Jim Abbott
Born: 9/19/1967 in Flint, MI, USA
MLB Debut: 1989-04-08 | Final Game: 1999-07-21
Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 6'3" | Weight: 200 lbs
Full name: James Anthony Abbott
Biography
Jim Abbott was a professional baseball pitcher whose career spanned from 1989 to 1999. Born in 1967, Abbott gained national attention not only for his ability to compete at the highest level but also for his remarkable journey as a one-handed pitcher. He was born without a right hand, yet he defied expectations with his athletic prowess and determination, becoming an inspirational figure in the sport. Throughout his career, Abbott played for several teams, including the California Angels, New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, and the Milwaukee Brewers.
Abbott finished his career with a record of 87-108 and an earned run average (ERA) of 4.25, alongside 888 strikeouts. Although he did not record any saves, his contributions on the mound were significant, especially during the early 1990s, a period characterized by an evolution in pitching styles and strategies. He was known for his competitive spirit and unique approach to the game, which resonated with fans and aspiring athletes alike. Abbott's legacy extends beyond his statistics; he became a symbol of perseverance, inspiring many with his story of overcoming adversity to achieve his dreams in Major League Baseball.
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 87 | 108 | 263 | 254 | 31 | 6 | 0 | 1674.0 | 1779 | 791 | 154 | 620 | 888 | 4.25 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | LAA | AL | 12 | 12 | 29 | 29 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 181.3 | 190 | 79 | 74 | 115 | 3.92 | - |
| 1990 | LAA | AL | 10 | 14 | 33 | 33 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 211.7 | 246 | 106 | 72 | 105 | 4.51 | - |
| 1991 | LAA | AL | 18 | 11 | 34 | 34 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 243.0 | 222 | 78 | 73 | 158 | 2.89 | - |
| 1992 | LAA | AL | 7 | 15 | 29 | 29 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 211.0 | 208 | 65 | 68 | 130 | 2.77 | - |
| 1993 | NYY | AL | 11 | 14 | 32 | 32 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 214.0 | 221 | 104 | 73 | 95 | 4.37 | - |
| 1994 | NYY | AL | 9 | 8 | 24 | 24 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 160.3 | 167 | 81 | 64 | 90 | 4.55 | - |
| 1995 | LAA | AL | 5 | 4 | 13 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 84.7 | 93 | 39 | 29 | 41 | 4.15 | - |
| 1995 | CHW | AL | 6 | 4 | 17 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 112.3 | 116 | 42 | 35 | 45 | 3.36 | - |
| 1996 | LAA | AL | 2 | 18 | 27 | 23 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 142.0 | 171 | 118 | 78 | 58 | 7.48 | - |
| 1998 | CHW | AL | 5 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31.7 | 35 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 4.55 | - |
| 1999 | MIL | NL | 2 | 8 | 20 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 82.0 | 110 | 63 | 42 | 37 | 6.91 | -2819.1 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 263 | 21 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0.095 | 0.095 | 0.095 | 0.190 | 0.0 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | LAA | AL | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1990 | LAA | AL | 33 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1991 | LAA | AL | 34 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1992 | LAA | AL | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1993 | NYY | AL | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1994 | NYY | AL | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1995 | LAA | AL | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1995 | CHW | AL | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1996 | LAA | AL | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1998 | CHW | AL | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1999 | MIL | NL | 20 | 21 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0.095 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 263 | 254 | 72 | 300 | 9 | 16 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | CAL | P | 29 | 29 | 6 | 26 | 3 | 1 |
| 1990 | CAL | P | 33 | 33 | 8 | 36 | 1 | 4 |
| 1991 | CAL | P | 34 | 34 | 19 | 46 | 2 | 3 |
| 1992 | CAL | P | 29 | 29 | 11 | 35 | 0 | 1 |
| 1993 | NYA | P | 32 | 32 | 4 | 42 | 1 | 3 |
| 1994 | NYA | P | 24 | 24 | 8 | 23 | 1 | 1 |
| 1995 | CAL | P | 13 | 13 | 3 | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995 | CHA | P | 17 | 17 | 5 | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| 1996 | CAL | P | 27 | 23 | 3 | 27 | 0 | 1 |
| 1998 | CHA | P | 5 | 5 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 1 |
| 1999 | MIL | P | 20 | 15 | 3 | 23 | 1 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 263 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Hutch Award | |
| 1993 | Player of the Week | Week of 1993-09-04 |
| 1991 | TSN All-Star | LHP |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | MIL | NL | $400,000 |
| 1996 | CAL | AL | $2,200,000 |
| 1995 | CHA | AL | $2,775,000 |
| 1994 | NYA | AL | $2,775,000 |
| 1993 | NYA | AL | $2,350,000 |
| 1992 | CAL | AL | $1,850,000 |
| 1991 | CAL | AL | $357,500 |
| 1990 | CAL | AL | $185,000 |
| 1989 | CAL | AL | $68,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $12,960,500 | ||
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Michigan | Ann Arbor | MI | 1986, 1987, 1988 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Cy Young Award | AL | 3rd | 26.0 | 140 | 0 |
| 1989 | Rookie of the Year | AL | 5th | 10.0 | 140 | 0 |