by Jim Abbott
First published 2012
Jim Abbott stands on the mound at Yankee Stadium in September 1993, facing down another batter in what would become one of baseball's most memorable no-hitters. Born with one hand, Abbott had already defied every expectation placed on him. He pitched for Team USA in the Olympics, starred at the University of Michigan, and made it to the major leagues without spending a single day in the minors. But this gray September afternoon represents the peak of his unlikely career. Abbott traces his journey from childhood games where coaches doubted he could play, through high school and college where he proved them wrong, to the professional ranks where he competed against the best hitters in the world. His story reveals the daily challenges of adapting his technique, the mental battles against doubt, and the physical demands of playing at the highest level. This is the account of an athlete who refused to accept limitations, told by the man who lived it.
Genres: biography, autobiography, baseball, disability
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: inspirational, overcoming-the-odds
Setting: Yankee Stadium
Period: 1993
283 pages · Hardcover · Ballantine Books