Jim Abbott Top 10 Moments: No. 6 - Abbott Rakes in Hardware in '88
4/13/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
On April 18, 2009, former U-M baseball great Jim Abbott (1986-88) will have his number retired in a ceremony prior to U-M's 1:05 p.m. contest with Michigan State. During his time in Ann Arbor, Jim made a lasting impression on his teammates, the community and the entire baseball world.
In honor of Jim's legacy, resident Michigan baseball historian Jim Schneider has constructed the top 10 moments in the collegiate career of Jim Abbott. Each day leading up to the jersey retirement, MGoBlue.com will unveil another great moment, along with commentary from Jim himself, culminating in the No. 1 moment of all-time to be unveiled the morning of the April 18th ceremony.
Number 6 -- Abbott Rakes in the Hardware in 1988
By his junior season of 1988, Jim Abbott had already received his faie share of accolades, but following the 1988 season, Abbott took home a trio of awards that showed just how special a talent he really was. A pair of conference honors and an All-America nod supply moment No. 6 on the list of top 10 moments in Jim Abbott's Michigan history
The Moment as described by Jim Schneider ...
In the 1988 season, Jim was dominant, helping the team to a 48-19 record, but probably the most impressive part of that 1988 season was the trio of honors Jim collected after the season. He took home All-America honors by The Sporting News and was also named the Big Ten Player of the Year. More prestigious than both, however, was when the conference awarded Jim with the Jesse Owens Award as the Big Ten Male Athlete of the Year.
I remember when Jim found out he had won the award at the time, he joking told me, I am not an athlete, I am a ballplayer."
That summed up Jim, humble, funny and just a great guy. Despite what he may say, he was an athlete, and the best there was during that 1988 season for sure.
Jim Abbott on moment No. 6 ...
"I feel as though I have been a little "over awarded" in my career. Winning all three of those awards is special, but the Big Ten Athlete of the Year was something I was very proud of because it encompassed all sports."
• Number 7 -- Abbott's Michigan Accolades
• Number 8 -- Abbott Earns Win in Title Game
• Number 9 -- Abbott Shares a No-Hitter
• Number 10 -- Abbott's First Career Win
