Family tragedy, robbery changed CC Sabathia's life

By Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY
ALPINE, N.J. CC Sabathia, wearing a black T-shirt and grey sweat pants, is sprawled on the living room couch, clutching the remote.
In the past three hours, the New York Yankees ace has cheered and consoled his eldest son at a flag football game, gulped a bowl of his mom's gumbo and gotten a haircut in the salon of his 18,000-square foot home.
Now, with wife Amber by his side, he watches as close friend and former teammate Cliff Lee shuts down the Tampa Bay Rays and grins when the Texas Rangers' celebrate advancing to the American League Championship Series where they will meet the Yankees starting tonight.
"We're great friends, but I want to beat him," Sabathia says.
Sabathia, who will start Game 1, leans back and says, Sabathia closes his eyes as if to think about his dad, Corky, who was in and out of his life and battled drug addiction. He died in 2003 at 47.
It was Sabathia's own brush with death that brought the two of them together, giving Sabathia peace and helping him turn around his life.
"Things got crazy for awhile, but everything that has happened since is way better than anything I could have imagined," Sabathia says.
STRIKING IT RICH
What has happened since is dreamlike. Sabathia has won 157 games since his 2001 debut (the most in the major leagues during that time) and the 2007 AL Cy Young Award which he earned with the Cleveland Indians, the team that drafted him in the first round in 1998. He signed a $161-million, seven-year deal with the Yankees, helped them to the 2009 World Series championship and has posted four consecutive seasons with 17 wins or more.
The Sabathias also have welcomed three children to join 7-year-old CC III daughter Jaden, 5; daughter Cyia, 2; and son Carter, born Aug. 5.
Sabathia, who grew up in Vallejo, Calif., is a 30-minute drive from Yankee Stadium but it feels like a different world in this neighborhood. There is no view of the New York skyline. No noise. Just lots of trees, grass and quiet.
"It's too woodsy here," says his mom, Margie Sabathia-Lanier, 51, sitting in the back of the SUV with CC III, or
"Yeah, mom," says Sabathia, 30,
The area, one of the nation's wealthiest communities, is home to entertainers such as Jay-Z and Britney Spears.
Sabathia spent $15 million on his six-bedroom home, which includes an indoor basketball court and spa. On the coffee table there's a book of Ultimate Autos and Harry Benson: Photographs. The only indication of Sabathia's occupation is tucked in their office, where his Cy Young and other trophies are stored.
"This is home," says Amber, 29.
Despite the size, there is warmth. The Sabathias had a birthday party Monday for their three oldest kids all born in September and October with some 70 kids. That didn't include parents and relatives from California, or costumed entertainers Elmo and Buzz Lightyear.
"There are guys in this game that let their careers define who they are," says Yankees right-hander Chad Gaudin.
Sabathia, 6-7, 290 pounds, came into this world big at eight pounds, 12 ounces. The only thing bigger, Margie says, was his name: Carsten Charles Jr.
"When my mom walked into the room, she asked me his name," Margie says.
Sports became his passion. He went to Oakland A's and Raiders games with Corky. He always was bigger than the other kids. Margie had to bring his birth certificate to his games football, basketball and baseball, but baseball was his first love. Margie, who put on the gear to catch him in theyard, says she taught him toughness.
When Sabathia cried during games, upset when things didn't go his way, Margie lit into him. Now, she watches Sabathia mentor his son. When Little C cried when a player stepped in front of him and intercepted a pass, Sabathia quietly went to the sideline, told him it wasn't his fault and that he didn't want to see any more tears. Little C didn't cry again but showed his frustration when the opposition scored, kicking the field.
"He reminds me of CC at that age," says Margie.
Sabathia has Little C playing everything he did, never missing a game when he's not pitching. It's important he's around, he says, remembering the days Mom was in the stands, cheering, with her right leg trembling. It's the same nervous habit Sabathia has now.
Dad used to come to the games, too, but abruptly stopped. He stopped coming around the house. Sabathia was 13.
"CC never asked what happened, or where he was," Margie says.
ABSENT FATHER
Corky abandoned the family for drugs. He would call once in a while, occasionally send money, Margie says, but never saw Sabathia play in a high school game.
"I had no idea he was doing that stuff," Sabathia says.
It wasn't until Sabathia graduated from high school, signing a $1.3 million bonus with the Indians, that Corky showed up again in 1998.
"Every son needs a father," Margie says.
In January 1999, Sabathia picked up his dad for dinner. At a stoplight, Corky told his son he was sick and needed help. Corky said.
"I didn't cry. I was just numb. I mean, I knew what it meant. I was just hoping he would get better," Sabathia says.
Says Margie:
Three years later, it was Sabathia telling his parents that he'd be OK.
Margie visited Sabathia in May 2002 and didn't like what she saw. Margie says of her son, who had just signed a four-year, $9.5 million deal.A few days later, I got that call."
Sabathia was on the line and said: Mom, they put a gun to my head."
Sabathia, who was wearing thousands of dollars worth of jewelry and carrying $3,200 in cash, went to an after-hours party at a downtown Cleveland hotel. He and Jomar Connors, a family friend, were robbed at gunpoint by two former Cleveland State basketball players, who were arrested within days; one served 19 months, the other 25.
Sabathia called Amber and proposed:
Margie and Corky were on flights the next day. Corky never left.
"That night changed my life," Sabathia says.
Sabathia and Amber married in June 2003. Corky, who was battling stomach cancer, died six months later.
YANKEES HERE I COME
Sabathia, who has a tattoo honoring his father under his right forearm, says he has never been frightened again.
In July 2008, the Indians traded him to Milwaukee. He could have stayed forever, he says, but free agency beckoned.
The Yankees, fearing Sabathia wanted to be on the West Coast, sent general manager Brian Cashman to visit the Sabathias in California and offered the largest contract for a pitcher in history. Sabathia says Cashman sold him on New York and told him if he didn't like it, he could opt out after three years.
"I knew that's where I wanted to go," Sabathia says.
The four-time All-Star won 19 games last year and led the Yankees to their first World Series championship since 2000. He won 21 games this year, and the Yankees are four victories from a return trip.
"That's all any player wants," Sabathia says,
It is the same sales pitch Sabathia plans to give Lee this winter, if he asks.
"We have similar personalities," says Lee, who pitched alongside Sabathia in Cleveland for 6 ½ seasons.
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON
It's Sabathia's character that reaffirms the Yankees' decision. Teammate Lance Berkman argues Sabathia could be the MVP as easily as the Cy Young winner.
To avoid missing a start in August, Amber's labor was induced. Three days later, Sabathia pitched 7 shutout innings against the Boston Red Sox.
It's the stuff aces are made of, even if it can be hard for a little girl to understand.
Sabathia, tossing a football on the sideline of his son's game, saw a parent approach and stare.
"You look like CC Sabathia," the man said.
Word leaked out, and a girl ran over. she said.
Sabathia:
She started to retreat, came, and said, chant. Parents and kids wanted to talk. Sabathia wanted to find his son. Sabathia said.
"What do you mean, dad?" he said.
Margie put her hand on her grandson's shoulder, looked at CC, and rolled her eyes.
"You know what dude," Margie says,
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