Jim Abbott reacts to his no-hitter 4-0 win at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 4, 1993, against the Cleveland Indians, the eighth in New York Yankees' history. Born with one-hand, his 119 pitches yielded 15 groundouts and seven flyouts, including a scary fly ball from Felix Fermin that fortunately for the Yankees landed in Bernie Williams’ glove. Baerga made the final out, hitting a grounder to Randy Velarde that completed the incredible no-hit victory.
Abbott, who remains involved with Major League Baseball, is hoping that his ties to baseball will help get the word out that there are employment opportunities for people with disabilities. He was born without a right hand, but that would not deter him from becoming a successful baseball player. Abbott played for the University of Michigan in college, the California Angels made him the eighth pick in the 1988 MLB Draft, and he won a gold medal at the 1988 Olympics.
His first season with the Angels in 1990, he made 29 starts and posted a 3.92 ERA, good enough to finish fifth in the American League Rookie of the Year voting. In 1991, Abbott would have his pinnacle season, starting 34 games, winning 18, and sporting a 2.89 ERA, which earned him a third-place finish in the AL Cy Young award voting.