Jim Abbott: "Imperfect"
In 2012, legendary Major League Baseball pitcher Jim Abbott wrote "Imperfect: An Improbable Life" and joined Michael in front of 1,000 people at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia for a special "Book Club" conversation, which you can watch on Michael's YouTube channel (link in episode notes). Ahead of that event, Michael had Abbott on his morning radio program to discuss the book - this is that interview, originally aired on WPHT. Born without a right hand, Jim Abbott dreamed of someday being a great athlete. By twenty-one, he’d won the gold medal game at the 1988 Olympics and—without spending a day in the minor leagues—cracked the starting rotation of the California Angels. In 1991, he would finish third in the voting for the Cy Young Award. Two years later, he would don Yankee pinstripes and pitch one of the most dramatic no-hitters in major-league history. An incredible story. Original air date 11 June 2012. The book was published in April 2012.
Book Club with Michael Smerconish · Jim Abbott, Michael Smerconish
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Show Notes
Watch the "Book Club" special event at Citizen's Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA on June 12, 2012 where Michael and Jim Abbott talk in front of 1,000 people in the stadium here!
On Sunday, July 13th, 2025, Jim Abbott is the subject of a new ESPN E60 Documentary, Southpaw: The Life and Legacy of Jim Abbott. Michael spoke with Abbott about this new feature about his incredible story on The Smerconish Daily Podcast this week (Wednesday, July 29 2025). Listen to that episode here!
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