Jim Abbott – Baseball Player Without Right Hand
February 24, 2010 by admin
Filed under Handicap Success
Jim Abbott – Role Model for Baseball Player
“I have learned that it’s not the disability that defines you…it’s how you deal with what the disability presents you with…I have never felt slighted.”
– Jim Abbott
James Anthony Abbott (born September 19, 1967 in Flint, Michigan) – Abbott is best known for playing despite having been born without a right hand.
He is a former Major League Baseball pitcher for the California Angels, the New York Yankees, the Chicago White Sox, and the Milwaukee Brewers, from 1989 to 1998.
Achievements at the time of College – He graduated from Flint Central High School and grew up in the East Village area of Flint, Michigan. While with the University of Michigan, Abbott won the James E. Sullivan Award as the nation’s best amateur athlete in 1987 and won a gold medal in the 1988 Summer Olympics. He was drafted in the first round of the 1988 Major League Baseball Draft and reached the Majors the next year. He threw a no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians in 1993.Abbott retired with a career record of 87 wins and 108 losses, with a 4.25 earned run average.
Story about Jim
Jim Abbott has battled the odds his entire life. Despite being born with only one hand he was the 15th player to ever make a professional debut in the Major Leagues. Many considered the move a publicity stunt by manager Doug Rader, but after struggling early, Abbott proved his doubters wrong by winning 12 games with a 3.92 ERA in his rookie season.
He was picked up by the Ypsilanti, Michigan team in American Legion and went to win the championship. He graduated from Flint Central High School in Michigan where he was a stand-out pitcher and as an American football quarterback led his team to the state championships. He played for the Grossi Baseball Club during the summers in the Connie Mack leagues of Michigan. He was drafted in the 36th round by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1985 Major League Baseball Draft but didn’t sign, instead moving on to the University of Michigan.
1988 Summer Olympic Games…
Abbott participated in the 1988 Summer Olympic Games, pitching a complete game seven hitter, leading the United States to the Gold Medal in a 5-3 victory over Japan. The United States first ever, gold medal in Olympic Baseball competition.
He played for Michigan three years under coach Bud Middaugh, from 1985 to 1989, leading them to two Big Ten championships.
In 1987, he won the James E. Sullivan Award as the top amateur athlete in the United States, becoming the first baseball pitcher to win that award.
Abbott was the flag-bearer for the United States at the 1987 Pan American Games in Indianapolis, where he pitched to a first place finish.
Major Leagues without playing in the minor leagues
He then joined the California Angels following the Olympics. Jim made his pro debut in spring training and made it to the Major Leagues without playing in the minor leagues, which was the beginning of a tremendous Major League career. His most famous highpoint is perhaps throwing a no-hitter for the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in 1993.
His baseball achievements include the Sullivan Award (best amateur athlete in the United States), male athlete of the year for the 1988 Olympic Games, and many awards at Michigan including the Jesse Owens Athlete of the year.
In 2007, Abbott was elected to the College Baseball Hall of Fame for his career at Michigan. Abbott’s University of Michigan #31 was retired at the Wolverine’s April 18, 2009 home game against Michigan State University.
How he Play with one hand:
• When preparing to pitch the ball, Abbott would rest a right-handed thrower’s 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 remove the glove by securing it between his right forearm and torso, slip his hand out of the glove, and remove the ball from the glove, usually in time to throw out the runner, and sometimes even starting double plays.
• At all levels, teams tried to exploit his fielding disadvantage by repeatedly bunting to him; this tactic was never effective.
• Batting was not an issue for Abbott for the majority of his career, since the American League uses the designated hitter. But Abbott tripled in a spring training game in 1991 off Rick Reuschel, and when Abbott joined the National League’s Milwaukee Brewers in 1999, he had two hits in 21 at-bats, both off Jon Lieber. New York Yankees teammate Mariano Rivera said Abbott could hit home runs into the bleachers during batting practice.
Recent Achievements – After 2000
• 2000: Began professional motivational speaking.
• 2004: Inducted to the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame.
• 2007: Elected to the College Baseball Hall of Fame.
• 2008: The University of Michigan awarded him an Honorary Degree Doctor of Laws.
• 2008: PITCH spokesperson for the US Department of Labor
Jim Abbott is a true inspiration to me. He was an incredible player who had an amazing attitude. He definitely made his mark in history.