Jim Abbott

Jim Abbott led the Wolverines to two Big Ten titles during his time in Ann Arbor and still found time to earn a gold medal in the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics. He earned Big Ten Male Athlete of the Year honors for his international exploits in the center of the diamond. Abbott, born without a right hand, was determined to be known for his pitching above and beyond his ability to overcome a disability. The California Angels drafted Abbott eighth overall in 1988, and he was in the bigs a year later. Abbott finished third in the Cy Young voting in 1991 after winning 18 games with a 2.89 ERA. Two years later, he was traded to the New York Yankees, and memorably tossed a no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians on September 4, 1993. Abbott's career, though, peaked early, and only once after the age of 24 did he post a sub-4.00 ERA.