Misplaced Pages

Jim Abbott: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editContent deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 20:47, 27 January 2008 edit12.199.96.253 (talk)No edit summary← Previous edit Latest revision as of 06:48, 31 December 2024 edit undoJevansen (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Page movers, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers3,391,289 editsm added Category:20th-century American sportsmenTag: AWB 
(698 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|American baseball player (born 1967)}}
{{Mlbretired
{{other people||James Abbott (disambiguation){{!}}James Abbott}}
|bgcolor1=#000080
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
|bgcolor2=#8B0000
{{Infobox baseball biography
|textcolor1=white
|textcolor2=white
|name=Jim Abbott |name=Jim Abbott
|image= |image=Jim_Abbott_Cannons.jpg
|caption=Abbott in 1998
|position=]
|position=]
|bats=Left
|bats=Left
|throws=Left |throws=Left
|birthdate={{birth date and age|1967|9|19}} |birth_date={{birth date and age|1967|9|19}}
|birth_place=], U.S.
|debutdate=]
|debutleague = MLB
|debutyear=]
|debutdate=April 8
|debutteam=]
|debutyear=1989
|finaldate=]
|debutteam=California Angels
|finalyear=]
|finalleague = MLB
|finalteam=]
|finaldate=July 21
|stat1label=Record
|finalyear=1999
|stat1value=87-108
|finalteam=Milwaukee Brewers
|stat2label=]
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=]
|stat1value=87–108
|stat2label=]
|stat2value=4.25 |stat2value=4.25
|stat3label=] |stat3label=]s
|stat3value=888 |stat3value=888
|teams=
|teams=<nowiki></nowiki><!--This forces MediaWiki to recognize the first bullet. Kind of a workaround to a bug.-->
*] (1989–1992) * ] ({{mlby|1989}}–{{mlby|1992}})
*] (1992-1994) * ] ({{mlby|1993}}–{{mlby|1994}})
* ] ({{mlby|1995}})
*] (1995-1996)
*] (1995, 1998) * ] ({{mlby|1995}}–{{mlby|1996}})
*] (1999) * ] ({{mlby|1998}})
* ] ({{mlby|1999}})
|highlights=<nowiki></nowiki>
|highlights=
*1987 ]
* Pitched a ] on September 4, 1993
*]: 1992
* ] (1987)
*Free Spirit Award 1993 (3)
|medaltemplates=
{{MedalSport | Men's ]}}
{{MedalCountry | {{USA}}}}
{{MedalCompetition | ]}}
{{MedalGold | ] | ]}}
{{MedalCompetition | ]}}
{{MedalSilver | ] | ]}}
{{MedalCompetition | ]}}
{{MedalSilver | ] | ]}}
}} }}
'''James Anthony Abbott''' (born September 19, 1967) is an American former ] ]. He played in ] for the ], ], ], and ], from 1989 to 1999. He was successful at the major league level despite having been born without a right hand.


Abbott graduated from ] and grew up in the ] area of ]. He was drafted out of high school by the ] in the 36th round of the ] but did not sign and decided to attend college. While with the ], he won the ] as the nation's best amateur athlete in 1987 and won a gold medal in the demonstration event at the ]. He was drafted in the first round of the ] and reached the major leagues the next year.
{{for|other people with this name|James Abbott}}


As a member of the New York Yankees, he threw a ] against the ] in 1993.<ref name="No-hitter"> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050315192512/http://www.hickoksports.com/biograph/abbottji.shtml |date=March 15, 2005 }} Hickoksports Retrieved on July 28, 2006.</ref> He retired with a career record of 87 ] and 108 losses, along with a 4.25 ]. He is a ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/jimabbottpitcher|title=Official Jim Abbott on Facebook|website=]|access-date=June 8, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jimabbott.net/booksigning.html|title=Jim Abbott book signing and public events|access-date=June 8, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714182952/http://www.jimabbott.net/booksigning.html|archive-date=July 14, 2014}}</ref>
'''James Anthony Abbott''' (born ], ]), is a former ] pitcher for the ], the ], the ], and the ], from {{by|1989}} to {{by|1998}}. Abbott is best known for playing despite having been born without a right hand.

He graduated from ] and grew up in the ] area of ]. While with the ], Abbott won the ] as the nation's best amateur athlete in {{by|1987}} and won a gold medal in the ]. He was drafted in the first round of the 1988 ] and reached the Majors the next year. He threw a ] against the ] in {{by|1993}}.<ref name="No-hitter"> Hickoksports Retrieved on 2006-07-28.</ref> Abbott retired with a career record of 87 ] and 108 losses, with a 4.25 ].

He currently works as a motivational speaker and lives in ] with his wife Dana and two children.


==Playing career== ==Playing career==
===Amateur years=== ===Amateur years===
Abbott was born in ] and moved to ] shortly afterwards. He was born without a right hand. He was picked up by the Ypsilanti, Michigan team in American Legion and went to win the championship. He graduated from ] in Michigan where he was a stand-out pitcher and as an ] ] led his team to the state championships.<ref name="high-school"> Retrieved on 2006-07-24.</ref> He played for the ] during the summers in the Connie Mack leagues of Michigan. Abbott also spent a lot of time in the summers working with local Flint youth baseball leagues as an umpire. He was drafted in the 36th round by the ] in the 1985 ] but didn't sign, instead moving on to the ]. Abbott was born in ].<ref name="greatath">{{cite book |last1=Berg |first1=Chuck |editor1-first=Dawn P |editor1-last=Dawson |title=Great Athletes |edition=Revised |volume=1 |year=2002 |orig-year=1992 |publisher=Salem Press |isbn=1-58765-008-8 |pages=4–6 |url=https://archive.org/details/greatathletes0000unse |url-access=registration }}</ref> He was picked up by the ], American Legion team and went on to win the championship. He graduated from ] in Michigan where he was a standout pitcher and ].<ref name="high-school"> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110906052011/http://www.jimabbott.info/biography.html |date=September 6, 2011 }} Retrieved on July 24, 2006.</ref> He played for the Grossi Baseball Club during the summer in ]. The ] selected Abbott in the 36th round in the ], but he did not sign with the Blue Jays.


He played for Michigan three years, from {{by|1985}} to {{by|1989}}, leading them to two Big Ten championships. In 1987, he won the ] as the top amateur athlete in the United States, becoming the first baseball pitcher to win that award.<ref name="No-hitter" /> The same year Jim pitched for the United States at the Pan-American Games, winning a silver medal. The highlight of his amateur career was when he pitched the final game in the ], winning a gold medal for the ]. Abbott was voted the Big Ten male athlete of the year in 1988, receiving the Jesse Owens Award. Abbott would be selected 8th overall by the California Angels in the 1988 draft. Abbott enrolled at the ] and played ] for the ] for three years from 1985 to 1988, leading them to two ] championships. In 1987, he won the ] as the top amateur athlete in the United States, becoming the first baseball player to win the award.<ref name="No-hitter" /><ref name="greatath"/> He was the flag-bearer for the United States at the ] in ], helping lead the US to a second-place finish.<ref name="greatath"/><ref name=Games>{{cite book|title=The Games of August: Official Commemorative Book |publisher=Showmasters |location=Indianapolis |year=1987 |isbn=978-0-9619676-0-4}}</ref> Baseball was a ] in the ]; he pitched the final game, winning an unofficial gold medal for the United States.<ref name="greatath"/> Abbott was voted the ] in 1988.


Abbott's University of Michigan #31 jersey was retired at the Wolverines' April 18, 2009, home game against ].<ref name="greatath"/> In 2007, he was elected to the ] for his career at Michigan.
===Professional years===
]
One of those rare prospects that had great major league talent and ability, Abbott jumped directly from the ] into the Angels' starting rotation without playing a single ] game in the minor leagues in 1989. In his rookie year, he posted a 12-12 record with an ] of 3.92 at the age of twenty-one. His 12 wins in his first professional season were the most since ] won 19 for the ] in {{by|1976}}, and he finished fifth in the year's rookie of the year voting.


===MLB career===
Abbott's best season was in {{by|1991}}, when with the California Angels he won 18 games while posting an ERA of 2.89, finishing third in the American League ] voting. He also pitched well in {{by|1992}} season, posting an even better 2.77 ERA, but his win-loss record fell to 7-15 for the sixth-place Angels. In 1992 Abbott was also honoured with the ].
The ] selected Abbott in the first round, with the eighth overall selection, of the ]. In 1989, he joined the Angels' ] as a rookie ] ] game. That season, he posted a 12–12 win–loss record with an ] (ERA) of 3.92,<ref name="greatath"/> and finished fifth in the year's ] (AL) ] voting.


In 1991, Abbott went 18–11 for the Angels, who finished in last place in the ] with an 81–81 record. He posted the fourth-lowest ERA in the AL (2.89) while pitching 243 ]s. As a result, he finished third in the AL ] voting.<ref name="greatath"/> In the 1992 season, he posted a 2.77 ERA (fifth-lowest in the AL) but his win–loss record fell to 7–15 for the sixth-place Angels.<ref name="greatath"/> He also won the ] in 1992.
On ], {{by|1993}} while pitching for the Yankees, Abbott pitched a ] against the ]. The front page of the ] from this feat still hangs in Jim's favorite restaurant, ] in ].


In the offseason, the Angels attempted to trim payroll and traded Abbott to the ] for their top minor league prospect first baseman ], and pitchers ] and ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/12/07/sports/baseball-yanks-are-winners-in-the-abbott-derby.html |title=BASEBALL; Yanks Are Winners In the Abbott Derby - The New York Times |work=] |date=December 7, 1992 |accessdate=February 11, 2022}}</ref> He had an up and down year for the Yankees but on September 4, 1993, Abbott pitched a ] against the ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/09/05/sports/baseball-abbott-not-a-hit-not-a-run-not-a-doubt.html |title=BASEBALL; Abbott: Not a Hit, Not a Run, Not a Doubt - The New York Times |work=] |date= September 5, 1993|accessdate=February 11, 2022|last1=Frey |first1=Jennifer }}</ref> On November 26 in the same year, he appeared as himself on the TV series '']'' in the episode "]".
In the 1993 season, Abbott's charity work and visiting of children with disabilities in New York was deemed an "unnecessary distraction" by boss ]. This work, however, earned him the prestigious "Free Spirit Award" later that year.


]
In 1994, Abbott and the Yankees led the AL East but MLB went on strike on August 12, 2004, which would carry over into the next season. The following year, he pitched for the California Angels, who had a 13 1/2 game lead over the Seattle Mariners in August, but slumped badly and wound up losing the Western division in a one-game tie-breaker Playoff Game, denying Abbott his last chance to pitch in a post-season game.
In 1994, Abbott's Yankees led the ], but the season was halted and the playoffs were canceled, due to a ] on August 12. A ] after the 1994 season, Abbott signed with the ] in April 1995. On July 27, 1995, the White Sox traded him and ] to the Angels for ], ], ], and ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/07/28/sports/baseball-rich-get-richer-angels-land-abbott-indians-add-hill.html |title=BASEBALL; Rich Get Richer: Angels Land Abbott; Indians Add Hill - The New York Times |work=] |date=July 28, 1995 |accessdate=February 11, 2022}}</ref> The Angels held an 11-game lead over the ] in August, but lost the AL West division title in a ].


Abbott re-signed with the Angels for the 1996 season. He struggled through it,<ref>{{cite web|last=Friend |first=Tom |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/08/06/sports/the-fastball-has-deserted-abbott-but-dignity-has-not.html |title=The Fastball Has Deserted Abbott, but Dignity Has Not - The New York Times |work=] |date=August 6, 1996 |accessdate=February 11, 2022}}</ref> posting a 2–18 record with a 7.48 ERA. The Angels released him before Opening Day of the 1997 season, and he retired.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/jim-abbott-career-worth-remembering | title=A career worth remembering: Jim Abbott | website=] }}</ref>
Although Abbott pitched effectively for the Yankees and White Sox before returning to the Angels, he never recaptured his 1991 form. He struggled through the {{by|1996}} season, posting a disastrous 2-18 record with a 7.48 ERA and briefly retired.


He returned to the ] in {{by|1998}}, starting five games and winning all five. Abbott continued his comeback the following year with the ], but pitched ineffectively. However, his stint in Milwaukee was notable as it was the first time he had played for a ] team, thus forcing him to bat for the first time in his career. Abbott returned to the White Sox in 1998, starting five games and winning all five. He continued his comeback the following year with the ], but pitched ineffectively. This was the first time he had played for a ] team, forcing him to ] for the first time in his career. He recorded two ] in 21 ] during his Brewers stint. Both of his hits scored runs, and both hits came off ] pitcher ], albeit in different games.


Abbott retired with a career record of 87-108, with a 4.25 ERA. He currently works as a motivational speaker. Abbott retired after the 1999 season with a career record of 87–108, with a 4.25 ERA.

In 2007, Jim Abbott was elected to the College Baseball Hall of Fame for his time in Michigan. (One of the most useful biographical accounts of Jim Abbott appears in "Current Biography" (1995 edition).)


==Playing with one hand== ==Playing with one hand==
When preparing to pitch the ball, Abbott would rest his glove on the end of his right forearm. After releasing the ball, he would quickly slip his hand into the glove, usually in time to field any balls that a two-handed pitcher would be able to field. Then he would secure the glove between his right forearm and torso, slip his hand out of it, and remove the ball from it, usually in time to throw out the runner at first or sometimes even start a double play. At all levels, teams tried to exploit his fielding disadvantage by repeatedly ] to him.<ref> Retrieved on December 16, 2008</ref>


Batting was not an issue for Abbott for the majority of his career, since the American League used the ], and he played only two seasons in the ] era. But he tripled in a spring training game in 1991 off ],<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041025095012/http://www.jsonline.com/sports/brew/wed/abb31099.asp |date=October 25, 2004 }} Retrieved on August 24, 2008.</ref> and when he joined the National League's ] in 1999, he had two hits in 21 at-bats, both off ].<ref> Retrieved on August 24, 2008.</ref><ref> Retrieved on August 24, 2008.</ref> ] closer ] claimed to have witnessed Abbott hitting home runs during batting practice.<ref>{{cite news
During play, Abbott wore a right-handed glove over his right arm, swapping the glove to his left to catch return throws from the catcher. When fielding, he would most often keep the glove on his stump and knock the ball down, allowing a quicker transition to making a throw. Despite his physical limitations, he was considered an above average fielder. It should also be noted that Abbott was an avid ] player in high school and a quarterback for the Flint Central Indians.
|url=http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/06/06/talkin-baseball-with-the-yankees/
|title=Talkin' Baseball With the Yankees
|first=Tyler
|last=Kepner
|date=June 6, 2007
|work=New York Times Bats blog}}</ref>


His disability inspired him to work harder than most. "As a kid I really wanted to fit in," Abbott says on his website about growing up with a disability. "Sports became a way for me to gain acceptance. I think this fueled my desire to succeed. I truly believe that difficult times and disappointments can push us to find abilities and strengths we wouldn't know existed without the experience of struggle."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Major League Baseball — Playing With A Disability - ABILITY Magazine |url=https://abilitymagazine.com/major-league-baseball-playing-with-a-disability/ |access-date=March 20, 2022 |website=abilitymagazine.com/ |language=en-US}}</ref>
Batting was not an issue for Abbott for the majority of his career, since the American League uses the ]. He did bat for himself during spring training games. When Abbott joined the National League's Brewers in ] he had 2 hits in 21 at-bats. It is worth noting that Abbott once tripled in a spring training game (in 1991 off of veteran ]) when in the American League and it is widely believed that he would not have been any more a liability than any other pitcher when batting. Indeed, when he took ] with the team, Abbott could hit for power with one hand.


==References== == Awards ==
*1986 – Abbott was presented with the ]'s Mildred "Babe" Didrikson Zaharias Courage Award for his courageous action in overcoming adversity to excel in sports.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wralsportsfan.com/rs/story/2731322/|title=Coach Yow Receives Courage Award From U.S. Sports Academy :: WRALSportsFan.com|last=WRAL|website=wralsportsfan.com|access-date=September 18, 2017|date=April 14, 2008}}</ref>
{{Reflist}}
*1987 – Abbott won the ].
*Bernotas, Bob. ''Nothing to prove: The Jim Abbott Story.'' Kodansha International, Tokyo. 1995
*1992 – Abbott was awarded the ], given annually by the Boston Red Sox to a Major League player who overcomes an obstacle and adversity through the attributes of spirit, determination, and courage that were trademarks of the Boston star.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bostonbaseballwriters.com/index.php/tony-conigliaro-award |title=Tony Conigliaro Award |access-date=February 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120053321/http://www.bostonbaseballwriters.com/index.php/tony-conigliaro-award |archive-date=January 20, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*2003 – Abbott was inducted into the ]'s ].<ref name="BRSOTE Inductees"> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919092503/http://www.baseballreliquary.org/awards/shrine-of-the-eternals/shrine-of-the-eternals-electees |date=September 19, 2020 }}. Baseball Reliquary. Retrieved August 14, 2019.</ref>
*2014 – Abbott was one of 12 recipients of the ].<ref>{{cite news|title=Cooper Receives Viscardi Award|url=http://www.herl.pitt.edu/news-events/cooper-receives-viscardi-award|publisher=University of Pittsburgh|date=2014}}</ref>

== Autobiography ==
] In April 2012, Abbott's autobiography, ''Imperfect: An Improbable Life'' ({{ISBN|0345523253}}), co-written with Tim Brown, was published by ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-ca-jim-abbott-20120401,0,5279767.story|first=Chris|last=Erskine |title=Book review: 'An Improbable Life' by Jim Abbott and Tim Brown|work=]|date=April 1, 2012 |access-date=September 4, 2013}}</ref>


==See also== ==See also==
* ] *]
*]
* ]
* ] *]
*]
* ]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}


==External links== ==External links==
{{commons category}}
*{{baseball-reference|id=a/abbotji01}}
{{baseballstats|mlb=110009|espn=2151|br=a/abbotji01|fangraphs=1000012|brm=abbott001jam}}

*
{{S-start}}
{{S-ach}}
{{Succession box|title=] pitcher |before=]| years= September 4, 1993 |after=]}}
{{S-end}}

{{Big Ten Conference Baseball Player of the Year navbox}}
{{Golden Spikes Award}}
{{Tony Conigliaro Award}}
{{Hutch Award}}
{{National College Baseball Hall of Fame}}
{{Big Ten Conference Athlete of the Year navbox}}
{{Sullivan Award winners}}
{{1988 MLB Draft}}
{{Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim first-round draft picks}}
{{Portal bar|Baseball|Biography}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Abbott, Jim}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Abbott, Jim}}
] ]
] ]
]
]
]
]
]
] ]
]
]
]
] ]
]
] ]
] ]
]
]
]
] ]
] ]
]
] ]
] ]
]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
]

]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 06:48, 31 December 2024

American baseball player (born 1967) For other people with the same name, see James Abbott.

Baseball player
Jim Abbott
Abbott in 1998
Pitcher
Born: (1967-09-19) September 19, 1967 (age 57)
Flint, Michigan, U.S.
Batted: LeftThrew: Left
MLB debut
April 8, 1989, for the California Angels
Last MLB appearance
July 21, 1999, for the Milwaukee Brewers
MLB statistics
Win–loss record87–108
Earned run average4.25
Strikeouts888
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1988 Seoul Team
Pan American Games
Silver medal – second place 1987 Indianapolis Team
Baseball World Cup
Silver medal – second place 1988 Rome Team

James Anthony Abbott (born September 19, 1967) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball for the California Angels, New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, and Milwaukee Brewers, from 1989 to 1999. He was successful at the major league level despite having been born without a right hand.

Abbott graduated from Flint Central High School and grew up in the East Village area of Flint, Michigan. He was drafted out of high school by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 36th round of the 1985 MLB draft but did not sign and decided to attend college. While with the University of Michigan, he won the James E. Sullivan Award as the nation's best amateur athlete in 1987 and won a gold medal in the demonstration event at the 1988 Summer Olympics. He was drafted in the first round of the 1988 MLB draft and reached the major leagues the next year.

As a member of the New York Yankees, he threw a no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians in 1993. He retired with a career record of 87 wins and 108 losses, along with a 4.25 earned run average. He is a motivational speaker.

Playing career

Amateur years

Abbott was born in Flint, Michigan. He was picked up by the Ypsilanti, Michigan, American Legion team and went on to win the championship. He graduated from Flint Central High School in Michigan where he was a standout pitcher and quarterback. He played for the Grossi Baseball Club during the summer in Connie Mack Baseball. The Toronto Blue Jays selected Abbott in the 36th round in the 1985 Major League Baseball draft, but he did not sign with the Blue Jays.

Abbott enrolled at the University of Michigan and played college baseball for the Michigan Wolverines for three years from 1985 to 1988, leading them to two Big Ten Conference championships. In 1987, he won the James E. Sullivan Award as the top amateur athlete in the United States, becoming the first baseball player to win the award. He was the flag-bearer for the United States at the 1987 Pan American Games in Indianapolis, helping lead the US to a second-place finish. Baseball was a demonstration sport in the 1988 Summer Olympics; he pitched the final game, winning an unofficial gold medal for the United States. Abbott was voted the Big Ten Athlete of the Year in 1988.

Abbott's University of Michigan #31 jersey was retired at the Wolverines' April 18, 2009, home game against Michigan State University. In 2007, he was elected to the College Baseball Hall of Fame for his career at Michigan.

MLB career

The California Angels selected Abbott in the first round, with the eighth overall selection, of the 1988 Major League Baseball draft. In 1989, he joined the Angels' starting rotation as a rookie without playing a single minor league game. That season, he posted a 12–12 win–loss record with an earned run average (ERA) of 3.92, and finished fifth in the year's American League (AL) Rookie of the Year Award voting.

In 1991, Abbott went 18–11 for the Angels, who finished in last place in the AL West with an 81–81 record. He posted the fourth-lowest ERA in the AL (2.89) while pitching 243 innings. As a result, he finished third in the AL Cy Young Award voting. In the 1992 season, he posted a 2.77 ERA (fifth-lowest in the AL) but his win–loss record fell to 7–15 for the sixth-place Angels. He also won the Tony Conigliaro Award in 1992.

In the offseason, the Angels attempted to trim payroll and traded Abbott to the New York Yankees for their top minor league prospect first baseman J.T. Snow, and pitchers Russ Springer and Jerry Nielsen. He had an up and down year for the Yankees but on September 4, 1993, Abbott pitched a no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians. On November 26 in the same year, he appeared as himself on the TV series Boy Meets World in the episode "Class Pre-Union".

1999 Milwaukee Brewers #25 Jim Abbott home jersey

In 1994, Abbott's Yankees led the AL East, but the season was halted and the playoffs were canceled, due to a players strike on August 12. A free agent after the 1994 season, Abbott signed with the Chicago White Sox in April 1995. On July 27, 1995, the White Sox traded him and Tim Fortugno to the Angels for McKay Christensen, Andrew Lorraine, Bill Simas, and John Snyder. The Angels held an 11-game lead over the Seattle Mariners in August, but lost the AL West division title in a one-game playoff to the Mariners.

Abbott re-signed with the Angels for the 1996 season. He struggled through it, posting a 2–18 record with a 7.48 ERA. The Angels released him before Opening Day of the 1997 season, and he retired.

Abbott returned to the White Sox in 1998, starting five games and winning all five. He continued his comeback the following year with the Milwaukee Brewers, but pitched ineffectively. This was the first time he had played for a National League team, forcing him to bat for the first time in his career. He recorded two hits in 21 at bats during his Brewers stint. Both of his hits scored runs, and both hits came off Chicago Cubs pitcher Jon Lieber, albeit in different games.

Abbott retired after the 1999 season with a career record of 87–108, with a 4.25 ERA.

Playing with one hand

When preparing to pitch the ball, Abbott would rest his glove on the end of his right forearm. After releasing the ball, he would quickly slip his hand into the glove, usually in time to field any balls that a two-handed pitcher would be able to field. Then he would secure the glove between his right forearm and torso, slip his hand out of it, and remove the ball from it, usually in time to throw out the runner at first or sometimes even start a double play. At all levels, teams tried to exploit his fielding disadvantage by repeatedly bunting to him.

Batting was not an issue for Abbott for the majority of his career, since the American League used the designated hitter, and he played only two seasons in the interleague play era. But he tripled in a spring training game in 1991 off Rick Reuschel, and when he joined the National League's Milwaukee Brewers in 1999, he had two hits in 21 at-bats, both off Jon Lieber. New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera claimed to have witnessed Abbott hitting home runs during batting practice.

His disability inspired him to work harder than most. "As a kid I really wanted to fit in," Abbott says on his website about growing up with a disability. "Sports became a way for me to gain acceptance. I think this fueled my desire to succeed. I truly believe that difficult times and disappointments can push us to find abilities and strengths we wouldn't know existed without the experience of struggle."

Awards

Autobiography

Jim Abbott, post retirement

In April 2012, Abbott's autobiography, Imperfect: An Improbable Life (ISBN 0345523253), co-written with Tim Brown, was published by Ballantine Books.

See also

References

  1. ^ Jim Abbott Hickoksports Biography Archived March 15, 2005, at the Wayback Machine Hickoksports Retrieved on July 28, 2006.
  2. "Official Jim Abbott on Facebook". Facebook. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  3. "Jim Abbott book signing and public events". Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  4. ^ Berg, Chuck (2002) . Dawson, Dawn P (ed.). Great Athletes. Vol. 1 (Revised ed.). Salem Press. pp. 4–6. ISBN 1-58765-008-8.
  5. Jim Abbott Biography Archived September 6, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on July 24, 2006.
  6. The Games of August: Official Commemorative Book. Indianapolis: Showmasters. 1987. ISBN 978-0-9619676-0-4.
  7. "BASEBALL; Yanks Are Winners In the Abbott Derby - The New York Times". The New York Times. December 7, 1992. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  8. Frey, Jennifer (September 5, 1993). "BASEBALL; Abbott: Not a Hit, Not a Run, Not a Doubt - The New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  9. "BASEBALL; Rich Get Richer: Angels Land Abbott; Indians Add Hill - The New York Times". The New York Times. July 28, 1995. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  10. Friend, Tom (August 6, 1996). "The Fastball Has Deserted Abbott, but Dignity Has Not - The New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  11. "A career worth remembering: Jim Abbott". MLB.com.
  12. Society for American Baseball Research: The Biography Project Retrieved on December 16, 2008
  13. Abbott raps single, throws five innings Archived October 25, 2004, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on August 24, 2008.
  14. Cubs 7, Brewers 4, June 15, 1999 Retrieved on August 24, 2008.
  15. Cubs 5, Brewers 4, June 30, 1999 Retrieved on August 24, 2008.
  16. Kepner, Tyler (June 6, 2007). "Talkin' Baseball With the Yankees". New York Times Bats blog.
  17. "Major League Baseball — Playing With A Disability - ABILITY Magazine". abilitymagazine.com/. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  18. WRAL (April 14, 2008). "Coach Yow Receives Courage Award From U.S. Sports Academy :: WRALSportsFan.com". wralsportsfan.com. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  19. "Tony Conigliaro Award". Archived from the original on January 20, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2011.
  20. "Shrine of the Eternals – Inductees" Archived September 19, 2020, at the Wayback Machine. Baseball Reliquary. Retrieved August 14, 2019.
  21. "Cooper Receives Viscardi Award". University of Pittsburgh. 2014.
  22. Erskine, Chris (April 1, 2012). "Book review: 'An Improbable Life' by Jim Abbott and Tim Brown". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 4, 2013.

External links

Awards and achievements
Preceded byChris Bosio No-hitter pitcher
September 4, 1993 		Succeeded byDarryl Kile
Big Ten Conference Baseball Player of the Year
Golden Spikes Award
Tony Conigliaro Award
Hutch Award
Members of the National College Baseball Hall of Fame
Players
Coaches
Veteran players
(pre-1947 era)
Executives
Umpires
Big Ten Athlete of the Year
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
James E. Sullivan Award winners
1988 Major League Baseball draft first round selections
Los Angeles / California / Anaheim Angels first-round draft picks
Portals: Categories: