. pic.twitter.com/2KvBoZHD6C
— National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum ⚾ (@baseballhall) April 30, 2025
Sabathia took a hard-luck 3-1 loss that day, allowing two earned runs over 5.1 innings. His five strikeouts – he fanned Murphy, his former Yankees teammate, twice – gave him 3,002 for his career to go with 247 victories.
Sabathia had announced in early 2019 that this season would be his last, but he was not yet ready to talk about the Hall of Fame.
“It’s something I’ll maybe think about after the season,” Sabathia told USA Today Network. “It’s not really for me to say my place in history. (I’ll) just go out and play as hard as I can and leave my numbers out there. Whatever they are, they are. And hopefully, one day they’ll be good enough to get in.”
That day came in Sabathia’s first appearance on the Baseball Writers’ Association of America’s Hall of Fame ballot in 2025. Sabathia received votes on 86.8 percent of all ballots cast on the strength of his 251-161 record, 3.74 ERA, 3,093 strikeouts, six All-Star Game selections and the 2007 American League Cy Young Award.
But on the day he became the 17th pitcher to record 3,000 strikeouts, the moment was a little bittersweet – because Murphy was Sabathia’s longtime friend.
“(I) didn’t want it to be Murphy,” Sabathia said of his former teammate, who was behind the plate when Sabathia recorded his 2,500th strikeout in 2015. “Me and him are really close – he’s a great guy.”
Sabathia’s catcher for his 3,000th strikeout, Gary Sánchez, was glad to be part of history.
“Something that I will never forget,” Sánchez told USA Today Network via an interpreter. "Count me as one of those super excited and happy.”
Sánchez was part of a large group who celebrated the achievement – and the career of a Yankees legend who was in his 11th season in pinstripes.
“Nobody I can think of is as deserving,” said Yankees teammate Brett Gardner, who had been Sabathia’s teammate for each of those 11 seasons. “He’s done it the right way…just a great person, a great teammate and a great example.”
Craig Muder is the director of communications for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
