Sabathia Is A True Team Guy!

Andy Pettitte has always been beloved by Yankee fans, and for good reason. To many—including myself—it’s baffling that Pettitte isn’t in the Hall of Fame yet. What stands out most about him, beyond his stellar stats, is the respect he commands from his peers. CC Sabathia, a true leader, phenomenal teammate, and competitor who just loves the game and winning above all else, spoke out about Pettitte’s worthiness. Reflecting on his time with Pettitte, Sabathia said, “For me, Andy is a Hall of Famer. Getting a chance to pitch alongside him, getting a chance to still talk to him pretty much all the time, I believe he’s a Hall of Famer.”

Sabathia and Pettitte were teammates for four seasons, including the Yankees’ 2009 World Series win. While Sabathia earned an overwhelming 86% of the vote in his first Hall of Fame ballot, Pettitte received just 27.9% this year—an improvement from the 13.5% he garnered in 2024, but still far from the threshold. Unfortunately, time is running out for Pettitte’s case.

For years, I’ve been highly critical of players linked to PEDs, but my stance has evolved. Yes, mistakes were made, and Andy Pettitte admitted to his, but those moments were minor compared to his otherwise remarkable career. His achievements are undeniable:

• Pettitte compiled a 256–153 win-loss record, a 3.85 ERA, and 2,448 strikeouts across 3,316 innings.
• He’s the only pitcher since 1930 to win at least 12 games in each of his first nine seasons.
• He recorded the second-most career pickoffs (98), trailing only Steve Carlton (144).
• Pettitte holds the record for the most postseason wins in MLB history, with 19.
• He had 24 complete games, four shutouts, and never experienced a losing season in his career. In 16 of his 18 seasons, he won 11 or more games.
• He was a five-time World Series champion with the Yankees.

Beyond the numbers, Pettitte’s pickoff move was legendary, and his consistency and poise in big games were unmatched. Yet, some writers seem to place him in the same moral category as others like Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and Rafael Palmeiro, despite Pettitte’s transparency and the relatively minor nature of his admitted misstep. The reason for the change in my stance is simple. When you start letting in lesser players with less impressive numbers just because you don’t want to let monster players like Bonds or Pettitte in that’s when things are unbalanced and wrong.

CC Sabathia’s support for Pettitte is a testament to the type of player and person Andy is. Sabathia has always been the kind of teammate to lift others up, and his endorsement should hold weight. Pettitte deserves his place in Cooperstown, and it’s about time the writers recognize it.