With the new documentary “Southpaw – The Life and Legacy of Jim Abbott” set to air on ESPN tonight at 9pm Eastern, I wanted to share why I’m so excited to watch it and why I hope you’ll watch it, too!
My dad loved baseball. When I was born missing my left hand, I know it was difficult for him for many reasons, but one of them surely was the loss of the dream of playing ball with his boy.
Or so he thought.
As it turned out, I loved it. Still do. Truth be told, the Brewers/Nationals game is on the TV as I write this. Appropriate ambiance, I think. Very early on I learned how to swing a bat and play catch in ways that worked for me. It took a lot of practice, but I figured it out and became a pretty good little player, if I do say so myself.
As a good Wisconsin boy, my favorite players growing-up were Robin and Paulie and Gumby and Coop and Ben… But then… We heard about this kid out of Michigan. A pitcher! With one hand.
Jim Abbott.
I was 11 when he won gold with Team USA. 12 when he was a rookie with the Angels. And you bet your ass I started pitching, just like Jim. I wasn’t big like him. Or a lefty. But I could throw. And I was competitive. Still am.
There was no internet then, so I could only see him when he was on a nationally televised game, which was rare, but I’d go to the library every day after I knew he pitched the day before to look at the box score and read the game recap. Ripping the pages open, hoping and praying to see a W next to his name. And in those early years there were a lot of them!
I collected his baseball cards (and still have hundreds of them!) and got the Scholastic book and my local baseball card shop owner even gifted me a signed photograph of Jim when I was in 4th grade, which I also still have! Anything and everything I could get my hand on, I got. Just like so many other kids like me across the country, I’m sure.
Then in 1993, when I was 15, he threw his no-hitter with the Yankees. I’ll never forget it. I’ll also never forget how happy everyone was for me. I don’t know how to explain it, but everyone knew the connection I had with Jim and what that moment meant to me. And to so many others. It brought them joy knowing how happy it made me and that was so special.
Even though Jim ended his career in Milwaukee, I never did get to see him pitch in person, which I regret. But I did get to do the next best thing…
Meeting My Hero
In 2013 I tweeted about my friend Nick who had an MMA fight at the time and Jim had replied with some words of encouragement. I took the opportunity to express my interest in doing an interview with him for my blog, not expecting it to actually happen, but minutes later he responded that he’d love to! And minutes after that my wife walked in the room and asked if I was okay. I was not. lol
We ended up recording what would become the first episode of my podcast and it’s still one of the things I’m most proud of (listen here). Couldn’t believe I was having a conversation with my hero, but after a while talking about all sorts of things it felt familiar…like…friends.
He sent me a signed copy of his book Imperfect: An Improbable Life (which you should also read and which I reviewed here) and signed some baseballs and a ton of baseball cards for me to give away with my book Different Is Awesome!, for which he also graciously wrote the most complimentary back cover blurb. It’s still surreal when I read it.
Then in 2016 it finally happened.
I was on a plane to Los Angeles where I was to give a keynote presentation at an event at the LA Children’s Hospital when I remembered that Jim lived…somewhere in California. So, I emailed him and asked, “I have no idea how close you are or if you’re busy this weekend, but I’d love to meet up and buy you a drink or something if it works out!” By the time I got to my hotel he had responded, “Very excited to hear you will be there! I am going up to the event tomorrow, can’t wait to meet you.”
Y’all. I almost peed my pants. And you know I had to ask, “So…I brought my glove and a couple balls. Are you bringing yours? It would be a dream come true to play a little catch with you. :)”
And that’s exactly what we did. Dream. Come. True.
It was amazing, honestly. Jim sat in the audience during my presentation, up toward the top in the back, and I could see him nodding and genuinely reacting…he was so kind. And then it was time for the part where I demonstrate…
The Transfer
When I’m pitching or playing defense, I’m presented with a challenge. Just like Jim was. When the hitter hits the ball and I field or catch it, I then need to get the ball out of my glove, my hand out of my glove, the ball back into my hand and then throw it to wherever it needs to go as quickly as possible. I’ve done it thousands of times in my life and it looks kind of like a magic trick, honestly. Ask the thousands of kids who’ve seen it at the end of my school assemblies over the last dozen years or so.
Well, at the end of my presentation in LA, I told the crowd, “I have a special guest to help me show you how I do my glove transfer…and honestly, at this point, I’m probably going to zone out because I’m about to play catch with my childhood hero so…thanks for being here!” lol And then we played catch. And it was incredible. Someone filmed it, I’m sure, but that recording has been lost to time, which I’m ok with, honestly. The memory is good enough for me. And this sweet email exchange:
Over the years, we’ve stayed in touch and Jim has continued to be one of the kindest, most genuine and generous people I’ve ever met. I won’t embarrass him by sharing some of the things he’s done as favors for me, but they were incredibly kind and for people who are important to me; oftentimes going through difficult life circumstances.
Knowing how humble Jim is, all of this attention is likely going to be uncomfortable for him, but I’m grateful that so many people are getting the opportunity to share how much he means to them. He deserves it. And I’m one of those kids who he inspired to do my best, especially on the baseball field…just like him. But beyond that, he’s become a man that inspires me as a person…as a husband, as a dad, as a speaker, as an advocate…to be the best I can be.
Thanks, Jim. I know you’ve carried a lot on your shoulders. So much of it wasn’t by your choice, but you did it anyway and you’ve done it so well. We appreciate you. I appreciate you.
Also…you’re welcome. I couldn’t resist sharing this… lol
