Even Hall of Famers couldn't crack the code of Ichiro Suzuki.

During an interview with MLB Network, newly-announced Baseball Hall of Fame member CC Sabathia recalled his 2006 journey of finding a new “out pitch,” which seemed to work on everyone … except one particular player.

While with the Cleveland Indians (now known as the Cleveland Guardians), pitching coach Carl Willis and Sabathia worked on finding the six-foot, six-inch lefty a pitch that could end at-bats quickly and with the most efficiency.

“We go into the bullpen in Oakland and I'm trying to find an ‘out' pitch,” Sabathia recalled. “I'm throwing this big, loopy curveball at the time, and when I get to two strikes, I wouldn't have anything to put a guy away.”

Sabathia said the duo went into the bullpen to initially learn a cutter, but came out with something much different.

“I come out of that bullpen with this 82-83 mile per hour slider,” Sabathia said. “And I'm like, ‘Oh, this thing is awesome.'”

Sabathia took his newly-perfected slider into his next start, which happened to be in Seattle against fellow Hall of Famer Ichiro and the Mariners.

Article Continues Below
More Cleveland Guardians News
Cleveland Guardians first base David Fry (6) reacts after hitting a single and advancing to second base during the fifth inning against the New York Yankees during game five of the ALCS for the 2024 MLB playoffs at Progressive Field.
Guardians activate All-Star outfielder before Angels clashJoey Mistretta ·
guardians, emmanuel clase
1 player Cleveland Guardians must trade before 2025 deadlineGarrett Kerman ·
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts (30) stands in the dugout in the third inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field.
Dodgers’ Dave Roberts reveals what went wrong in 7-4 loss to GuardiansZachary Howell ·
Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez (11) hits a solo home run in the eighth inning of the MLB game between Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Guardians at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Friday, May 16, 2025.
Jose Ramirez’s offensive dominance gets truth bomb from Guardians All-Star teammateRexwell Villas ·
Cleveland Guardians pitcher Shane Bieber is introduced before the home opening game between the Guardians and the Chicago White Sox at Progressive Field.
Guardians’ Shane Bieber set for massive step toward injury returnJason Patt ·
Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) walks off the field against the Boston Red Sox in the seventh inning against the Boston Red Sox at Comerica Park.
Tarik Skubal earns ‘best pitcher’ claim from Guardians’ Stephen VogtScotty White ·

“I take [the slider] into the game, I take it to 0-2 [against Ichiro], and Ichiro hits it off the window,” Sabathia laughed. “And I'm like, ‘Oh, that's just Ichi' because I'm getting outs with it. Next at-bat I throw it to him first pitch and he hits it out again.”

CC Sabathia's success with the Guardians

Former Major League Baseball pitcher CC Sabathia waves to the crowd in the second quarter of a game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Denver Nuggets at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
David Richard-Imagn Images

Slider or not, CC Sabathia's success with the Guardians is undeniable.

During his career in Cleveland, Sabathia threw 1,528.2 innings, compiling a 106-71 record in 237 starts with a 3.83 ERA and 1,265 strikeouts. He was a three-time All-Star and 2007 Cy Young winner with the Guardians and was eventually inducted into the team's Hall of Fame in Aug. 2024.

“That was the beginning of that run,” Sabathia said of 2006. “The next year I win the Cy Young because I have an out pitch now. And then I get to Milwaukee and go on that great run because we had so much fun and that clubhouse was so good. Then I had a chance to come to New York and win a World Series.”