Derek Jeter pens heartfelt message for former Yankees teammate CC Sabathia's 2025 Hall of Fame milestone

Former New York Yankees captain and five-time World Series champion Derek Jeter praised, applauded and voiced his admiration for former teammate CC Sabathia, after the latter's induction into the MLB Hall of Fame Class of 2025. The announcement was made via a live telecast on the MLB Network on Tuesday night.

Derek Jeter and CC Sabathia were teammates in the Bronx for six years (from 2009 to 2014). They both also played an instrumental role in guiding the Yankees to a World Series championship in Sabathia's first full season in 2009.

On Tuesday night, Jeter took to Instagram to congratulate Sabathia on the Hall of Fame honors. He penned down a heartfelt note for his former teammate, which read:

"Congrats to my brother CC for his election to the MLB HOF. One of the best to ever do it!"

Sabathia was quick to respond to Jeter and voiced his reaction in a comment, which read:

"I love you bro. It’s an honor to join you in Cooperstown and share a legacy together. Forever HOF!!"

Screenshot from the story on Instagram

Besides Sabathia, Ichiro Suzuki and Billy Wagner were also voted in by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Just like Derek Jeter in 2020, CC Sabathia came close to becoming the first positional player to get elected unanimously, falling just one vote shy of that mark.

Barring that, with 86.8% votes, Sabathia became a first-ballot selection on Tuesday night. The only player to get elected unanimously into Cooperstown was former Yankees closer, Mariano Rivera in 2019.

Former Yankees ace CC Sabathia celebrated the announcement with his family

Sabathia sat peacefully in his living room surrounded by his loved ones as he received the call from the BBWAA confirming his election to the MLB HOF Class of 2025 on Tuesday night. The room filled with a state of frenzy and everybody proceeded to congratulate the 2007 AL Cy Young award winner.

"Bronx Legend. Baseball Great. 1st Ballot Hall of Famer. "

An elated CC Sabathia reacted to the announcement:

“It means everything to me. Just even to go in the Hall of Fame, in general, is a big honor. But to go in first ballot, I know what that means as a baseball player. It’s super exciting.”

Suzuki, Sabathia and Wagner join two former electees to the ballot, the late Dick Allen and Dave Parker. The 2025 Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held at Clark Sports Center in Cooperstown, New York on July 27.