From being born without a right hand to MLB greatness: The inspiring story of motivational speaker Jim Abbott
Jim Abbott is perhaps the most inspiring baseball player of all time. The pitcher was born without a right hand. That would normally prohibit players from being a professional in any sport, but it didn't stop Abbott.
Throwing a no-hitter is unbelievably difficult in the MLB. It has only happened 322 times in MLB history, which dates back more than a century. That's exactly what Abbott did for the New York Yankees in 1993, though.
When he pitched, Abbott would throw the ball and then switch his glove onto his left hand in case he needed to field the ball. That kind of pressure is hard to deal with, but the former Los Angeles Angels standout did it well.
He amassed a career bWAR of 19.6 and had an ERA of 4.25, so he was a pretty decent pitcher in his 10-year MLB career. He then transitioned into being a motivational speaker.
Jim Abbott, one of MLB's most inspiring figures
According to Executive Speakers, Jim Abbott is one of the best motivational speakers out there.
"Abbott knows that to continue to move towards our goals we must be willing to adapt, to change, and to mold ourselves in order to meet the obstacles in our own way. Using ADAPT as an acronym, Abbott strings together a powerful set of words that provide five incredible strategies to help audiences reach their fullest potential."
The acronym is this:
- A - Adjustability
- D - Determination
- A - Accountability
- P - Perseverance
- T - Trust
As a sophomore at Michigan in 1987, Jim Abbott was named the best amateur athlete and the top amateur baseball player in the nation. He also became the first U.S. pitcher to beat the Cuban national team in Cuba in 25 years.
Not only is he inspiring for being able to overcome the odds and play at any level, but he had quite a lot of success. He had more success than most players who aren't missing a hand will ever have. That's quite inspiring.