Three Decades After His Famous Game, Jim Abbott’s Impact Still Felt On and Off Field of Play. Jim Abbott was born without a right hand. Despite the disability, Abbott rose to the highest heights of baseball and even pitched a no-hitter for the New York Yankees.
“Southpaw – The Life and Legacy of Jim Abbott,” a new edition of ESPN E60 which premiered on July 13th, tells the story of Abbott’s accomplishment against Cleveland on Sept. 4, 1993, at Yankee Stadium, how the Flint, Michigan, native’s unexpected rise to prominence inspired thousands of disabled and limb-different children across the world, and how Abbott’s impact is still felt today.
For Southpaw, E60 secured access to the current Yankee Stadium for a special night of filming with Abbott where he was interviewed on the field and watched and commented on the broadcast of his no-hitter with Schaap on the stadium’s big screen.
There has never been a story in sports history quite like Abbott’s. Born in Flint, Mich., in 1967 without a right hand, Abbott rose to unexpected prominence as a baseball pitcher, first in his hometown, then at the University of Michigan, where he was named America’s best amateur athlete in 1987. After pitching the gold medal winning game for the U.S. at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, Abbott was drafted by the California Angels in the first round. After several seasons with the Angels, he was traded to the Yankees.
Throughout Abbott’s rise to the highest levels of baseball, he was, at times, a reluctant role model, struggling with the pressure and exclusion that came with being “an inspiration.” Abbott’s unprecedented and transformational career earned him international fame and his story affected thousands of disabled and limb-different children across the globe.
Now, 30 years removed from the height of his popularity, Abbott’s impact is still felt both on and off the field of play. Southpaw is an unforgettable story about ingenuity, identity and what it’s like to be different. In addition to Abbott himself and members of his family, more than 40 people were interviewed for Southpaw, including Hall of Famers from baseball and some current limb-different athletes. Book an inspirational sports speaker like Jim Abbott at Speakers.com today!
