CC Sabathia’s career ended abruptly. Yes, the longtime Yankees left-hander had announced months earlier his plans to retire after the 2019 season, but his final appearance did not go as ceremoniously as Derek Jeter’s or Mariano Rivera’s.

Sabathia went into his free agency thinking he would come out an Angel. Instead, he was blown away by the Yankees’ seven-year, $161 million offer and ended up eliminating the Angels in the Championship Series. He allowed just two runs in two starts, striking out 12 over 16 innings as he was named the ALCS MVP.

Sabathia, who won 251 games during his career, was elected in his first year of eligibility. Tyler Carey lays out why the big lefty more than deserving.