1993 Profile: Jim Abbott

"Abbott came from the Angels in a September deal for Yankee first base prospect J.T. Snow and pitchers Russ Springer and Jerry Nielsen.

The tough-luck pitcher went 7-15 despite a 2.77 ERA. He got only 2.64 runs worth of support per nine innings, the lowest ratio among pitchers who made 10 or more starts. The Angels were shut out in four of his losses and held to two runs or fewer in 17 of his 29 starts. In addition, the bullpen blew two of his leads. His ERA was lower than in his 18-11 season of 1991.

Abbott topped the 200-inning mark for the third time in four years. His career mark dropped below .500. He's eligible for free agency after the 1993 season.

Born September 19, 1957, in Flint, Michigan, the Angels made Abbott the eighth overall pick in the 1989 draft after an inspiring amateur career topped by the Sullivan Award and a gold medal in the 1988 Olympics. No one thinks about his birth defect anymore."

-Tony DeMarco (Ft. Worth Star-Telegram) and Tom Pedulla (Gannett Newspapers), The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1993 Edition

"When the trade was finally made- California Angels' Jim Abbott to the Yankees for three minor leaguers- a collective sigh of relief was heard throughout the Bronx.

The much talked about deal that seemed to be in the works through most of the 1992 summer was finally consummated during the Winter Meetings. The transaction brought the Yankees a stopper they've been desperately seeking. His 3-1 record with a 2.01 ERA at Yankee Stadium would suggest a pitcher comfortable with the big-city environment.

The 25-year-old left-hander, who's been an inspiration for all with his ability to compete with just one hand, was the piece to the puzzle that gives the Yankees' rotation instant credibility.

The former University of Michigan standout and US Olympian pitched under conditions in California familiar to Yankee hurlers; he toiled with little run support as the Angels' offense averaged just 2.64 runs for every Abbott start. Despite an unimpressive 7-15 record, Abbott's 2.77 ERA was fifth lowest in the league, and his 2.33 road ERA was second lowest.

Stronger Yankee bats just might change his fortune."

-The New York Yankees Official 1993 Yearbook

"Abbott posted a 7-15 record with a 2.77 ERA in 29 games started for the Angels in 1992. His ERA ranked fifth lowest in the American League and his 2.33 road era ranked second lowest. His seven complete games was second on the Angels staff to Mark Langston and he pitched 200-plus innings (211.0) for the third consecutive season. Abbott was supported with a paltry average of 2.64 runs per game and was 1-6 in his seven complete games.

A consistent pitcher over the entire season, Jim's ERA never rose above 3.57. He had a 3.19 ERA on grass and a minuscule 0.92 ERA (39.0 IP, 4 ER) in five turf starts. Opposing batters hit .263, including .261 by right-handed hitters and .273 by left-handed hitters. Jim pitched seven-plus innings in 22 of 29 starts and walked two or fewer batters in 15 of 29 starts. He threw 3,089 pitches in 1992, an average of 14.6 per inning.

Jim was 4-11 with a 2.96 ERA in 19 pre-break starts, 3-4 with a 2.45 ERA in 19 post-break starts. His post-break ERA was second lowest in the loop to Cal Eldred. His win on June 21 over Oakland gave him at least one victory over every opposing American League club in his career. He spent time on the 15-day disabled list in July with a strained muscle in his right rib cage; it was his first time ever on the DL.

He allowed a career low 12 home runs with all 12 hit by right-handed batters. He has not allowed a homer to a left-handed hitter since September 19, 1991 (Rafael Palmerio at Texas). The 12 homers were the fewest surrendered by an Angels pitcher with 200 or more innings since Nolan Ryan in 1978 (12 HR in 243.0 IP). In his career, Abbott allows an average of one home run every 15.1 innings overall and one home run by left-handed hitters every 63 at-bats (8 in 503 AB).

Abbott did not commit an error in 46 chances, the second most errorless chances among AL pitchers in 1992, behind Baltimore's Ben McDonald (51).

He was obtained by the Yankees at the winter meetings in December 1992 in exchange for first baseman J.T. Snow and pitchers Russ Springer and Jerry Nielsen. He signed a contract for the 1993 season.

In 1991 Jim posted a career best 18-11 record with a 2.89 ERA in just his third major league campaign. He entered the season with 22 career wins in two seasons. He earned the respect of the BBWAA, ranking third in the AL Cy Young voting behind Roger Clemens and Kevin Tapani.

Jim beat 12 of 13 AL teams at least once, going 0-2 against Oakland. He and Langston became the eighth and ninth pitchers in club history to post an 18-win season after having a losing season.

He was 11-5 with a 2.38 ERA and four complete games in the second half. He won a career best seven straight games from August 7-September 8 and eight of ten decisions from August 7-September 24; the two losses in that span came by 1-0 and 3-0 scores. Jim pitched a career high 10 innings on September 24 against Toronto, losing on a 10th inning homer by Pat Borders, with a career high of 13 strikeouts.

He held the opposition to three earned runs or less in 27 of 34 starts and pitched seven-plus innings in 23 of those starts. He threw 3,566 pitches, an average of 14.7 per inning. The Angels blew four save situations in games Jim started. They scored 20 runs in his 11 losses.

Abbott was the winner of the Owner's Trophy (team MVP) with Bryan Harvey. He was also honored as a Victory Awards recipient at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., an award presented by the National Rehabilitation Hospital saluting the individual who best exemplifies exceptional depth of inner strength, purpose and integrity.

After graduating from Flint Central High School in 1985, Jim played baseball for Michigan for three seasons (1986-88). He is working toward a degree in communications. His road roommate was Scott Kamieniecki.

In his freshman year at Michigan, he went 6-2 with a 4.11 ERA with 44 strikeouts in 50.1 innings. He led the Wolverines to the regular season Big Ten title. Abbott was named the March of Dimes Athlete of the Year for 1985 and Most Courageous Athlete for 1986 by the Philadelphia Sportswriters Association.

In 1987, Abbott led the Wolverines to the regular season Big Ten title. He led the club in wins (11), starts (15) and was second in innings (86.1).

After losing the opener to Oklahoma, he reeled off nine straight wins. He had a string of 31 consecutive scoreless innings.

He led Team USA to a Silver Medal in the Pan American Games, winning the semifinal game against Canada. He was 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA in three appearances in the competition. Jim carried the American flag in the opening ceremonies in Indianapolis.

He defeated Cuba in Havana on July 18, becoming the first U.S. pitcher in 25 years to be victorious over Cuba. He posted an 8-1 record with a 1.70 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 47.2 innings during the Team USA tour.

Jim won the Golden Spikes Award, annually presented to the outstanding amateur baseball player in the country by the U.S. Baseball Federation. He was a recipient of the Academy Awards of Sports Award for Courage.

1988 was his third and final season at the University of Michigan. The club finished 48-19 with Jim winning team MVP honors. He was named Big Ten Conference Player of the Year and to both the first team All-Big Ten and the Big Ten playoffs all-tournament teams. Jim led the Wolverines in starts (16), complete games (8) and innings pitched (97.2) and was second in strikeouts (82). He had consecutive scoreless streaks of 17 and 25.1 innings.

He led the Wolverines to the NCAA Central Regionals, hurling back-to-back shutouts against Purdue and Adrian. He struck out a career best 12 batters against Adrian.

Among the many honors Jim received in 1988 were being named to the Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball preseason All-American teams and The Sporting News All-American College Baseball team. 

In his college career he combined to go 26-8 with a 3.03 ERA in 46 games (41 starts). He hurled 13 complete games and six shutouts and fanned 186 batters in 234.1 innings. Abbott finished fourth on Michigan's all-time win list and seventh in innings pitched.

He was drafted in the first round (8th pick overall) of the 1988 June free agent draft by the Angels but did not join the club due to participation in the Olympics in Seoul. Scouted by Bob Gardner, Sr.,he was signed by the Angels on August 3.

Abbott threw a complete game 7-hitter in hurling the USA to an Olympic Gold medal in a 5-3 win over Japan. During the USA summer tour he went 8-1 with a 2.55 ERA.

He was selected by the U.S.O.C. as Athlete of the Year for Baseball and was named to the All-Tournament team at the World Baseball Championships in Parma, Italy. Abbott received the prestigious Sullivan Award as the nation's top amateur athlete, becoming the first baseball player to win the award. He was also March of Dimes Amateur Athlete of the Year, Big Ten-Jesse Owens Male Athlete of the Year and received theTangueray Achievement Award in amateur sports.

Jim started the 1989 season on the Angels roster, marking just the 15th time since the inception of the amateur free agent draft (1965) that a player made his professional debut in the majors. Of the previous 14, nine were pitchers and none won more than six games (Dick Ruthven, 6-9 in 1973).

He made his major league debut on April 8 against Mark Langston and the Mariners in Anaheim and took the loss in a 7-0 Seattle victory (4.2 IP, 6H, 6 R, 3 ER). He allowed singles to the first two batters he faced (Harold Reynolds, Henry Cotto).

Jim's first major league strikeout came five days later against Oakland when he fanned Dave Parker in a 5-0 loss to Oakland. He registered his first win on April 24 against Baltimore in a 3-2 California victory, becoming the first Angel rookie left-handed starter to win a game since Angel Moreno on September 22, 1981. Abbott tossed both of his 1989 shutouts against the Red Sox, including a 5-0 win over Roger Clemens.

He became the first Angel rookie pitcher to post double figures in wins since Mike Fraser in 1987 and the first left-handed Angel rookie since Frank Tanana in 1974. Abbott allowed three earned runs or less in 21 of his 29 starts and the Angels scored 23 runs in his 12 losses. He was named to the Topps All-Star rookie team.

In 1990, the club won consecutive Abbott starts on May 18 and May 23, the only time they would do so that year. He tossed back-to-back walkless complete games on July 13 and July 18, the first Angel to do so since Jim Slaton in 1984. Jim allowed three home runs in the 6th inning of a July 24 game at Oakland, the only time all season he would allow more than one homer in a game.

Jim finished the season with a 10-14 record and a 4.51 ERA, throwing 211.2 innings. He induced 27 grounded-into-double plays, second in the American League. He led the circuit in hits allowed (246), was third in earned runs allowed (106) and had the sixth fewest runs of support (96), averaging 4.08 per game; California scored  15 runs while he was on the mound in his 14 losses. Jim pitched seven-plus innings in 14 of his 33 starts and the bullpen allowed 12 of the 36 runners he left on base to score.

Jim was the winner of the 1992 Tony Conigliaro Award, presented annually to the major leaguer who has overcome adversity through the attributes of spirit, determination and courage. He is actively involved in the Little League Challenger Division Program. 

Jim has been featured in USA Today, Newsweek, Parade Magazine, Weekly Reader, Collegiate Reader and Baseball America. He was featured during NBC's Olympic coverage and has appeared on ESPN, Good Morning America, CNN, Phil Donahue, George Michael Sports Machine and NBC Weekend Nightly News.

-1993 New York Yankees Information Guide  

Named left-handed pitcher on Sporting News College All-America team, 1988.

Member of USA Olympic baseball team, 1988.

Led American League pitchers in hits allowed (246), 1990.

Tied for lead among American League pitchers in balks (4), 1991.

Named left-handed pitcher on Sporting News American League All-Star team, 1991.

-1993 New York Yankees Information Guide 

James Anthony Abbott "Jim" (P)     #25

Born September 19, 1967, in Flint, Michigan, resides in Newport Beach, California. Height: 6-3, weight: 210. Bats left, throws left. College: attended University of Michigan.

Married, Dana (12/14/91)

Major league service: 4 years, 0 days. Opening Day age: 25.

-1993 New York Yankees Information Guide