Without Andy Pettitte’s mentorship, CC Sabathia said he is unsure whether he would have been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame as a first-ballot selection in 2024. Pettitte played a key role in helping Sabathia adjust his pitching style late in his career, which Sabathia believes strengthens Pettitte’s own case for Hall of Fame induction.
“For me, Andy is a Hall of Famer,” Sabathia said. “Getting a chance to pitch alongside him, getting a chance to still talk to him pretty much all the time, I believe he’s a Hall of Famer.”
Sabathia recently joined Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter among recent Yankees inductees, while other former players like Ichiro Suzuki had brief stints with the team. This has prompted discussion about notable Yankees who are not currently in Cooperstown.
Alex Rodriguez stands out among these players. Over his 22-year career with the Mariners, Rangers, and Yankees from 1994 to 2016, Rodriguez hit 696 home runs—fourth all-time—and was named American League MVP three times. He was also a 14-time All-Star and won two Gold Glove awards. Rodriguez joined the Yankees in 2004 and helped them win the World Series in 2009. Despite his statistics, Rodriguez’s candidacy is complicated by a suspension for performance-enhancing drug use that kept him out for the entire 2014 season. He has stated that if Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens are eventually inducted despite similar controversies, it could improve his own chances.
Roger Clemens pitched for several teams from 1984 to 2007 and won seven Cy Young Awards with a total of 354 wins and over 4,600 strikeouts. Clemens was named in the Mitchell Report after allegations of PED use but has denied using banned substances during his time with the Yankees from 1999-2003 and again briefly in 2007. His best showing on the BBWAA ballot was just over 65 percent; he received less than five votes from the Eras Committees in 2025.
Andy Pettitte himself had a successful career from 1995 to 2013 with both the Yankees and Astros. He was known for being reliable in big games and is part of the Yankees’ “Core Four.” Pettitte recorded more postseason wins than any pitcher in history but faces an uphill battle for Hall induction due to factors such as his career ERA.
Don Mattingly played exclusively for the Yankees between 1982 and 1995. The six-time All-Star won nine Gold Gloves and an MVP award but saw his production decline due to injuries later in his career. Though eligible for many years on various ballots, Mattingly has not yet been elected; comparisons are often made between him and other Hall of Famers like Kirby Puckett.
Other former Yankees considered strong candidates include Graig Nettles, Willie Randolph, Tommy John, David Cone, Bernie Williams, Ron Guidry, Thurman Munson, and Jorge Posada.
