CC SABATHIA MAKES RETURN TO MILWAUKEE 15 YEARS AFTER HELPING LAUNCH BREWERS TO POSTSEASON
All-Star Pitcher to be Recognized Pre-Game; Iconic Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Cover to be Given Away to First 20,000 Ticketed Fans
MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee Brewers are proud to welcome back CC Sabathia, the All-Star pitcher acquired in 2008, whose contributions down the stretch became the stuff of legend in leading to a Brewers postseason berth. CC and his teammates broke a stretch of 26 years without a postseason appearance, electrifying the city during the stretch run to October by winning the season’s final game to advance.
The 15-year anniversary of Sabathia’s acquisition and the exhilaration of the 2008 season will be celebrated and honored on Friday, Aug. 25 in a pre-game acknowledgment and ceremonial first pitch before the Crew takes on the San Diego Padres at 7:10 p.m.
Fans will remember fondly the fierce image of Sabathia splashed on the front page of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Sept. 29, 2008, capturing the final out of his complete-game four-hitter against the Chicago Cubs to clinch the Wild Card. The first 20,000 ticketed fans attending the game on Friday, Aug. 25 will receive a commemorative poster of that front page spread.
“CC galvanized not just the team, but all of Wisconsin, in that thrilling run down the stretch of the 2008 regular season,” said Brewers President – Business Operations Rick Schlesinger. “It has been 15 years, but it seems like just yesterday that we welcomed CC to town, and it’s a privilege to bring him back to be recognized by the fans who cheered his every pitch as a Milwaukee Brewer.”
Sabathia was particularly dominant during his tenure with Milwaukee, going 11-2 across 17 starts with a 1.65 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP, striking out 128 batters against just 25 walks in 130.2 innings, and throwing 7 complete games (3 shutouts). Despite only spending half the season in the National League, he finished fifth in the NL Cy Young Award voting and sixth in the NL MVP vote (finishing as the highest-ranking pitcher). He was also awarded the Warren Spahn Award for the second year in a row.
This will be Sabathia’s first visit back to Milwaukee to be recognized by the Brewers since the end of the 2008 campaign.
Tickets are available to celebrate Sabathia’s return to Milwaukee. Fans can secure their tickets at brewers.com, 1-800-933-7890 or at the American Family Field Box Office.
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