Born, Sept. 19, 1967, in Flint, Michigan without a right hand. He was an
All-America hurler at Michigan; won Sullivan Award in 1987; threw 4-0 no-hitter
for NY Yankees vs. Cleveland (Sept. 4, 1993). Jim played for 10 seasons on 4
different teams and ended his big league playing career in 1999. Today, in
addition to being a Pitching Instructor for the Los Angeles Angels, Jim Abbott
is a motivational speaker. Unique as a sports speaker because his story, and
the way he delivers it, appeals to many types of audiences, even those who are
not sports fans. In his keynotes, Jim Abbott uses motivational sports stories
of how he overcame adversity, and anecdotes from his career as a professional
baseball pitcher.
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.
On the mound, Abbott wore a right-hander's fielder's glove at the end of his
right arm. While completing his follow-through after delivering a pitch, he
rapidly switched the glove to his left hand so he could handle any balls hit
back to him. In that first 1989 season as a professional he won more games as a
rookie than any other previous player without Major League experience.
Abbott spent hours as a youngster bouncing a ball off a wall to practice
fielding as well as throwing. He was the starting quarterback on his high
school football team, which went to the finals of the Michigan state
championship, and he showed enough promise as a pitcher to be drafted by the
Toronto Blue Jays shortly after graduation.
However, Abbott went to the University of Michigan on a baseball scholarship.
Abbott led the Wolverines to Big Ten titles in his freshmen and junior years
and won the prestigious Golden Spikes Award, presented annually to the
outstanding college baseball player in the United States.He had a career record
of 26 wins and 8 losses at the school.
As a member of Team USA in 1987, he became the first American pitcher in 25
years to beat a Cuban team on Cuban soil. The team won a silver medal at the
Pan-American Games and Abbott won the U. S. Baseball Federation's Golden Spikes
award as the best amateur player in the country.
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 then joined the California Angels following the Olympics, beginning a
tremendous Major League career, which included throwing a no-hitter for he 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.
