André Trenier the artist behind the new murals at The Bronx Children’s Museum has painted murals honoring Black Yankee Legends Reggie Jackson, Willie Randolph, Dave Winfield and Derek Jeter. The mural consists of 6 Black Yankee Legends in all, I’m going to take a look at the last two players tonight. All these legends meant so much to the game of baseball, and all them have been an inspiration to the youth of America and beyond.
The New York Yankees were looking for pitching for the 2009 season, well they’re always looking pitchers. The Yankees found their man in C.C. Sabathia who two years prior to ’09 C.C. won a Cy Young in Cleveland. Sabathia coming off of a successful season in Milwaukee going 11-2 pitching in just 17 games. The Yankees also signed A.J. Burnett for their hopes of a World Series which has been eluding them for almost a decade.
Starting pitcher C.C. Sabathia’s accolades are not as great as Winfield, Jackson and Jeter, but C.C. got the job done, nothing flashy about the man either, Sabathia a little on the heavy side and in his later years battled with alcoholism. In 2015 Sabathia showed up to Spring Training camp weighing 305 pounds. Sabathia wanting to do the right thing for his health and family checked himself into an alcohol treatment center; apologizing to his teammates and fans Sabathia said;
“I love baseball and I love my teammates like brothers, and I am also fully aware that I am leaving at a time when we should all be coming together for one last push toward the World Series. It hurts me deeply to do this now, but I owe it to myself and to my family to get myself right. I want to take control of my disease, and I want to be a better man, father and player.” – C.C. Sabathia
Sabathia left a lasting impression on NY and their fans after his battle with weight issues and addiction. C.C.’s time with the Yankees was very successful, in his first year in Pinstripes he helped the Yankees win their first title in 9 years. Sabathia holds a record of 134 wins and 88 losses, 1,700 K’s in 1915 innings of work he was a 3x All-Star in NY.
Sabathia is teaching the youth, and everyone for that matter, to face their addiction before it gets the best of them. Sabathia is on his way to the Hall of Fame seeing as he is already in Cleveland’s HOF where he will be inducted on August 3rd.
On the mural with Sabathia is current New York Yankee and newest Captain Aaron Judge. Judge and Sabathia were teammates from 2016-2019. Aaron’s career in NY started off with a bang or should I say bomb; he and teammate at that time Tyler Austin both homered in their very first at bats.
Judge didn’t acquire enough at bats in 2016 to classify as a rookie, but the following year Aaron Judge was awarded the Rookie of the Year. In 2017 Judge smashed 52 HR most by a rookie in the American League beating former holder of the record Mark McGwire. Judge’s slashline for 2017 was .284/.422/.627, 2017 saw Judge finishing 2nd in MVP voting as well, which some say he was robbed and should have won.
Judge finally did win his MVP award in 2022, Aaron also accomplished something else that hadn’t been done since 1961, Judge would do the unthinkable and hit 62 HR to beat Roger Maris’s record of 61.
Aaron Judge will remain a Yankee for the rest of his career after signing a 9 year deal worth $360M. Judge is 32 years old now and currently has 269 HR, 608 RBI. Judge is far from done for his career, so he’s making an impression on fans young and old. Aaron Judge is a 5x All-Star, 3x Silver Slugger winner, 2x HR leader, and Homerun Derby winner in 2017.
Just like Winfield and Jeter, Aaron Judge has a charity that is dedicated to children, The All Rise Foundation, Judge’s mother Patty serves as its Executive Director and President. The Foundation’s mission statement is to “inspire children and youth to become responsible citizens and encourage them to reach unlimited possibilities.”
You can read the other two articles in this series by clicking here for article 1 and here for article 2.
Let me know if you think any other black Yankee players deserve murals in the comments below, feel free to add me on ‘X’ @HENDO19750 or message me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/HENDO.1975
Photo Credit; Bronx Times, 6sqft, MLB.com,
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