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Jim Abbott’s ‘Imperfect’? Just The Opposite

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“I didn’t want to turn on a tape recorder and simply tell my story.”

— Jim Abbott

That’s from the Acknowledgements section of Imperfect: An Improbable Life. It’s easy to see why a pitcher who retired in 1999 has waited this long to recreate his life story.

This book offers a inning-by-inning and chapter-by-chapter account of the fabled 1993 no-hitter at Yankee Stadium. However, Abbott gives us a whole lot more.

For instance:

Player-turned-Rawlings executive Ted Sizemore gets applause for finding the perfect glove to aid in Abbott’s fielding.

Blue Jays scout Don Welke touted Abbott as a first-round draft choice worth a $200,000 signing bonus. Toronto didn’t listen in 1985, making him a 36th rounder with a $50,000 signing offer. Abbott declined, heading for college.

The contract stand-off with the Angels that led to his trade to the Yankees? Abbott offers a wistful, insightful recount of what went wrong — and how he might have reacted differently today.

My favorite passage in the book tells about a New York City bartender asking Abbott to autograph a baseball. When Abbott sees that Pete Gray, the one-armed outfielder for the 1945 St. Louis Browns, is the other autograph on the ball, Abbott declines. As he writes:

“I had had endeavored to uphold a life above brands that began ‘one-armed’ or ‘one-handed,’ and detested the notion of someone displaying or hawking the Jim Abbott/Pete Gray Two Good Arms Between ‘Em ball. How awful. With Ventura and McCaskill watching stiffly, I told the bartender I’d be happy to sign anything else, which he refused in a huff. I wondered if Pete Gray would have gone along.”
Abbott hasn’t been the best TTM signer through the years. This tale, and others like it, dot the narrative. The hurler tired of all the focus being on his disability. Relatedly, Abbott’s devotion to corresponding with children and parents coping with physical adversity was one of baseball’s best-kept secrets during his career. With autographs, letters and meetings (all far from the media spotlight), he inspired so many in need. For the casual collector, did Abbott tire of the standard stereotyped praise about being a handicapped athlete? Did he assume all letters would be the same? The book hints at the possibility.

I’m delighted at Abbott’s all-star storytelling skills. His humble sincerity and blunt honesty make for a rare combination in current baseball books. Imperfect is anything but. Read it and get a new reason to cheer for one of Michigan’s greatest diamond success stories.

Catching Up With Yankee Bruce Robinson

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A grateful, talented Yankees fan wished Bruce a
happy birthday (April 16) in a
2011 post on www.myyesnetwork.com forum.
Check out Bruce’s website below for
more rare Yankees photos!

Because he wore The Pinstripes, right?

That wasn’t the main reason I was interested in Bruce Robinson. Once I went to www.BruceRobinsonMusic.com, I saw a man who was living his dream A SECOND TIME!

Sure, he was Oakland’s first-round draft pick, He made the majors. However, he didn’t let his dreams die in the 1980s.

Bruce has hit the road with his guitar (and a ukulele?!?), singing his own songs. He has a debut CD available on his website. I hope you’ll check it out. He’ll autograph any copy you order!

I’m grateful that the catcher-turned-singer/songwriter took time to share some impressive memories. Here’s our conversation:

Q: I’ll start not with a question, but with thanks. You’ve signed autographs for years. We appreciate your kindness to fans.

A: Your are most welcome. It is always an honor and a privilege to sign my name as a former major leaguer!

Q: You were a first-round draft pick?

A: Yes, 21st pick in the 1975 June free agent draft, the 11th edition of the draft. I was the 1st position player from San Diego drafted in the first round since the inception of the draft. Two others, both pitchers, Steve Dunning (like me a high schooler who was a first round pick out of Stanford University) and Brien Bickerton.

Q: We see ESPN coverage of the NFL draft, which MLB has tried to match. Your thoughts?

A: Hard to do that in baseball because of the typical development time that is required to prepare a college or especially a high school player to  be able to play in the major leagues. With basketball and football, it is very different as college players make immediate impacts in their sports. Also basketball and football severely restrict the number of rounds of the draft. Following a half dozen or so rounds, the remaining players are free agents. In baseball, often there are over 50 rounds of selections.

Q: How much excitement and ceremony was in your selection and actual signing as a first-rounder?

A: Not much, mostly just within the circle of friends family and teammates. That being said, being a first round selection is something that is a lifetime feather in one’s cap, much like a degree from Stanford, or playing in the major leagues. You are aware that only 5 percent of players that sign a professional contract actually end up in the major leagues, even if for only one day. I believe the statistic for 1st round choices is about 50 percent. 

Q: During your playing career, who were some other players you found with real musical ability?

A: When I was playing, I didn’t know of any on my teams. Tim Flannery and Eric Show played guitar in the Padres organization. Show was an exceptional jazz musician. Flannery has nowhere near that kind of ability but he has done exceptionally well with his Jimmy Buffett style cover band and a few originals.

Q: And who knew about your aspirations in those years?

A: Guys I still communicate with remember me toting a guitar everywhere, but my aspirations were more geared toward pure enjoyment of playing other people’s music. Bernie Williams is a very nice jazz guitar player and I would imagine there are hundreds of others.

Q: The Robby Pad, your invention, is genius!

A: Thank you.

Q: When did the idea first come, and how long did it take to get from paper to finished product?

A: I came up with the idea in 1980 while playing with Columbus, AAA affiliate for the New York Yankees. Wilson Sporting Goods expressed considerable interest in the product and I have letters to back that up. They took photos and wanted to work with me, until they found out my patent search proved The Robby Pad was not patentable. (Sees there was some hinged product in the late 1800s, not even related to baseball, and that precluded my being awarded a patent).

When Wilson learned of that, they discontinued communication and stole the idea, saying (when I sued them), they had developed the idea first and were under no obligation to tell me that when they were wooing me and my Robby Pad.

Q: Was it hard to get listened to by companies, being “just” a player? 

A: A good idea, just like a good player, will be found and developed.

Q:  I’ve seen you on two Topps cards. Cool! What did you think of the cards then — and how do you feel today?

 A: It was exciting to have my photo take for a Topps bubble gum card. They gave you a $5.00 check and still do today, I believe. I also signed with Louisville Slugger (I got a set of gold clubs with a pro style golf bag with my name emblazoned upon it) and with Wilson for gloves (three gloves per season).

Q: Your website is amazing, showing both of your careers. You’ve posted some great baseball pictures, too. The shot of you beside Mantle is awesome, two Yankees in uniform. What was a conversation like with The Mick?

A: That day we were talking about bunting, both sacrifice and drag. He never bunted from the right side, only left-handed and always drag bunted, taking the ball with him to the right of the pitcher (1st base side of the diamond).

He was very approachable, but was only around for a couple weeks during spring training.

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(Thanks again to talented collector and steadfast blog supporter Kohei Nirengi for his suggestion for this feature!)

Coming Friday:Bruce Robinson, part 2… Coaching minor leaguers Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire in 1984!

Twins Pitcher Dave Boswell A Yankee?!?

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Today’s Boswell’s
autograph is tighter.

Minnesota Twins pitcher Dave Boswell could have been neither.

I asked him about joining the Twins, as well as his success at bat. He added a couple of startling tidbits concerning what might have been.

First, I asked how owner Calvin Griffith was upon signing his first contract.

“Tom, tell you what — I got $15,000 and a new car. It wasn’t that hard getting it from Mr. Griffith.


Had the same offer from the Yankees.”

I pointed out that the designated hitter rule wasn’t suited for pitchers like Boswell. He had 74 career hits, four of them home runs! He replied:

“I signed as a pitcher and outfielder. Loved to play every day.”

One explanation for Boswell’s mound success, four straight years of double-digit wins (culminating in a 20-win season in 1969) could be Minnesota pitching coach Johnny Sain. How did Sain help?

“John was great at explaining situations to you. All of a sudden, you would find yourself in that position and you knew what to do.”

Twins fans, send your thanks to this might-have-been Yankees outfielder now. My reply ended with…

“Been very ill lately. Sorry it took so long.

Dave Boswell”


Coming Thursday: My “10 Most Wanted List” — Phillies Edition.

 

Message From Beyond (Brooklyn, Actually!) Inspires Author’s Letter-Writing Fervor

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Sequel idea: Clarence The Angel comes back
to earth to help George Bailey with his autograph
collection. Movie title?
It’s A Wonderful Hobby Life

I may own the most inspiring “Return to Sender” envelope of all time.

In fact, I feel more like an American Idol winner than someone who sent a wrongly-addressed letter.

I tried searching an address for Sal Durante, the 19-year-old fan who caught historic homer #61 from Roger Maris in 1961.

The same-named person I found lived in Brooklyn.

Naturally, the recipient of the envelope was entitled to open what I sent. In my SASE, I received my two-page letter and the outer envelope. On it was a handwritten message:

You’ve got
the wrong
‘Sal Durante’
Last I heard, the
right guy lived
in Staten Island, NY!

Good luck!

This wasn’t two wasted stamps at all. Instead, because regular inner voices Obi Wan Kenobi, Jiminy Cricket and angel Clarence Oddbody seemed busy, I heard from an uplifting voice in Brooklyn.

This stranger read my letter, then decided to cheer me on. He believes enough in my hobby to want me to succeed.

Sure enough, another search engine confirmed that a “Sal Durante” of the correct age lives in Staten Island.

I got the original letter re-sent to the proper guy.

However, I’m going to drop a postcard of thanks to the other Mr. Durante. I’m keeping that envelope to remind me of one lesson:

People are good.

Coming Tuesday: Pitcher Jim Strickland looks back.

New York Yankees History Encounter Takes Mike ‘Tiger Nut’ Micho By Surprise

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Ruppert’s plaque resides in Monument Park in
Yankee Stadium. I found this at Bleacher Report.
The site makes a great case for the owner being
included in the Hall of Fame. Lots of great
Yankee insights here!

Here’s a great P.S. to the Mike Micho story. He likes the Tigers, but he LOVES baseball.

As Mike tells it:

“I also wanted to tell you about the surprise I got 3 days ago. I`m a Physical Therapist and work in an acute care hospital. I treat people with many different problems and ailments,which leads me to meeting many different people. During that time,you get to know & learn a little bit about each one.

Well,while working with a 94 yr. old gentleman,he noticed me wearing a pair of Detroit Tigers scrubs and asked me if I was a big baseball fan. Well,with me that`s like opening Pandora`s box! He and I sat and talked baseball for quite a while. Then he proceeds to tell me out of nowhere his uncle used to own the New York Yankees! At first I was sort of taken aback by this, then is daughter, who was present in the room, told me that, yes, his uncle did own the Yankees.

It was Jacob Ruppert, the man who bought Babe Ruth from the Red Sox! Instantly, I asked him “Will you adopt me!” He laughed and said ‘God no, I`ve got enough kids to worry about.’

He then started to tell me all about how when he was a little kid, his uncle would let him hang out in the clubhouse, occasionally be the batboy for a few games a year, and how he would play catch on the field with the Babe, Gehrig, Bill Dickey, Tony Lazzeri and others. I could have sat and talked with him all day, but of course there was work to do.

The next day I thought if he didn`t mind,I was going to have him autograph a Yankees logo card just for myself to keep with my other Yankees signed items. However, he was discharged home the night before. Another missed opportunity! Maybe I should keep Signature Cards or logo cards and Sharpie on hand with me at all times.”

Like any fisherman, hobbyists all have stories about “the one that got away.” Mike reminds us: baseball history can find you at any time. Are you ready?

Coming Tuesday: The Mystery of Mark Mulder.