Jim Abbott, now 41, once amazed even those non-baseball fans by playing handicapped. Abbott was born without a right hand, but never seemed to let it hinder his dreams/ambitions/drive to play. He attended U of M from 1985 to 1988, only after turning down the Toronto Blue Jays.
(Provided by MGoBlue)
While in Ann Arbor, Abbott helped lead the Wolverines to two Big Ten titles. In 1987, he was the first baseball player ever to win the James E. Sullivan award, as the top amateur athlete in the country, and the coveted Golden Spikes Award as the top amateur baseball player in the country. Abbott on winning the award, "The Golden Spikes Award was simply incredible. Traveling to New York City to accept the award with Coach Bud Middaugh was priceless. I think we were both very proud to represent U-M at that kind of venue. I don't think it got me out of running the next day in practice though."
In 1988, Jim Abbott pitched the gold medal winning game for the United States; was named the Big Ten Athlete of the Year.
After finishing his time at Michigan, Abbott went straight to the Major Leagues where he started for the California Angels. Abbott would go his entire career without throwing an inning in the minor leagues. In 1991, Abbott won 18 games, had a ERA of 2.89, and finished 3rd in the Cy Young voting.
On September 4, 1993, Jim Abbott pitched a no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians.
Jim Abbott was elected to the College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007. On April 18, 2009, Michigan retired the number #31 in honor of Jim Abbott’s contributions to the University. Abbott currently works as a motivational speaker and can be contacted through his personal website.
“Find something you love, and go after it, with all your heart” – Jim Abbott
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