The complete story of how the Brewers landed big left-hander CC Sabathia in July 2008, setting the stage for a once-in-a-generation run.

With CC Sabathia heading into Cooperstown, take a look back at the 2008 season finale that launched the Brewers into the playoffs.

The results of the 2025 Baseball Hall of Fame vote will be announced tonight and it's looking like Ichiro Suzuki, Billy Wagner and CC Sabathia will be enshrined in Cooperstown thi

The Baseball Writers' Association of America announced the 2025 Hall of Fame Class on Tuesday, with Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia, Billy Wagner, Dick Allen

It was only Beltrán's third year on the ballot — the maximum is 10 — so the graceful outfielder is in good shape to make it eventually. And next year should work in his favor because there probably won’t be any first-ballot inductees. Cole Hamels and Ryan Braun are expected to headline the newcomers.

Former Milwaukee Brewers left-handed pitcher CC Sabathia was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame Monday, receiving 86.8% of the vote in his first year on the ballot. Ichiro Suzuki and Billy Wagner were also voted in.

The record books reflect that the best in-season trade in Brewers history happened on July 7, 2008. But thanks to an inside man, CC Sabathia saw it coming. “Dave Riske, one of my lifetime friends,” Sabathia said with a laugh.

The leading 2025 vote-getters who will return to the 2026 ballot are Carlos Beltran (70.3%), Andruw Jones (66.2%) and Chase Utley (39.8%), along a handful of other holdovers. In addition to Hamels and Braun, 2026 first-timers will include Edwin Encarnacion, Howie Kendrick, Shin-Soo Choo and Alex Gordon.

Baseball Hall of Fame class is absolutely stacked. On Tuesday night, the Baseball Writers' Association of America voted in three new members to Cooperstown: Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner.

Ichiro Suzuki became the first Japanese player chosen for baseball’s Hall of Fame, falling one vote shy of unanimous when he was elected along with CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner.

The no-doubters appear to be a few years away as next winter's ballot doesn't include any slam-dunk first-ballot inductees.

It now appears it's a question of when, not if, Carlos Beltran will be voted into the Hall of Fame. In fact, next year could be his time, with the ballot wide open.