Some baseball stories stick because they feel almost impossible. Jim Abbott’s is one of them.
Former MLB pitcher Jim Abbott will receive the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance at the 2026 ESPY Awards, USA TODAY Sports confirms.
Abbott will be honored for a 10-year professional baseball career despite being born without a right hand. He also threw a no-hitter, one of the sport’s signature pitching feats.
From Michigan, Abbott built his game around using only his left hand. He would pitch with his glove on his right forearm, then quickly move his hand into the glove after releasing the ball. If he fielded a ball, he would press the glove against his right forearm, grab the ball with his hand and throw it.
Abbott became a star at the University of Michigan and was a first-round pick by the California Angels in the 1988 MLB Draft. He went straight to the majors without playing in the minors and had a solid rookie season in 1989, finishing fifth in American League Rookie of the Year voting.
His best season came in 1991, when he posted a 2.89 ERA, the fourth-lowest in the American League, and finished third in Cy Young voting.
Abbott’s defining moment came with the New York Yankees on Sept. 4, 1993, when he threw a no-hitter. He needed 119 pitches and struck out three batters.
His career and longevity helped pave the way for other athletes with limb differences in professional sports, including football player Shaquem Griffin, U.S. women’s soccer national team member Carson Pickett and MMA fighter Nick Newell.
Earlier in June, ESPN’s documentary about Abbott, “Southpaw – The Life and Legacy of Jim Abbott,” received a Peabody Award.
“Overcoming obstacles and pushing past traditional limitations on the mound was my way of showing what is possible when you refuse to give up,” Abbott said in a statement. “To have my journey and my career recognized with an award that bears Coach Jim Valvano’s name is a truly humbling milestone. Receiving the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance is an incredible honor, and I hope it serves as a reminder to the next generation of athletes that our perceived limits do not define our potential.”
Abbott will receive the award at the 2026 ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 15, at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City.
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