“A Feel Good Story”

Recently I’ve been reading a number of wonderful articles and books that would be good topics for a BLOG. Yet, I need some more time to digest them and try to distill some of the thoughts…otherwise, I should just copy the entire book into the BLOG, and then it’s not really a BLOG….. hmmmmmm. So in light of that I think we should just take a quick right turn  and head for some lighter material. 

I’m in the middle of a book on the life of CC Sabathia called “Till The End”; you Yankee fans know who I’m talking about. CC was a 6’6” tall, 300+ pound pitcher. He spent 19 years in the major leagues, winning a ton of awards including a Cy Young for Best Pitcher,  6 All Star awards, all time American League Strikeout record for a left handed pitcher. He won a World Series with the Yankees, and it goes on and on and on. He also battled with the “alcohol demon” for many years; when he drank he could frequently become “out of control”.

What’s interesting to me about his story is that CC didn’t seem to fit any mold. Growing up in Vallejoy, CA. a tough area that claimed many young people to gangs, to drugs, etc.,  he somehow dodged many of the dangers. He was a tough guy who liked a fight but was never arrested. His mother and grandmother were tough cookies who kept him in line; his uncles and others watched over him. The extended family was very important. Fortunately he signed a contract to play baseball right out of high school.  He married his high school sweetheart and they went on to have 4 children. 

So what is interesting about CC Sabathia ….. well, a number of things. He seems to be a genuinely humble and likeable man. He is generous….helping a lot of people…. family and others, especially young people.  While playing ball, he was a great competitor, yet he talked positively about other pitchers and tried to help his teammates. I’m not a Yankee fan, but when he was pitching for them (2008-2019), I used to enjoy watching and rooting for him. 

In his book, he is very honest about his addiction to alcohol. He had some very tough years. I recently read that “Sabathia has been sober for six years; he co-hosts a popular podcast “R2C2,” helps inner-city kids through his foundation and is working to stop the stigma around mental health and alcohol dependence.” He also now works for Major League Baseball, saying “I want to be able to give back to the game that I love so much; this new role gives me the opportunity to continue the work I’m passionate about, be an advocate for players and be able to contribute to the decision-making process of the league office after 19 years on the field.”

So, it’s a “feel good story”. A man navigates thru some tough years and ends up doing well, overcoming addictions and is giving back to the community. I’m happy for him and his family. God bless CC Sabathia… it sure seems that God has had his hand on him for a long time.