September 4th, 1993, New York Yankees Jim Abbott pitched a no hitter against the Clevland Indians. Yes, there have been pitchers who had no hitters like our favorite pitcher Nolan Ryan who had a whole bunch of them. But Jim Abbotts no hitter was different because Jim Abbott was different. Born in Flint Michigan, Jim showed an interest in playing sports. His parents suggested he try soccer he did but Jim didn’t like soccer. Jim wanted to play baseball. He spent hours throwing a rubber ball against a brick wall and catching it on the rebound. He spent hours throwing a rubber ball against a brick wall and catching it on the rebound. At the age of 11, Jim joined a Little League team and threw a no-hitter in the first game he pitched. When he entered high school at Flint Central, his new coach doubted Jim would be able to defend his position adequately. But Jim fielded well enough to play first base and outfield when he wasn’t pitching. Even his hitting was exceptional He was able to generate remarkable power, blasting seven homers and batting an excellent .427 as a senior. On the mound that year he won ten games and lost three with an incredibly low 0.76 ERA and averaged more than two strikeouts per inning pitched.

Jim attended the University of Michigan after high school. He continued to develop as a pitcher and began to think seriously about a career in professional baseball. In 1987 he pitched the Wolverines to first place in the Big Ten Eastern Division standings and then to the conference championship and threw a shutout in the NCAA tournament. For the season he won 11 games against three losses.

In 1989 Jim was picked by the California Angels as the eighth pick in the first round of the amateur draft and negotiated a $207,000 bonus. Jim played four seasons with the Angles before being traded to the New York Yankees. Jim’s time with the Yankees was frustrating and his performance was lacking. That is until September 4th, 1993. no-hit victory over the Cleveland Indians during a tight pennant race. The no-hitter catapulted Abbott back into the national spotlight and once again focused on the unique accomplishments of a baseball player performing, and performing exceptionally well, with one hand.

That’s right Jim Abbott had accomplished all these amazing feats with just one hand. He was born with his hand missing from his right arm. Pitching, Catching and Bating with only his left hand. Jim Abbott shows us it’s all about how bad you want it.

Here is some video from that day in 1993.