CC Sabathia might not have made it to Cooperstown without Harold Reynolds, the former MLB Network analyst who played a crucial role in his baseball journey. The left-handed ace of the New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians, a six-time All-Star, was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on Wednesday, and according to Sabathia, this achievement wouldn’t have been possible without Reynolds’ encouragement.
During a segment on MLB Network following the announcement of his induction, Sabathia, surrounded by loved ones, fielded questions from Greg Amsinger, Tom Verducci, and Bob Costas. The conversation soon turned to Reynolds, who has been with MLB Network since its 2009 launch. Reynolds asked Sabathia if there was a specific moment in his career when he began to envision Cooperstown.
“It means everything to me… to go in first ballot, I know what that means as a baseball player.”@CC_Sabathia discusses what the first ballot distinction means to him and who he credits for his development into a Hall of Fame pitcher. pic.twitter.com/lh87pIJAIM
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) January 22, 2025
“You know me, Harold — I never thought about Cooperstown,” Sabathia admitted. “It was never on my radar until you called me. I remember sitting in the offseason after 2017, devastated by how that season ended, and I was close to retiring. You called me, highlighted the numbers I needed to hit, and how other Hall of Famers achieved those milestones. That call gave me the boost I needed to pursue those goals.” Those goals included reaching 250 wins and 3,000 strikeouts.
Ultimately, CC Sabathia finished his career with 251 wins and 3,093 strikeouts, surpassing the benchmarks set by Reynolds. “I distinctly remember sitting in my bedroom when you called, telling me how important this would be,” he reflected. “I’m grateful now that I’m sitting here on this couch, because without that call, I probably would’ve been done.”
Sabathia pitched for the Yankees in 2018 and 2019. While he may not have been at his absolute best, he still had memorable performances, finishing with a record of 14-15, a 4.18 ERA, and 247 strikeouts over 260.1 innings in his illustrious 19-year MLB career.
Reynolds wasn’t alone in supporting Sabathia’s career; Will Cope, MLB Network’s Vice President of Production and Content Strategy, was also essential. During the segment, Reynolds attempted to credit Cope, but was cut off. In 2017, Cope led a team that analyzed Sabathia’s stats, arguing that if he extended his career for a few more seasons, he would likely be Hall of Fame-bound. This data prompted Reynolds to make the pivotal call to Sabathia.
After expressing his gratitude to Reynolds on MLBN, Sabathia took to X (formerly Twitter) to publicly acknowledge the life-changing phone call.
I wouldn’t be here in this moment without Harold Reynolds. After the 2017 season, I was contemplating retirement and it was he who pushed me to strive for the Hall of Fame knowing what it would take to make it. 3,000+ Ks, 250+ wins, everything. One conversation changed my whole…
— CC Sabathia (@CC_Sabathia) January 22, 2025
CC Sabathia’s moment in the spotlight is a testament not only to his talent but also to the combined efforts of Harold Reynolds and Will Cope, who helped keep his dream alive. Without their support, the journey to Cooperstown might never have been realized.
