Sabathia Fun to Watch; Could Be One of Best Big Men in Sports

Throughout the course of time in sports history the athletic big man has always been a favorite.  People just like to see big guys perform at the highest level of competition.

In basketball, who has been bigger, in terms of attention garnered in their day and for decades beyond, than Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar? 

Modern day football has so many, but turn the clock back to the 60’s in the AFL, a pre-cursor to the AFC.  They boasted 6’9 Ernie “the Big Cat” Ladd, a giant defensive lineman, before Ernie turned to the world of professional wrestling.  The Cowboys dynasty of the 70’s featured defensive end Ed “Too Tall” Jones, another 6’9 athlete who could rush the passer as well as chase down running backs.  In the 80’s Coach Mike Ditka turned a heavy, sloppy looking, run-stuffing defensive tackle named William “the Refrigerator” Perry into an American hero by allowing him to touch the football for the Bears as a running back.

Heck, where would the wrestling entertainment industry be today had it not been blessed with the late, great Andre The Giant?

Long ago baseball was dubbed “America’s Pastime”.  Many think it was because it was a unique game played from coast to coast on the amateur and professional levels, but it was not common around the world; it was America’s game. I have a different thought. 

Just like America opened itself up in the early 20th century to all comers seeking an opportunity, the game of baseball has always done the same by welcoming anyone possessing the requisite ability, regardless of size.

It is not uncommon to see scrappy baseball players who stand just 5’8, yet have the necessary hitting, fielding, throwing, and base-running skills to make a living professionally.  On the other hand, there have not been a great number of big men who have had enduring baseball careers.  Some big guys have flirted with better than average careers, but very few have dominated, or at least had good success over their entire career.  One big man who is close to wrapping up his career is Randy Johnson, the 6’10 lefty pitcher, now throwing for the Giants.  Just a couple of weeks ago he reached a magical milestone by earning his 300^th career win.

Today baseball has a big man who, assuming he can stay healthy, should rise to the highest level of fame.  CC Sabathia is not just tall as a 6’9 southpaw hurler with the NY Yankees, but he is big—easily carrying 290 pounds on his large frame.  

What makes Sabathia an attraction is not just his 95 mph fastball, his darting slider, or his deft change-up, but his overall athletic ability.  Last year Sabathia was traded from the Indians to the National League Brewers and got to show his skills at the plate.  As a pitcher with limited time in the batting cage CC proudly owns a .263 batting average.  Playing for the Yankees, CC only gets to bat during inter-league games, like this weekend as the Yanks go against the cross-town rival Mets.   Friday night while limiting the Mets to three hits over seven innings, Sabathia hit two bullets up the middle, one producing a run and was robbed of another by the shortstop who was cheating the middle.  CC can also bounce off the mound to field his position with great hand-eye coordination and reactionary skills.  The big man is a complete player.

Last week Sabathia had to leave a game with just one out in the second inning due to muscle tightness in his left bicep.  Fortunately, some therapy in the training room and a throwing schedule on his off days allowed him to step right back into the rotation and tame the Mets.

If Sabathia were to ever lose his ability to pitch, I am sure he would make a great power-hitting first baseman while providing infielders a sizeable target.  Or, if he really wanted to try something different, NFL teams could line him up at left tackle and let him protect the blind side of their franchise quarterback.  Sabathia is known as a big hoops fan and also played that in his younger days.  I imagine him displaying that same combination of power and finesse that he shows on the mound.

At 29, Sabathia is in his first season playing on the world’s biggest stage with the Yankees.   If he continues to do the things that he has shown the last couple of years he should go down as the top big man baseball has seen in a long, long time.