Sometimes it takes a change of scenery before baseball players are truly appreciated in the hobby. That may turn out to be the case for CC Sabathia, who starred for almost a decade in Cleveland but could be set for even bigger things after moving on.
The first round pick of the Indians (20th overall) in the 1998 draft, Sabathia made his MLB debut during the 2001 season at the tender age of 20. He quickly proved he wasn't overmatched, going 17-5 and finishing second in Rookie of the Year voting to the phenomenon that was Ichiro.
He went on to anchor Cleveland's rotation for the next six seasons, winning over 100 games and making three All-Star teams. Sabathia saved his best for last, capturing the 2007 AL Cy Young award while putting up career bests in almost every relevant statistical category.
Despite that huge year, Sabathia turned out to be the Indians' most marketable commodity when they stumbled badly through the first half of the 2008 season. So he found himself on the move to Milwaukee, going to the Brewers in exchange for top outfield prospect Matt LaPorta and three other players shortly before the All-Star break.
Though his time in Milwaukee could turn out to be brief - he's a free agent come 2009 - the move could make more collectors wake up to his talent. His 1999 rookie cards have lagged behind the likes of Alfonso Soriano and Matt Holliday, but with plenty of productive seasons seemingly ahead of him, they could turn out to be bargains down the road.
CC Sabathia 1999 Rookie Cards
- Bowman # 344
- Bowman Chrome # 344
- Bowman's Best # 171
- Finest # 294
- Topps Traded # T33
- Topps Chrome Traded # T33