CC Sabathia joins exclusive HOF-filled club in winning effort

The New York Yankees trounced the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday. In the process, New York starter CC Sabathia joined a very decorated club.

Sabathia’s effort (six innings, one run, three hits, three walks, seven strikeouts) was easily good enough for the win, the 250th of his career. That made him only the 14th pitcher to record 250 wins and 3,000 strikeouts (a milestone he reached earlier in 2019). The other names are pretty recognizable, to say the least.

Here's the select club that @CC_Sabathia is about to join – 250 @MLB wins and 3,000 strikeouts:

Walter Johnson, Greg Maddux, Roger Clemens, Steve Carlton, Don Sutton, Nolan Ryan, Phil Niekro, Gaylord Perry, Tom Seaver, Randy Johnson, Bert Blyleven, Fergie Jenkins, Bob Gibson. pic.twitter.com/ZIeqw63uJ2
— Bryan Hoch ⚾️ (@BryanHoch) June 19, 2019

With the excepton of Roger Clemens, the other players to reach both milestones are all in the Hall of Fame.

There can (and will) be debate about whether Sabathia belongs in the Hall of Fame. Judging by the company he keeps with his career numbers, though, it will be hard to keep Sabathia out.