Former Brewer CC Sabathia among three players elected to National Baseball Hall of Fame

Sabathia joins Ichiro and Billy Wagner as the three players elected by the BBWAA on Tuesday

Former Milwaukee Brewers left-handed pitcher CC Sabathia was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2025 on Tuesday afternoon, joining Ichiro Suzuki and Billy Wagner as the three players voted in by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA).

Sabathia, 44, spent just half a season in Milwaukee, but what a memorable three-plus months it was. In just 17 starts, Sabathia compiled 4.9 bWAR, pitching to an 11-2 record with a sterling 1.65 ERA as he finished with seven complete games, including three shutouts. He struck out 128 batters over 130 ²⁄₃ innings and even hit .229/.229/.333 with a homer, two doubles, six RBIs, and three runs across 50 plate appearances despite just 42 career plate appearances across eight seasons before joining Milwaukee (and only 35 plate appearances over his final 10 seasons).

Over 19 career seasons between the Indians, Brewers, and Yankees, Sabathia started 560 games (561 total appearances) with 3,093 strikeouts, a 3.74 ERA, and 61.8 bWAR across 3,577 ¹⁄₃ innings. He also finished with a career record of 251-161.

Sabathia gets the call to the Hall in his first year of eligibility, receiving 342 votes out of a maximum of 394 (86.8%), easily surpassing the required 75% to be elected. Ichiro came just one vote shy of being the second unanimously elected player in history, receiving 393 of 394 votes, while Wagner received 325 votes (82.5%) in his 10th and final year of eligibility.

Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones both surpassed the 50% threshold, as Beltrán received 277 votes (70.3%) in his third year on the ballot and Jones received 261 votes (66.2%) in his eighth year on the ballot.

Of the 14 first-year candidates, the only two who will remain on the ballot next year are Félix Hernández, who received 81 votes (20.6%) and Dustin Pedroia, who received 47 votes (11.9%).

Among other former Brewers on the ballot, reliever Francisco Rodríguez was the only player to receive enough votes to remain on the ballot next year. Rodríguez received 40 votes (10.2%) in his third year of eligibility, roughly the same number of votes he received two years ago (42 votes, 10.8%) and last year (30 votes, 7.8%).

Outfielder Curtis Granderson, a fellow Brewers trade deadline acquisition who was also in his first year on the ballot, received just three votes (0.8%) and will not be on the ballot next year.

The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place in Cooperstown, New York on Sunday, July 27. Sabathia, Ichiro, and Wagner will join December’s Classic Baseball Committee selections Dave Parker and Dick Allen in the class of 2025. For the full Hall of Fame results, click here.