MLB: The history of baseball in seven degrees of separation
By Bill Felber
MLB History in Seven Degrees of Separation
Degree 1: April 8, 2001
On this date, 20-year-old Indians pitching prospect C.C. Sabathia made his major league debut against the Baltimore Orioles. Sabathia would in time compile a 251-161 big league record, and 3.74 ERA, but that was the merest gleam in his eye as he took the mound.
Sabathia’s focus, rather, was on contributing to lofty hopes in Cleveland. The Indians had finished second in the AL Central, just one game behind the wild card Seattle Mariners, in 2000, and hoped to contend in 2001. In fact they would win the AL Central before being eliminated in the division series by those same Mariners.
Sabathia would blossom into an immediate e sensation, compiling a 17-5 record in 33 starts.
His opponents that debut day was the Baltimore Orioles, a team of whom little was expected. The Orioles had finished fourth in the AL East the previous season, and although they stood 3-2 entering their April 8 meeting with Sabathia not much more was expected.
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But the Orioles lineup featured one of the best-recognized names in baseball history, third baseman Cal Ripken. At 40, Ripken was in the final season of a 21-year big league career that had seen him break Lou Gehrig’s record for consecutive games played.
On this day, Ripken faced Sabathia twice. In the second inning he groundout out to Indians shortstop Omar Vizquel, and in the fourth he flied to left, ending that inning.
Sabathia was removed with two out in the sixth inning, the Orioles leading 3-2. Cleveland rallied for two runs in the seventh and a 4-3 win, Sabathia receiving a no-decision.