Yankees’ Aaron Judge Sends CC Sabathia Message in Legend’s Return to Bronx

The New York Yankees took enough time away from a pressure-packed series with the Toronto Blue Jays this weekend to properly appreciate an icon.

Former Yankees World Series champion and six-time All-Star CC Sabathia was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on July 27. On Sunday, the Yankees brought Sabathia back to the Bronx for his own special recognition in front of the fans who cheered him on from 2009 to 2019.

Sabathia may be out of the game, but his impact on the Yankees continues through the captain, Aaron Judge, who played three full seasons with Sabathia before the lefty’s retirement at age 39.

On Sunday, Judge paid tribute to Sabathia by remembering the impact the veteran had on him at the outset of his career.

“He treated guys with respect, and brought up the younger guys to (believe), ‘This is your clubhouse. You’re part of this team, whether you’ve got one day in the big leagues or 10 years of service time,'” Judge said, per Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.

“For me, it welcomed me into the clubhouse and made me feel like I was part of everything.”

In 19 major league seasons, Sabathia managed a 251-161 record, 3.74 ERA, and 62.3 bWAR. He was the 2007 American League Cy Young winner with the Cleveland Indians.

After signing a seven-year, $161 million deal with the Yankees, Sabathia pitched to a 3.37 ERA in his first year in the Bronx, finishing fourth in Cy Young voting and helping the Yankees to the 2009 World Series. He totaled a 134-88 record and 3.81 ERA as a Yankee.

Though his impact on the mound was great, it’s clear from Judge’s comments that Sabathia’s imprint on the Yankees’ clubhouse will be his lasting New York legacy.

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