View source for Jim Abbott

{{short description|American baseball player (born 1967)}}
{{other people||James Abbott (disambiguation){{!}}James Abbott}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Jim Abbott
|image=Jim_Abbott_Cannons.jpg
|caption=Abbott in 1998
|position=[[Pitcher]]
|bats=Left
|throws=Left
|birth_date={{birth date and age|1967|9|19}}
|birth_place=[[Flint, Michigan]], U.S.
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=April 8
|debutyear=1989
|debutteam=California Angels
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=July 21
|finalyear=1999
|finalteam=Milwaukee Brewers
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[[Win–loss record (pitching)|Win–loss record]]
|stat1value=87–108
|stat2label=[[Earned run average]]
|stat2value=4.25
|stat3label=[[Strikeout]]s
|stat3value=888
|teams=
* [[California Angels]] ({{mlby|1989}}–{{mlby|1992}})
* [[New York Yankees]] ({{mlby|1993}}–{{mlby|1994}})
* [[Chicago White Sox]] ({{mlby|1995}})
* [[California Angels]] ({{mlby|1995}}–{{mlby|1996}})
* [[Chicago White Sox]] ({{mlby|1998}})
* [[Milwaukee Brewers]] ({{mlby|1999}})
|highlights=
* Pitched a [[no-hitter]] on September 4, 1993
* [[Golden Spikes Award]] (1987)
|medaltemplates=
{{MedalSport | Men's [[baseball]]}}
{{MedalCountry | {{USA}}}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[Baseball at the 1988 Summer Olympics|1988 Seoul]] | [[United States national baseball team|Team]]}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Pan American Games]]}}
{{MedalSilver | [[Baseball at the 1987 Pan American Games|1987 Indianapolis]] | [[United States national baseball team|Team]]}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Baseball World Cup]]}}
{{MedalSilver | [[1988 Baseball World Cup|1988 Rome]] | [[United States national baseball team|Team]]}}
}}
'''James Anthony Abbott''' (born September 19, 1967) is an American former professional [[baseball]] [[pitcher]]. He played in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) for the [[Los Angeles Angels|California Angels]], [[New York Yankees]], [[Chicago White Sox]], and [[Milwaukee Brewers]] from 1989 to 1999. He was successful at the major league level despite being born without a right hand.

Abbott graduated from [[Flint Central High School]] and grew up in the [[East Village, Flint|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 Major League Baseball draft|1985 MLB draft]] but didn’t sign and decided to attend college. While with the [[University of Michigan]], he got 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 Major League Baseball draft|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.<ref name="No-hitter">[http://www.hickoksports.com/biograph/abbottji.shtml Jim Abbott Hickoksports Biography] {{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 [[Win (baseball)|wins]] and 108 losses along with a 4.25 [[earned run average]]. He then became a [[motivational speaker]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/jimabbottpitcher|title=Official Jim Abbott on Facebook|website=[[Facebook]]|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>

==Playing career==
===Amateur years===
Abbott was born in [[Flint, Michigan]].<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 [[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]].<ref name="high-school">[http://www.jimabbott.info/biography.html Jim Abbott Biography] {{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 [[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 baseball|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.<ref name="No-hitter" /><ref name="greatath"/> 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.<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 [[demonstration sport]] in the [[1988 Summer Olympics]]; he pitched the final game, winning an unofficial gold medal for the United States.<ref name="greatath"/> 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]].<ref name="greatath"/> 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 in [[Minor League Baseball]]. That season, he posted a 12–12 win–loss record with an [[earned run average]] (ERA) of 3.92,<ref name="greatath"/> and finished fifth in the year's [[American League]] (AL) [[Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award|Rookie of the Year Award]] voting.

In 1991, Abbott went 18–11 for the Angels, who finished in last place in the [[American League West|AL West]] with an 81–81 record. He posted the fourth-lowest ERA in the AL (2.89) while pitching 243 [[inning]]s. As a result, he finished third in the AL [[Cy Young Award]] 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 [[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]].<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=[[The New York Times]] |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 [[no-hitter]] against the [[Cleveland Indians]].<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=[[The New York Times]] |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 ''[[Boy Meets World]]'' in the episode "[[List of Boy Meets World episodes|Class Pre-Union]]" with fellow University of Michigan alumnus [[William Russ]].

[[File:MIL1999H25ABBOTT.png|thumb|left|200px|1999 Milwaukee Brewers #25 Jim Abbott home jersey]]
In 1994, Abbott's Yankees led the [[American League East|AL East]], but the season was halted and the playoffs were canceled, due to a [[1994–95 Major League Baseball strike|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 (baseball)|John Snyder]].<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=[[The New York Times]] |date=July 28, 1995 |accessdate=February 11, 2022}}</ref> The Angels held an 11-game lead over the [[Seattle Mariners]] in August, but lost the AL West division title in a [[1995 American League West tie-breaker game|one-game playoff to the Mariners]].

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=[[The New York Times]] |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=[[MLB.com]] }}</ref>

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 (baseball)|National League]] team, forcing him to [[batting (baseball)|bat]] for the first time in his career. He recorded two [[hit (baseball)|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. He became eligible for the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame]] on the [[2005 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|2005 BBWAA ballot]], but received only 13 votes (2.5% of the total vote) and fell off the ballot.

==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 [[bunt (baseball)|bunting]] to him.<ref>[http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&bid=1593&pid=13 Society for American Baseball Research: The Biography Project] 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 [[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]],<ref>[http://www2.jsonline.com/sports/brew/wed/abb31099.asp Abbott raps single, throws five innings] {{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 [[Milwaukee Brewers]] in 1999, he had two hits in 21 at-bats, both off [[Jon Lieber]].<ref>[https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1999/B06150MIL1999.htm Cubs 7, Brewers 4, June 15, 1999] Retrieved on August 24, 2008.</ref><ref>[https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1999/B06300CHN1999.htm Cubs 5, Brewers 4, June 30, 1999] Retrieved on August 24, 2008.</ref> [[New York Yankees]] closer [[Mariano Rivera]] claimed to have witnessed Abbott hitting home runs during batting practice.<ref>{{cite news
|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>

== Awards ==
*1986 — Abbott was presented with the [[United States Sports Academy]]'s Mildred "Babe" Didrikson Zaharias Courage Award for his courageous action in overcoming adversity to excel in sports.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://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>
*1987 — Abbott won the [[Golden Spikes Award]].
*1992 — Abbott was awarded the [[Tony Conigliaro Award]], 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 [[Baseball Reliquary]]'s [[Baseball Reliquary#Shrine of the Eternals|Shrine of the Eternals]].<ref name="BRSOTE Inductees">[http://www.baseballreliquary.org/awards/shrine-of-the-eternals/shrine-of-the-eternals-electees "Shrine of the Eternals – 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 [[Henry Viscardi Achievement Awards]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Cooper Receives Viscardi Award|url=https://www.herl.pitt.edu/news-events/cooper-receives-viscardi-award|publisher=University of Pittsburgh|date=2014}}</ref>

== Autobiography ==
[[File:JimAbbott.jpg|200px|thumb|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]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://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=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=April 1, 2012 |access-date=September 4, 2013}}</ref>

==See also==
* {{anl|Chad Bentz}}
* [[List of baseball players who went directly to Major League Baseball]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball no-hitters]]
* {{anl|Pete Gray}}
* {{anl|University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor}}

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

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

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140812053619/https://www.jimabbott.net/ Archived link to personal website]
{{S-start}}
{{S-ach}}
{{Succession box|title=[[No-hitter]] pitcher |before=[[Chris Bosio]]| years= September 4, 1993 |after=[[Darryl Kile]]}}
{{S-end}}

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{{Golden Spikes Award}}
{{Tony Conigliaro Award}}
{{Hutch Award}}
{{National College Baseball Hall of Fame}}
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{{Sullivan Award winners}}
{{1988 MLB Draft}}
{{Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim first-round draft picks}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Abbott, Jim}}
[[Category:1967 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American disabled sportspeople]]
[[Category:American expatriate baseball players in Canada]]
[[Category:Sportspeople with limb difference]]
[[Category:American amputees]]
[[Category:Baseball players at the 1987 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Baseball players at the 1988 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Flint, Michigan]]
[[Category:Birmingham Barons players]]
[[Category:Calgary Cannons players]]
[[Category:California Angels players]]
[[Category:Congenital amputees]]
[[Category:Chicago White Sox players]]
[[Category:Baseball players with disabilities]]
[[Category:Flint Central High School alumni]]
[[Category:Golden Spikes Award winners]]
[[Category:Hickory Crawdads players]]
[[Category:James E. Sullivan Award recipients]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball pitchers]]
[[Category:Michigan Wolverines baseball players]]
[[Category:Milwaukee Brewers players]]
[[Category:New York Yankees players]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Southfield, Michigan]]
[[Category:Vancouver Canadians players]]
[[Category:Winston-Salem Warthogs players]]
[[Category:National College Baseball Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1988 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for the United States in baseball]]
[[Category:Big Ten Athlete of the Year winners]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1987 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Pan American Games silver medalists for the United States in baseball]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]