CC Sabathia Records 3000th Career Strikeout

New York Yankees lefthander CC Sabathia announced before the season began that this, his 19th, would be his final one. But the 38 year old reached one more career milestone, recording his 3000th career strikeout in the Yankees’ game at Arizona on April 30th. Sabathia is the 17th pitcher in major league history with 3000 strikeouts, and just the third lefthander. Sabathia struck out Diamondbacks catcher John Ryan Murphy for #3000. While that was memorable, Sabathia took the loss as Arizona won the game 3-1.

Now the question being asked is if Sabathia will make the Hall of Fame. Three thousand strikeouts is almost a ticket to Cooperstown–only Roger Clemons (no doubt hurt by PED use allegations) and Curt Schilling struck out 3000 and are not in the Hall. Through April 30th, Sabathia’s record is 247-154 with a 3.69 ERA. He won the A.L Cy Young Award in 2007 when he was with Cleveland and posted a 19-7 record with a 3.21 ERA. On par with that ’07 season were 2009 (19-8. 3.37), 2010 (21-7, 3.18), and 2011 (19-8, 3.00), all with the Yankees. In 2008, he was 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA in half a season with Milwaukee, helping the Brewers make the playoffs as a Wild Card. As recently as 2017, he put up great numbers, going 14-5 with a 3.69 ERA in 27 starts for New York. He should win over 250 games in his career barring injury, and should make it to the Hall.