Jim Abbott Against All Odds

School Library Journal

A reasonably informative and simple treatment of the remarkable pitcher for the California Angels who has only one hand. This is brief coverage of Abbott's achievements in baseball, from Little League and high-school baseball in Flint, Michigan, through his years at the University of Michigan and his performance with Pan-American and Olympic teams, to his present positon as a pitcher in the major leagues. There is a detailed explanation of how he catches and throws the ball, and comments from teammates and opposing players on how he has inspired them. This is by no means a comprehensive work, but it can be a valuable addition to sports biography collections. Moreover, readers will not be disappointed in Abbott, who, according to his teammates, has handled the publicity surrounding him with dignity. --Bruce Lee Siebers, Free Library of Philadelphia