Angels Offer Abbott Administrative Position

Jim Abbott, the most inspirational player in Angel history, is strongly considering an offer to rejoin the club in an administrative capacity.

It appears Abbott will accept a part-time assignment to help build the organization’s alumni association, become involved in the speakers’ bureau and provide community relations.

Abbott, who retired for a second time last season and lives in Corona del Mar with his wife and daughter, told the club he was not ready to make a full-time commitment but that he would like to become more involved. The Angels are eager to accept him back.

“There aren’t enough Jim Abbotts in professional sports or society, from the kind of person he is to what he stands for and what he means to so many people,” club spokesman Tim Mead said. “Whatever amount of assistance he can provide us is immeasurable.”

Abbott, born without a right hand, joined the Angel rotation in 1989, fresh from the University of Michigan and the U.S. Olympic team. More than a decade later, his time in Anaheim remains the finest memory for many in an organization that has had its share of misfortune.

In a 10-year career, he won 87 games, 54 for the Angels and 40 in his first three seasons. After a 15-loss 1992 season, he was traded to the New York Yankees for J.T. Snow, Russ Springer and Jerry Nielsen. And on Sept. 4, 1993, he pitched a no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians at Yankee Stadium.

The Angels reacquired Abbott in 1995 from the Chicago White Sox, but by then Abbott had begun to lose velocity on his fastball and control of his cutter.

He lost 18 games in 1996 and the Angels bought out the remainder of his contract the following spring training. He did not pitch again until late in 1998, when he won five games in five September starts for the White Sox. Last season, he was 2-8 with a 6.91 earned-run average in 15 starts and five relief appearances for the Milwaukee Brewers.

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The San Diego Padres defeated the Angels, 8-7, on Saturday at Qualcomm Stadium, where only 5,539 saw the Padres score a run in the ninth against reliever Shigetoshi Hasegawa.

Mo Vaughn hit a grand slam and Garret Anderson hit his sixth home run of spring in the club’s final big-league exhibition game.

The Angels play at Cal State Fullerton today.

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Eight members of the all-time Angel team, including Reggie Jackson, will be honored in a ceremony before Monday night’s opener against the Yankees at Edison Field.

Right-hander Mike Witt, left-hander Frank Tanana, catcher Bob Boone, second baseman Bobby Grich, third baseman Doug DeCinces, outfielder Brian Downing and reliever Troy Percival also are scheduled to attend.

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Ramon Ortiz remained on his rehabilitation target, pitching six scoreless innings in a minor league game at Mesa, Ariz. He is tentatively scheduled to make his first regular-season start April 11 against the Toronto Blue Jays. . . . Tim Belcher, recovering from off-season surgery, threw in the bullpen and is scheduled to pitch a simulated game Tuesday. He threw hard breaking balls--sliders and splitters--for the first time.

ANGELS SEASON OPENER

vs. NEW YORK YANKEES

at Edison Field

* When: Monday, 7:30 p.m.

* Pitchers: Angels’ Ken Hill (4-11 in ‘99) vs. Yankees’ Orlando Hernandez (17-9)

* TV: Channel 9.