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You'd have to try pretty hard to find a professional athlete more inspirational than Jim Abbott. Despite being born without a right hand, Abbott was the #8 overall pick in the 1988 draft and pitched ten seasons in the major leagues, threw a no-hitter in 1993 and finished third in the 1991 AL Cy Young Award voting.
Abbott pitched the last of his ten major league seasons with the Brewers in 1999 after they signed him as a free agent 14 years ago today. Unfortunately, his results for Milwaukee weren't much to write home about: He posted a 6.91 ERA over 20 appearances (15 starts) and was released in July. Nonetheless, Abbott has done more with one full arm than most of us will ever do with two.
With help from the B-Ref Play Index, we'd like to wish a happy birthday today to:
- 2003 Brewer Jason Conti, who turns 38.
- 1998 Brewer Greg Martinez, who turns 41.
- 1986-91 Brewer manager Tom Trebelhorn, who turns 65. We covered his birthday in this space last year.