Jim Abbott Top 10 Moments: No. 5 - Abbott Takes Home Sullivan
4/14/2009 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 5 -- Abbott Takes Home Sullivan Award
During the 1987 season, Jim Abbott started his path into the annals of college baseball immortality by earning his first All-America honor, which ultimately led to moment's No. 4 (more on that tomorrow) and moment No. 5 on the top 10 list of Jim Abbott's Michigan career, winning the AAU's Sullivan Award.
The Moment as described by Jim Schneider ...
During the 1987 season, Jim's second at Michigan, he began to be recognized all over the country. He was on just about every "watch list" you can imagine, but there was one recognition that come a little by surprise, the Sullivan Award.
Known as the "Oscar" of sports awards, and older than the Heisman, the AAU Sullivan Award honors the outstanding amateur athlete in the United States. It has been presented annually by the AAU since 1930 as a salute to founder and past president of the Amateur Athletic Union, and a pioneer in amateur sports, James E. Sullivan. The award is based on leadership, character, sportsmanship and the ideals of amateurism.
No baseball player had ever won the award until Jim in 1987 -- and no baseball player has done it since -- proving once again he could do things that nobody else had before him.
I recall Jim joking at the ceremony that he "wasn't an athlete, he was a pitcher", which got quite a good chuckle from everyone.
Jim Abbott on Moment No. 5 ...
"See what I mean about "over awarded"? The Sullivan Award is an incredible honor and one that I will never forget. As a baseball pitcher, I am sure there are many real athletes out there who want that one back, but I am going to keep it!"
• Number 6 -- Abbott Rakes in the Hardware in 1988
• 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
