• C.C. was selected for the 2000 Olympic team but did not pitch in the Summer Games, at the request of the Indians. He did not receive a gold medal because he was not on the official 24-man squad.
• C.C. was selected as 2001 Rookie Pitcher of the Year by The Sporting News.
• In his 2001 playoff win, C.C. struck out A.L. RBI champion Bret Boone three times.
• C.C. got his first big-league hit off Dennys Reyes of the Rockies in 2002.
• In 2003, C.C. became the youngest pitcher to start Opening Day since Dwight Gooden in 1986.
• In 2004, C .C. became Cleveland’s youngest All-Star since Dennis Eckersley in 1977.
• C.C. hit his first career home run against Elizardo Ramirez of the Reds in 2005.
• CC collected his 1,000th career strikeout in 2005. He struck out Ichiro Suzuki, the player who beat him out for Rookie of the Year in 2000.
• C.C.’s 10 complete games in 2008 were the most in the majors since Randy Johnson had 12 in 1999.
• On September 28, 2009, C.C. became the youngest pitcher (27 years, 69 days) to record 100 career wins since Greg Maddux in 1993.
• In 2009, C.C. won the Players Choice award for AL Pitcher of the Year.
• C.C. was the first Cleveland pitcher since Luis Tiant to record 10 wins or more in each of his first five seasons.
• The first time C.C. faced his childhood idol, Ken Griffey Jr., he was so excited that he hit him with a pitch.
• If C.C. had not had a sports career, he believes he would have gone into law enforcement.
• When C.C. pitches against Oakland, more than 100 family and friends attend the game.
• During his rookie year, C.C. made a deal with his mom—if he won 10 games she would quit smoking. She stopped on July 23rd, after his 10th victory.
• C.C.’s dad did not attend his playoff victory in Seattle in 2001. He had a fear of flying, and couldn’t get on a plane so soon after 9/11.
• C.C. wears his cap slightly off-kilter as his signature style.
• C.C.’s favorite movie is "Scarface." His favorite TV show is "Entourage."
• C.C.’s favorite video game is Madden Football.
• Before he stopped eating fast food, C.C’s traditional pre-game meal was a Big Bacon Classic and super-size fries at Wendy’s.
• C.C. has a collection of autographed baseball caps.
• C.C. is married. He and his wife, Amber, have two kids, C.C. II and Jaeden.
• C.C. has his last name tattooed across his back, uniform-style.
• In the past, C.C. teamed with Barry Zito and Curt Schilling to provide housing for military families with service members in hospitals.
• C.C. appeared in the Cleveland Ballet’s performance of The Nutcracker in 2003.
• C.C. briefly dated tennis star Serena Williams.
• When C.C. inked his contract with the Yankees it was the largest deal, dollar-wise, ever signed by a pitcher.
• After signing with the Yankees, C.C. and his family built a house in Alpine, New Jersey. They plan to live there year ’round.

© Copyright 2007 Black Book Partners, LLC. All rights reserved.