Toshiba Senior Classic: Swinging for the fences

Richard Dunn

NEWPORT BEACH - As former major league pitcher Jim Abbott took his

swings at the driving range Monday, a volunteer of the Toshiba Senior

Classic whispered in awe: “Look at him hit tha ball. Isn’t that amazing

what he can do?”

Abbott, who played in the event’s Monday Celebrity Pro-Am, is long

removed from the daily press conference of 1989, when he broke into the

big leagues with the Angels without having served a day in the minors,

and, of course, without a right hand.

An inspiration to thousands of handicapped children during his baseball

career, Abbott quickly became a media darling and fan favorite.

“That’s a quiet part of my career,” Abbott said of his ability to succeed

in baseball, despite being born without a right hand. “At least for me, I

gained a lot of satisfaction from seeing the kids. My career was enriched

a lot because of the kids I saw along the way.”

Abbott, who has lived in the Newport Beach area since his rookie campaign

with the Angels, made people almost forget about his missing right hand

when he pitched. In 1991, Abbott posted an 18-11 record for the Angels

with a 2.89 earned-run average in 243 innings pitched -- his best year.

Noted for his incredible ability to transfer the baseball and glove with

his left hand while fielding his position on the mound, Abbott will

perhaps be remembered most for throwing a no-hitter with the New York

Yankees and being on the mound in the championship game of the 1988

Olympic Games as the U.S. clinched the gold medal.

These days, the retired Abbott, who swings a golf club as well as any

celebrity or amateur in Monday’s pro-am, is enjoying a quieter life with

his family.

“Since leaving the game last year, I’ve been spending more time with my

family and enjoying my time in the area and making some connections,”

said Abbott, who played with Tommy Aaron of the Senior PGA Tour. “When

you’re going back and forth each season (in the big leagues), it’s tough

to really settle down in the area, but now I’m starting to enjoy a

quieter life.”

Abbott, who played with Milwaukee last year, said he loves playing and

watching golf.

A member of Newport Beach Country Club, which is playing host to the

sixth annual Toshiba Senior Classic, Abbott has been taking golf lessons

from NBCC head pro Paul Hahn since January.

“He can hit that ball,” Hahn said of Abbott, who came out of retirement

in 1998 and played for the Chicago White Sox, then hung up his spikes for

good midway through last season.

“I felt like I needed to (try to come back) one more time for that

feeling of completion,” Abbott said. “Now, I feel good about my decision

and I can move on in my life.”

Abbott was one of 21 celebrities in the field Monday who teamed with a

member of the senior tour and three amateurs.

Capturing the pro-am title Monday was pro Dave Hill, who played with

celebrity Jack Haley, the former NBA center from Seal Beach, and amateurs

Mark Lewis, John Keyser and John O’Conner. The group shot a best-ball

score 51.

Taking second place was senior pro Ray Carrasco, who’s playing this week

on a sponsor’s exemption. Carrasco, an Irvine resident who once operated

Birdie Vision Golf School in Newport Beach, is the head pro at Strawberry

Farms Golf Club and plays on the European Senior Tour.

Former Angel outfielder Ruppert Jones was the celebrity for the

runners-up, while Pete Kazcmerick, Jeff Clark and Carol Chaffee played as

amateurs. The group shot 53.

Senior tour pro Bob Eastwood and 1986 National League Cy Young Award

winner Mike Scott of the Houston Astros teamed with amateurs Paul

Peterson, Jeff Slemp and Brian Reed to finish third at 55.

Only three spots were available for Monday qualifiers at Strawberry

Farms, where darkness halted a playoff to force continuation today for

the third and final qualifying spot in the Toshiba field this weekend.

The first alternate spot is also up for grabs today.

Dean Overturf of Dallas, Texas, earned medalist honors Monday and

qualified first, while Buzz Thomas of Boca Rotan, Fla., qualified second.

Thomas was among the Toshiba Senior Classic’s first-round leaders in

1998.

The second alternate spot Monday was secured by Mitch Voges of Simi

Valley.