The New York Yankees have added another name to Cooperstown as CC Sabathia entered the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year on the ballot, celebrating an illustrious career this summer. Meanwhile, another Yankee legend, World Series champion Andy Pettitte, did not hear his name called. However, there are reasons to be optimistic. Pettitte has been on the Hall of Fame ballot for seven years, but amid steroid suspicions, he has received limited support, earning only about 13 percent of the vote in 2024, far below the 75 percent needed for induction.
Encouragingly, the 2025 results showed Pettitte’s vote percentage rise to 27.9 percent, a significant jump of nearly 15 percent. While still under 30 percent, this rise is noteworthy, and he will need additional support to make a push for Cooperstown. With three more years remaining on the ballot—the maximum time for a player—it’s crucial for Pettitte to gain traction, especially since eight players have been inducted in their final year on the ballot.
This year, legendary closer Billy Wagner was one such player, entering the Hall of Fame on his tenth and final ballot year, joining a three-man class that includes Sabathia and Ichiro, who received close to 100 percent of the vote. Pettitte, a three-time MLB All-Star and five-time World Series champion with titles in 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2009, famously started Game 5 of the 1996 World Series, a pivotal game that set the stage for New York’s victory.
As we look ahead, it remains to be seen if the Yankees can add another of their greats to Cooperstown in the coming years. Time is of the essence, but Pettitte’s significant surge in votes may be a telling sign.
