CC Sabathia and Abe Hobbs

Major League Baseball Player CC Sabathia was born in Vallejo, California on July 21, 1980. CC is a professional baseball pitcher with the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball. As a teenager he attended Vallejo High School and played with the Major League Baseball youth program Rebuilding Baseball in Inner cities. In baseball he accumulated a mark of 6-0 with an 0.77 ERA during his senior year season.

Coming out of the draft he was the top high school prospect in Northern California according to Baseball America. CC was drafted in the first round (20th overall) by the Indians in the 1998 MLB Draft. It didn't take long for the higher ups in Cleveland to recognize what they had in their young pitcher.

In 2001, barely 20 years old, CC burst onto the Major League scene as the leagues then youngest player and promptly won 17 games while also amassing an impressive 171 strikeouts. His success as a rookie was instrumental in helping the Indians reach the American League Division Series where CC won the only game he pitched. There was no doubt at the end of that season? Sabathia was here to stay.

In December of 2008, CC signed a seven year contract with the New York Yankees. It is the largest contract for a pitcher in MLB history. CC?s won his first championship ring with the Yankees, finishing 19-8 with a 3.37 ERA. CC also won the American League Championship Series (ALCS) Most Valuable Player Award for his performance in 2009 ALCS. For his performance in July 2011, Sabathia was named Al Pitcher of the month. He posted a 4-1 record with a 0.92 ERA during the month, striking out 50 batters and walking 13 in 39 innings. He also pitched two complete games and one shutout.

Throughout his career, CC Sabathia has been active with numerous community-focused off-the-field activities and non-profit programs. His time in Cleveland saw him donate to the Larry Doby RBI Program via a yearly contribution to Cleveland Indians Charities as well as participate in other local programs in neighboring communities. Since moving on to the Milwaukee Brewers and now the New York Yankees, CC has maintained his level of support to organizations and causes that are of personal interest to him.

This includes providing Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners to those in need, work with the Boys and Girls Club of his home town of Vallejo and neighboring Oakland, and Strikeouts For Troops which assists wounded war heroes and their families. He has also recently introduced his own nonprofit foundation, "PitCCh In" which is designed to help inner city kids in need through various community outreach programs. More information about CC's dedication to improving the lives of young people and their communities can be seen at PitCChInFoundation.org

Every time CC Sabathia steps on the mound he brings the heart of a champion to go along with his flame throwing left arm. Standing at 6'7" with his trademark hat cocked slightly to the side, CC's imposing presence on the mound belies a gentle family-oriented man off it.

Abe Hobbs was raised in a military family, the son of a 30 year Navy man. Like his father and both grandfathers, Abe is a military veteran. He graduated from the United States Infantry and Airborne Schools in Ft. Benning Georgia before serving with the 10th Mountain Light Infantry Division at Fort Drum, in upstate New York. After completing his enlistment Abe returned home and earned his Associate Degree from Solano Community College, a Bachelor Degree from California Sacramento State University, and a Masters Degree from Touro University.

He holds a California Single Subject Teaching Credential in Physical Education, and Health Science. He spent the first ten years of his teaching career at Vallejo High School beginning in 1995. He is presently teaching in the Vacaville Unified School District. Abe has been an active member of the California Teachers Association, California and National Baseball Coaches Association, Vallejo Police Activity League, Vacaville American Legion, and First Baptist Church in Vacaville. He has coached high school baseball in California for the past 19 years.

Abe has taught a variety of subjects during his tenure, but insists that the most important subject on any campus is the “student.” He believes a teacher needs to learn about the student before they can move on to the course content. Teaching has blessed Abe with the ability to reach out to students and start relationships that last well beyond their enrollment in his classes they create bonds that will last a lifetime. He finds it is rewarding to have students come back as adults and reflect on past experiences.

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