The Tale of the Tape

Uniform number: 52
Why 52?: Because that's what they gave him
Big League Seasons: 7
Age: 27
Birthday: July 21, 1980
Hometown: Vallejo, CA
Position: Pitcher
Bats: L
Throws: L
Height: 6-7
Weight: 290
Contract Status: Signed thru 2008
Acquired: Selected by Cleveland in the 1st round (20th overall) of the 1998 amateur draft.
Favorite Movie: Goodfellas
Favorite TV Show: Entourage
Secret talent: I'm a really great dancer!
Favorite Musical Group / Artist: Jay-Z & E40
Favorite Thing to do away from baseball: PlayStation
Favorite Athlete Growing Up: Ken Griffey Jr.
Favorite Team: Oakland Raiders
Person who has most influenced you: My Mother (Margie)
Road City: Chicago
Road Ballpark: Safeco Field
If I wasn't a baseball player: I would be a police officer
Nickname: Dub
No one can believe it: I danced with Oakland Ballet in the Nutcracker for charity
Favorite Baseball Moment: Hitting Home Run in Cincinnati in 2005
Favorite Holiday: Thanksgiving because of all the family togetherness and the great food!

Control: No Free Passes

A key to winning is keeping men off base, something CC has worked hard to do. Sounds simple, right? Sabathia made it seem that way in 2007. All season long, CC hasn't walked more than three guys in a game all season and at one point, went an incredible 16 starts in a row of allowing only zero or one walk. In fact, in 25 of 34 total starts, he allowed only zero or one walk. When CC's on the mound, it's a no walking zone.

Endurance: You gotta be in it to win it.

It's a huge boost to a major league team and its bullpen when the starting pitching can go deep into games. In 23 of 34 starts this year, Sabathia has pitched at least seven innings and gone at least eight innings 10 times. He's also poised to lead the American League in innings pitched.

Winning games: The Golden Ticket

You play to win the game. C.C. Sabathia collected a career high 19 wins. When he didn't win he was leaving his team in good position as he also had six No-Decisions where he gave up two or fewer earned runs and two losses in which he surrendered only one earned run. His 19 wins are even more remarkable when you consider that he was 16th in the American League in run support.

Finishing strong: It ain't over till it's over

Heading into the final game of the season, Sabathia when 6-3 with a 2.31 ERA in his last 13 starts. His strong final push to the season was instrumental in helping the Indians to secure the American League Central Division Title.

Rising to the Challenge:

CC Sabathia faced a lot of amazing competition this year. Fortunately, he and the Indians came out on top of a lot more than they lost. CC has tremendous respect for all the opposing starters he battled with this year. Here's a list of the amazing talent he went up against and who the Indians were able to come out with victories against.

Number of Wins/Pitcher

3 Johan Santana, Minnesota Twins
2 Ervin Santana, Anaheim Angels
2 Jose Contreras, Chicago White Sox
1 A.J. Burnett, Toronto Blue Jays
1 Brian Burres, Baltimore Orioles
1 Carlos Silva. Minnesota Twins
1 Jason Grilli, Detroit Tigers
1 Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers
1 Jorge de la Rosa, Kansas City Royals
1 Jon Lieber, Philadelphia Phillies
1 Chad Gaudin, Oakland Athletics
1 J.P. Howell, Kansas City Royals
1 Kameron Loe, Texas Rangers
1 Nate Robertson, Detroit Tigers

Cool facts about CC