Imperfect

An Improbable Life

De: Jim Abbott, Tim Brown

Narrado por: Jim Abbott

On an overcast September day in 1993, Jim Abbott took the mound at Yankee Stadium and threw one of the most dramatic no-hitters in major-league history. The game was the crowning achievement in an unlikely success story, unseen in the annals of professional sports. In Imperfect, the one-time big league ace retraces his remarkable journey.

Born without a right hand, Jim Abbott as a boy dreamed of being a great athlete. Raised in Flint, Michigan, by parents who saw in his condition not a disability but an extraordinary opportunity, Jim became a two-sport standout in high school, then an ace pitcher for the University of Michigan.

But his journey was only beginning.

As a nineteen-year-old, Jim beat the vaunted Cuban National Team. 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 deliver a one-of-a-kind no-hitter.

It wouldn’t always be so good. After a season full of difficult losses—some of them by football scores—Jim was released, cut off from the game he loved. Unable to say good-bye so soon, Jim tried to come back, pushing himself to the limit—and through one of the loneliest experiences an athlete can have.

But always, even then, there were children and their parents waiting for him outside the clubhouse doors, many of them with disabilities like his, seeking consolation and advice. These obligations became Jim’s greatest honor.

In this honest and insightful memoir, Jim Abbott reveals the insecurities of a life spent as the different one, how he habitually hid his disability in his right front pocket, and why he chose an occupation in which the uniform provided no front pockets. With a riveting pitch-by-pitch account of his no-hitter providing the ideal frame for his story, this unique athlete offers readers an extraordinary and unforgettable memoir.

A Must for Parents of Kids with All Abilities

I listened to this one about five years ago after it was initially published, and wrote a review that was subsequently lost without uploading to audible. Since it's baseball season and several years since, I re-listened to it and enjoyed it even more.

As mentioned in my headline, this book is really about parenting and teaching kids (regardless of ability) to believe in themselves and encourage them to seek after their dreams. I remember my mother telling me about Jim Abbott when he was drafted and headed to spring training as the "one-handed pitcher"; she innately knew, like Jim's parents, the value of teaching kids about adversity and overcoming them. I was quite an impressionable 10 year old, especially with anything about baseball, so hearing about Jim was something special... even if I was an Oakland Athletic's fan.

The book itself reads like the movie, For Love of the Game, as it ostensibly follows the thoughts of Jim Abbott during his no hitter with the Yankees in 1993 as it does with Kevin Costner's character portrayal in the movie; although there is no connection between Abbott's autobiography and the movie. However the book focuses more on Abbott's upbringing and baseball development in spite of his missing hand and is really the point of the book and the reason why every parent, regardless of their child's circumstance, should read this book and learn the empowering lessons of both Jim and his parents.

The anecdotes around his college baseball and Olympic career were a real treat, but so was the overarching story of his no hitter. I normally listen at 3x speed and has no issues with the narration. I also really enjoyed Jim Abbott as the narrator.

Honest and Entertaining

If you could sum up Imperfect in three words, what would they be?

Honest, Interesting, Entertaining

What other book might you compare Imperfect to and why?

It might be a stretch, but it reminded me a little of Paper Lion. I am sure the sports theme had a lot to do with it but one thing I really like about both is the frank, unassuming nature that was used to tell each of the stories.

What about Jim Abbott’s performance did you like?

I was impressed that Abbott read the story himself and I though it added to the entertainment value knowing it was his story.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No especially but a couple parts made me laugh out loud.

Any additional comments?

I bought this book because Jim has always been a sentimental favorite of mine which is probably not a reason he would of approve of for buying his book, but none the less, that is what first caught my eye. However once I got started the book is well written and interesting enought to stand on its own.

Amazing story!!

Hearing the story of this guy, I felt like I was really there not just the baseball parts but through out the whole story it was AMAZING!!

Great story!

What made the experience of listening to Imperfect the most enjoyable?

The author read the book himself. It gave the book a more peronal feel.

What aspect of Jim Abbott’s performance would you have changed?

Not being a professional reader Jim Abbott's performace was little more than simply reading the book. Having said that, being his personal story Abbott's reading the story make is seem much more personal and emotional.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Personal an inspirational

Enjoyable

I liked hearing the background and what I believe is the honesty of his story.