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Jim Abbott (born 19 September 1967)

No hand, no handicap

There have been 304 no-hitters in Major League Baseball history, including 11 thrown by New York Yankees pitchers. But Jim Abbott’s, on this day in 1993, stands apart. (Abbott, at 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, was a Yankee left-hander with a unique playing style. After he threw the ball, he would slip his left hand into the catching glove sitting on his right forearm, enabling him to field the ball.)

On that overcast early September afternoon, Abbott, with a mediocre 9-11 record, faced the Cleveland Indians. He struggled a bit, but was helped out by some great defensive plays by teammates. By the top of the ninth inning, he was still pitching and Cleveland was still hitless. First up, Kenny Lofton: a groundout. Next, Felix Fermin: a fly to left centre. The 27,225 spectators at Yankee Stadium were on their feet. Finally, Carlos Baerga, Cleveland’s mightiest hitter. A ground-out to short!

Over 2 hours 33 minutes, Abbott had given up five walks, with three strikeouts, on 119 pitches, of which 66 were strikes. But no batter reached base on a hit. The Yankees won 4-0. Abbott – who had been born without a right hand – had a no-hitter. Philip King

Photo - MARK D. PHILLIPS/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

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