THE STORY OF JIM ABBOTT, THE 1-HANDED PITCHER One of Baseball’s Finest
Longtime fans of Major League Baseball may be familiar with Jim Abbott. After
When Abbott was in high school in Flint, Michigan, he batted a .427 and hit seven home runs. Then, he pitched for the United States at the 1988 Olympics in South Korea when baseball was a demonstration sport. He helped win the U.S. the gold medal, and that was before he was even drafted for the MLB. As a pitcher, Abbott wore the pocket of his glove on the end of his right arm. He pitched left-handed, and then he could switch the glove to his left hand as quick as lightning to catch and field the ball as needed. His adaptive methods on the field, while unconventional, worked wonders. Throughout his career, Abbott earned several honors. He was one of only three pitchers of his decade to win their first professional game. In 1991, he finished third for the American League Cy Young Award. In 1993, he became one of only 10 pitchers for the Yankees to date to pitch a no-hitter. At the end of his career, he had an impressive lifetime record of 87-108.
being drafted by the Angels in 1988, Abbott pitched in the major
leagues for 10 years. By any metric, he had an exceptional pitching record, but what made him even more exceptional is that he did it all with just one hand.
While many members of the adaptive community lost a limb later in life because of an accident or disease, Abbott was actually born without his right hand. When he talks about his childhood, he doesn’t have much to say by way of overcoming adversity because he’s only ever known what it’s like to have one hand. However, that doesn’t make Abbott’s baseball career any less remarkable. Professional baseball players in any position need to be able to throw, catch, and bat better than the rest — something that many aspiring players can’t do with two hands.
Today, Abbott remains one of the most impressive players in the history of the game and a testament to what’s possible for members of the adaptive community.
Contrary to popular belief, vegetables are delicious. Most of our parents just didn’t know how to prepare them well. This summer, revolutionize your cookout with a serving of delicious, colorful veggies. INGREDIENTS THE BEST GRILLED SUMMER VEGETABLES
SUDOKU
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1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 1/2 tsp dried Italian seasoning
1 1/2 tsp garlic, minced
2 lbs assorted vegetables, trimmed and halved (asparagus, mushrooms, red onion, red bell peppers, baby carrots, and yellow squash are great on the grill)
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5 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp lemon juice
1/4 cup parsley leaves, chopped
DIRECTIONS
1. In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and garlic. 2. Brush vegetables with olive oil and place in a large bowl. Top with lemon juice and seasoning mixture. Toss to coat evenly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes but no longer than 2 hours. 3. Prepare the grill at medium-high heat. 4. Grill vegetables in batches, cooking 3–5 minutes on each side until browned
and tender. (Carrots will cook longer, 6–9 minutes per side.) 5. Remove from the grill, sprinkle with parsley, and serve hot.
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