CC Sabathia made some richly deserved history on Tuesday night, earning induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame in his very first year on the ballot. And it's not hard to see why: The big lefty was one of the very best pitchers in the world at his peak — he finished top-five in Cy Young voting five times in five years from 2007-2011 — and demanded the ball and delivered in the biggest moments.

The Baseball Writers' Association of America elected Sabathia to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. He will join outfielder Ichiro Suzuki and closer Billy Wagner as part of the class of 2025, along with Classic Baseball Era Committee selections Dick Allen and Dave Parker.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum tonight announced the 2025 results of the annual Baseball Writers’ Association of America Hall of Fame election. Retired Cleveland pitcher CC SABATHIA appeared on 87% of the ballots cast in his first year of eligibility,