CC Sabathia’s Career Over After Leaving Game 4 With Injury

CC Sabathia. Photo by REX/Shutterstock

CC Sabathia has made his final appearance in a Big League uniform after leaving the game in the 8th inning in the 8-3 loss in Game 4. His knee buckled and he grabbed his shoulder in pain after a pitch in a bases-loaded jam he was trying to pitch out of.

After throwing a warm-up toss to see if he could continue, Sabathia walked off the mound for the last time in his storied career. Despite the loud applause from the Bronx crowd and the chants of “CC!” echoing through the stadium, Sabathia didn’t lift his head up from his glove, and had tears in his eyes on the walk back to the dugout.

Sabathia has been known as a workhorse throughout his career, and he leads active pitchers in many categories, including wins (251), strikeouts (3,093), and innings pitched (3,577 1/3). The 6-time All-Star, along with Brett Gardener, are the only 2 Yankees players left from the 2009 championship team.

Although his body has been slowing down significantly over the past couple of years, Sabathia has been staying on to try to bring another championship to the Bronx. His incredible 19 year career didn’t end the way he wanted to, but CC got one more chance to pitch in a playoff game in front of the home crowd.

Sabathia was replaced by right-handed pitcher Ben Heller on the ALCS roster prior to game 5. The move makes him ineligible for the World Series, officially ending his career.