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In his new book Imperfect: An Improbable Life, Jim Abbott chronicles how he overcame adversity to become one of the great pitchers in baseball.
Despite being born without a right hand, Abbott played for four major league teams, and gives a lot of credit for his success to his parents whom he says the book is a tribute. He credits his father’s ‘why not?’ attitude and described both parents as making him, “feel special, without treating [him] special.”
As the book’s title suggests, Abbott lived an improbable life overcoming obstacles at every stage, both personally and professionally. While with the Yankees, he pitched a no hitter against the Cleveland Indians. To him, it was a defining milestone.
“That one game, that one successful moment, you know, to get that last out in Yankee Stadium, in the pinstripes, to throw a no-hitter — it seems to give my career credence that, ‘Yeah he pitched with one hand, but he was pretty good too,’” Abbott continued, “Ultimately that was the message that I wanted to send.”
Abbott believes that his baseball accomplishments are all the more special because, growing up, they seemed so unattainable at the time.
“Every level became a gift — to make the little league team, to make the high school team — all of those levels became something that you were incredibly thankful for.”
Watch David’s entire interview with Jim Abbott above to hear more about Abbott’s book as well as a reflection on raising his own kids.
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