CC Sabathia

CC Sabathia

Warren Spahn family presenting award to best left-handed pitcher in MLB

OKLAHOMA CITY — CC Sabathia, World Series Champion and American League Championship Series MVP, will accept the Warren Spahn Award in Oklahoma City on January 26.

The Spahn Award is presented annually to the best left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball and is based on a pitcher’s wins, strikeouts and earned run average. During the 2009 season, Sabathia had 197 strikeouts, 19 wins and a 3.37 ERA. This is Sabathia’s third consecutive Spahn Award.

“I am honored to receive the 2009 Warren Spahn Award,” Sabathia said. “My wife Amber and I have had the privilege of being in Oklahoma City the last two years and we're always impressed by their first-class event and warm hospitality.”

The award is named after Oklahoman and National Baseball Hall of Famer Warren Spahn, who holds the Major League Baseball record of 363 wins as a left-handed pitcher. The award will be presented at the Warren Spahn Award Gala, hosted by Oklahoma City’s Bricktown Rotary Club and the Jim Thorpe Association. Tickets to the gala, which will be held at the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame & Jim Thorpe Museum in Oklahoma City, are available now. Proceeds will benefit several local charities including Habitat for Humanity, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Autism Walk, Christmas Connection, Alzheimer’s Walk, and Red Ribbon Week.

Greg Spahn, son of the late Warren Spahn, said Sabathia is closing in on Randy Johnson’s record of four consecutive wins from 1999 to 2002.

“It’s important to note that CC is demonstrating the same consistency that my dad did throughout his career,” Spahn said. “Great pitchers are all about being able to do it year after year.”

Spahn Award Chairman Bill Hickman said it will be a pleasure to welcome Sabathia back to Oklahoma City for this year’s award presentation.

“CC Sabathia is a world-class athlete and also an all-round class act,” Hickman said. “His gracious participation in the past two Spahn Award galas has raised Oklahoma City’s profile as a big league city and enriched even more the legacy of baseball legend Warren Spahn.”

Past Spahn Award winners include: CC Sabathia (2007–2009); Johan Santana (2004, 2006); Dontrelle Willis (2005); Andy Pettitte (2003); and Randy Johnson (1999–2002).

For more information, visit OKCSpahnAwards.com. To purchase tickets, contact Bill Hickman at 405.605.2375 or hickman@hickmanlawgroup.com