Till the End: A Pitcher’s Life

Sabathia is one of the finest pitchers to have graced Major League Baseball. At 20 years old, he was one of the youngest players to be called up from the minors, and at times, he was the only Black player on his team; to call Sabathia’s 19-year baseball career “extraordinary” would be an understatement. In this fascinating memoir, co-written with Smith, Sabathia openly discusses his baseball career and personal life and gives readers a close-up look at the ups and downs he endured; he battled alcohol addiction for years and is raw in recounting his addiction and recovery. Baseball fans will be familiar with some of Sabathia’s memorable moments, including signing a seven-year $161 million contract with the New York Yankees, going public about his addiction in 2015, and pitching his three thousandth strikeout. His life story comes alive in this fast-paced account, from developing his love of baseball as a child, to joining the minor leagues, to having initial success with the Cleveland Indians. This book proves that Sabathia’s success wasn’t guaranteed; it was a long and difficult road at each turn.