Jim Abbott

Jim Abbott is an Olympic gold medalist and former MLB pitcher who achieved remarkable success despite being born without a right hand. He speaks on perseverance, overcoming adversity, and the power of determination, inspiring audiences with his journey from Little League to the Major Leagues. Jim threw a no-hitter for the New York Yankees and continues to motivate audiences worldwide with his powerful story.

Overcoming the disability he was born with, keynote speaker Jim Abbott persevered to not only pitch for Major League baseball, but skipped the minor leagues entirely to make his professional debut—only the 15th player in the history of the league ever to do so. He also pitched for Team USA, helping win America’s first Olympic Gold medal in baseball. Yet, despite his accomplishments, Abbott possesses one of the most humble and self-effacing demeanors you’ll find, which endears him to audiences captivated by his amazing story. His willingness to adapt made him a success on the mound—and he shows audiences how they too can learn to adapt to circumstances while remaining determined to succeed. He believes that we’re all capable of much more than we give ourselves credit for, a belief that he share in proving that the potential for excellence that lies within all of us.

ADAPT – Overcoming Challenges

Major League pitcher Jim Abbott was born with only one hand, but he adapted, overcame adversity and found excellence in his 10-year professional pitching career. Abbott knows that to continue to move towards our goals we must be willing to adapt, to change, and to mold ourselves in order to meet the obstacles in our own way. Using ADAPT as an acronym, Abbott strings together a powerful set of words that provide five incredible strategies to help audiences reach their fullest potential.
A – Adjustability
D – Determination
A – Accountability
P – Perseverance
T – Trust