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==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 ] 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 ].


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 Abbot 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. 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.

⚫ In 2007, Abbott was elected to the ] for his career at Michigan.


===Professional years=== ===Professional years===
] ]
In {{by|1989}}, Abbott joined the ]' starting rotation as a rookie without playing a single ] game. That season, he posted a 12-12 record with an ] of 3.92. 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 ] voting. 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.

⚫ 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 ].


⚫ 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 ].
⚫ Abbott's best season was in {{by|1991}}, when he won 18 games with the Angels 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 won the ].


⚫ 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.
⚫ On ], ] while pitching for the ], Abbott pitched a ] against the ].


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.
⚫ That same year, Abbott's charity work and visiting of children with disabilities in New York was deemed an "unnecessary distraction" by Yankees owner ].{{fact|date=January 2008}} This work, however, earned him the "Free Spirit Award" later that year.{{fact|date=January 2008}}


⚫ 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.
In {{by|1994}}, Abbott's Yankees led the ], but the ] ended the season on ], ]. The following year, after starting the season with the ], he returned to the California Angels, who held a 13 1/2 game lead over the ] in August, but lost the ] in a one-game playoff to the Mariners.


⚫ 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.
⚫ He struggled through the {{by|1996}} season, posting a 2-18 record with a 7.48 ERA and briefly retired.


⚫ Abbott retired with a career record of 87-108, with a 4.25 ERA. He currently works as a motivational speaker.
⚫ He returned to the White Sox in {{by|1998}}, starting five games and winning all five. Abbott continued his comeback the following year with the ], but pitched ineffectively. This was the first time he played for a ] team, forcing him to bat for the first time in his career.


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


==Playing with one hand== ==Playing with one hand==

Revision as of 18:12, 26 January 2008

Template:Mlbretired

For other people with this name, see James Abbott.

James Anthony Abbott (born September 19, 1967), 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. Abbott is best known for playing despite having been born without a right hand.

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.

He currently works as a motivational speaker and lives in Harbor Springs, Michigan with his wife Dana and two children.

Playing career

Amateur years

Abbott was born in Southfield, Michigan and moved to Flint, Michigan 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 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. 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 Toronto Blue Jays in the 1985 Major League Baseball Draft but didn't sign, instead moving on to the University of Michigan.

He played for Michigan three years, 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. 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 1988 Summer Olympics, winning a gold medal for the United States. 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.

Professional years

Jim Abbott, post retirement

One of those rare prospects that had great major league talent and ability, Abbott jumped directly from the University of Michigan into the Angels' starting rotation without playing a single minor league game in the minor leagues in 1989. In his rookie year, he posted a 12-12 record with an ERA of 3.92 at the age of twenty-one. His 12 wins in his first professional season were the most since Mark Fidrych won 19 for the Detroit Tigers in 1976, and he finished fifth in the year's rookie of the year voting.

Abbott's best season was in 1991, when with the California Angels he won 18 games while posting an ERA of 2.89, finishing third in the American League Cy Young Award voting. He also pitched well in 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 Tony Conigliaro Award.

On September 4, 1993 while pitching for the Yankees, Abbott pitched a no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians. The front page of the Flint Journal from this feat still hangs in Jim's favorite restaurant, Angelo's Coney Island in Flint, MI.

In the 1993 season, Abbott's charity work and visiting of children with disabilities in New York was deemed an "unnecessary distraction" by boss George Steinbrenner. 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.

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 1996 season, posting a disastrous 2-18 record with a 7.48 ERA and briefly retired.

He returned to the White Sox in 1998, starting five games and winning all five. Abbott continued his comeback the following year with the Brewers, but pitched ineffectively. However, his stint in Milwaukee was notable as it was the first time he had played for a National League team, thus forcing him to bat for the first time in his career.

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

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

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 racquetball player in high school and a quarterback for the Flint Central Indians.

Batting was not an issue for Abbott for the majority of his career, since the American League uses the designated hitter. He did bat for himself during spring training games. When Abbott joined the National League's Brewers in 1999 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 Rick Reuschel) 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 batting practice with the team, Abbott could hit for power with one hand.

References

  1. ^ Jim Abbott Hickoksports Biography Hickoksports Retrieved on 2006-07-28.
  2. Jim Abbott Biography Retrieved on 2006-07-24.
  • Bernotas, Bob. Nothing to prove: The Jim Abbott Story. Kodansha International, Tokyo. 1995

See also

External links

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