Ex-Yankees open up on the ‘new life’ CC Sabathia gave team for 2009 World Series run

COOPERSTOWN — Andy Pettitte had won four World Series with the Yankees by the time the 2008 season ended and, knowing he would turn 37 the next year, didn’t know if he and the rest of the Core Four would pick up another. 

That offseason changed his outlook, as the Yankees went on a free agent spending frenzy and brought in Mark Teixeira, A.J. Burnett and — most importantly — CC Sabathia, who was coming off a memorable stretch run with the Brewers. 

“I knew he was an absolute stud, watching that last month in Milwaukee,” Pettitte said. “I was like, ‘Give me this dude. Bring him aboard.’” 

And when the dust settled that offseason, Pettitte had one thing on his mind.