Jim Abbott Top 10 Moments: No. 10 - Abbott's First Career Win
4/9/2009 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 10 -- Abbott's First Career Win
After arriving on campus as one of the most talked about prep athletes in ages, Jim Abbott had a lot to live up to. His path as a prep player was followed by the likes of Time Magazine and television's 60 Minutes and it didn't take long for Jim to live up to all the hype.
His first career victory as a Wolverine ranks No. 10 on the list of Top 10 moments in Jim Abbott's Michigan history.
The Moment as described by Jim Schneider ...
Jim came out of the bullpen vs. North Carolina on the spring trip at the Rollins Baseball Week Tournament in Winter Park, Fla., as a freshman on March 14, 1986. He had pitched the season opener against Villanova but took a no-decision.
A key play in the game with UNC was him throwing a runner out at the plate on an attempted delayed steal right after the previous play was a groundout back to the mound. They tried to catch Jim off guard and he was ready for them. Later in the game, he got some veteran help with a game-winning home run from Hal Morris and a save from Baseball America's Player of the Year Casey Close to pick up his first win in a Michigan uniform.
Jim Abbott on moment No. 10 ...
"UNC's head coach at the time tried to steal home by sending the runner from third as our catcher, Eric Sanders, threw the ball back to me after a pitch. It was the first time anyone had ever done that, and it quickly showed me that college coaches may see my hand as a liability and try to take advantage of the situation. I take great pride in that win, even though my contribution was small!"
