Angels Offering 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 help with 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,” said Tim Mead, the club’s vice president, communications. “Whatever amount of assistance he can provide us is immeasurable.”

Mead said he hoped the addition of Abbott would begin a trend for many former Angels, some of whom will be at Edison Field on Monday night for a ceremony honoring the club’s all-time team.

Abbott had not pitched a game in the minor leagues when he joined the Angel starting rotation in 1989, fresh from the University of Michigan and the U.S. Olympic team. More than a decade later, it remains the finest memory for many in an organization that has had its share of misfortune.

In a 10-year career, Abbott, who was born without a right hand, won 87 games, 54 of them for the Angels and 40 of them in his first three seasons, 1989-91. He was traded to the New York Yankees after a 15-loss 1992 season, for J.T. Snow, Russ Springer and Jerry Nielsen. And on Sept. 4, 1993, he threw a no-hitter at Yankee Stadium, against the Cleveland Indians.

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

He lost 18 games in 1996 and the Angels bought out the remainder of his contract the following spring. 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 ERA in 15 starts and five relief appearances for the Milwaukee Brewers.

Abbott, 32, then retired from the playing field, where his pitching so inspired fans of baseball and of human achievement.

For more than a decade, many of his days at the ballpark would begin with a line of children whose eyes begged him not for sympathy, but for inspiration and for spirit. He answered with kind words, a gentle touch and a reassuring smile.

To the Angels, again, it appears he will bring all of that: Dignity and charm, knowledge of the game and the soul.

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The San Diego Padres defeated the Angels, 8-7, Saturday at Qualcomm Stadium, where barely 5,000 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 the spring in the club’s final big-league exhibition. The Angels play at Cal State Fullerton this afternoon.

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Batting practice continued to be unkind to the Padres, who Friday night in Anaheim had opening-day starter Sterling Hitchcock take a batted ball off the back of his knee. He had more treatment Saturday and is expected to pitch Monday in New York, though the Padres remain concerned.

On Saturday morning, opening-day shortstop Damian Jackson was hit by a batting-practice pitch on the right hand.

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

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

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Ramon Ortiz remained on his rehabilitation target Saturday, when he pitched six scoreless innings in a minor-league game in 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 Saturday and is scheduled to pitch a simulated game Tuesday. He threw hard breaking balls--sliders and splitters--for the first time Saturday. . . . The Padres recalled infielder David Newhan (Esperanza High) from Triple-A Las Vegas.