CC Sabathia builds 'LegaCCy' through PitCCh In foundation after Hall of Fame induction

CC Sabathia used the spotlight of his Hall of Fame summer to spotlight the charitable work of his family, saying their PitCCh In foundation will remain a central focus as he transitions from a playing career to philanthropy and civic roles in baseball.

Sabathia and his wife, Amber, hosted the LegaCCy Gala at the American Museum of Natural History in Manhattan and held the foundation's fifth annual Golf Classic at Alpine Country Club in New Jersey this week as part of a run of events that will funnel more than $500,000 to underserved youth programs. The gala featured former Yankees teammates and peers among its attendees and raised more than $375,000, and the New York Yankees contributed $250,000 at a Bronx ceremony the previous Sunday.

Sabathia, a first-ballot Hall of Famer and one of three left-handed pitchers to record at least 250 wins and 3,000 strikeouts, said the foundation — which he and Amber call their "fifth child" — has long been a family endeavor. He described the constellation of family members and community figures who supported him through his 19-year major league career and said the season of honors this summer has felt more like a shared celebration than a personal one.

"Any time the six of us are traveling, probably something is going to happen," Sabathia said in remarks at the Alpine Country Club. "Somebody’s going to cancel a flight, we’re going to miss some luggage. So, we have a group chat and it’s called, ‘Strong as a unit,’ and it’s as long as we’re all together, we can get through anything." He recounted a family moment on the way to Cooperstown when their car broke down and the family took a selfie, calling it "a snapshot of how our family dynamic works."

The PitCCh In Foundation, founded in 2008, provides programming and support for underserved youth across the United States, with an emphasis on baseball and community development. Funds raised at the gala and golf event will be added to the foundation's existing initiatives aimed at creating opportunities in communities that influenced Sabathia's path to the major leagues.

Sabathia spent 11 of his 19 major league seasons with the New York Yankees, winning a World Series in 2009. He is also a member of the Black Aces, a group of African American and African Canadian pitchers who each won at least 20 games in a single MLB season. Since retiring, Sabathia has taken on advisory roles with the MLB Commissioner's Office and with the Yankees.

The LegaCCy Gala drew teammates and figures from the sport, including Derek Jeter and Gerrit Cole, and organizers said the funds will support scholarships, youth clinics and community outreach programs overseen by PitCCh In. Sabathia said seeing his children now old enough to understand the scale of his career and the foundation's work has been meaningful for the family.

"I’ve been telling people this Hall of Fame thing this summer has been more about all the people around me than it is about me," he said. "In my speech, wanting to tell the story about the women that helped me in my hometown. Getting a chance to talk about my high school coach, my dad, everybody that’s helped me get to this point, my family included."

Organizers said the combined proceeds from the gala, the golf classic and the Yankees' contribution position PitCCh In to expand programming in the coming year. Sabathia, who has described a growing interest in golf since retirement, emphasized that the family's charitable work will continue to be collaborative and centered on the communities that shaped his career.

The foundation's next steps include directing the new funds into existing youth initiatives and exploring additional community partnerships, officials said. Sabathia said the work of PitCCh In is intended to create a legacy that extends beyond his playing accomplishments and into sustained opportunities for future generations.