CC Sabathia Field dedicated in Vallejo

"Sabathia was drafted into professional baseball straight from high school, where he played on the very field that now bears his name."

• 1/28/12, "Vallejo baseball field renamed for Yankees pitcher, native son," Times-Herald (Napa and Solano Cty.), L. C. Banes

"When Vallejo High's Principal Clarence Isadore declared Friday "CC Sabathia Day" at his high school, students wanted to make sure he gave the Yankees pitcher one clear message.

Thank you.

But Sabathia threw a curve ball Friday afternoon when he unveiled the newly renovated and renamed CC Sabathia Field at Patterson Park.

"I came here today, and everyone keeps saying 'thank you' to me. ... But I just want to say thanks to the city of Vallejo for all the love shown me," Sabathia said.

Sabathia, a 1998 Vallejo High School graduate and a New York Yankees pitcher, was drafted into professional baseball straight from high school, where he played on the very field that now bears his name.

As his baseball career took him from Cleveland to New York, Sabathia never forgot where he came from, establishing his PitCCh In Foundation in part to give back to the children of Vallejo and inner city youth across the country.

Sabathia Field marks the second Vallejo baseball field to be renovated by the foundation after PitCCh In gave the North Vallejo Little League a new field two years ago....

Friday's dedication was brief but emotional, as Vallejo athletes and coaches young and old returned to pay homage to Sabathia.

Among the more than 100 who came to the dedication was Abe Hobbs, Sabathia's former coach at Vallejo who helped turn open space into a baseball field.

"We talked about putting a field here, and what's taken place is very much more than what we've talked about," Hobbs said as he addressed the crowd, scanning the renovated field.

Vallejo High alumnus and professional mixed martial artist Mark Muñoz also came to the ceremony and praised Sabathia for his continued service to the city....

Sabathia also will hold a baseball clinic at 5 p.m. today at CC Sabathia Field at Patterson Park, 840 Nebraska St. Cost is $5, though children 10 and younger can get in for free."

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