It was the third inning of the 1986 Big Ten Championship against Minnesota, and Michigan coach Bud Middaugh knew senior pitcher Dan Disher was running out of gas.

Middaugh decided to replace Disher with freshman Jim Abbott.

Abbott, who was born without a right hand, took to the mound at Siebert Field in Minneapolis with his glove resting on his right forearm, the ball in his left hand and cameras flashing. Abbott hoped to break into the Wolverines' experienced pitching rotation, and he knew the importance of the game.

In 6.2 innings of work, the Flint native put together an extraordinary performance, allowing just three hits and striking out 10 batters.

“He just shut them down,” Middaugh said Friday, the day before Michigan retired Abbott's No. 31 jersey. “No one was going to stop us from there.”

Abbott’s win propelled the Wolverines to a Big Ten Championship and jumpstarted an illustrious career.

“It seemed like a turn,” Abbott said. “I was competing on the team for a spot. ... And after that game, I felt like, maybe there was a chance for me to progress in the college ranks.”

Abbott helped the Wolverines to another Big Ten Championship in 1987 as the newly anointed staff ace. That same year, Abbott became the lone Wolverine in program history to win the prestigious Golden Spikes Award, given to the best collegiate baseball player in America.

He took his success overseas to pitch for the United States Olympic team in the 1988 Summer Olympics, where he pitched in the championship game against Japan and led the United States to a gold medal.

“I never looked at him having a handicap,” Middaugh said.” Some did, but I didn’t. He was the first one I wanted to sign. ... You knew he was a heck of a competitor to overcome everything.”

Abbott quickly made his presence felt in Major League Baseball after the California Angels selected him with the eighth overall pick in the 1988 amateur draft.

He finished fifth in American League Rookie of the Year voting in 1989. Two seasons later, Abbott finished third for the American League Cy Young Award, the award for the league's top pitcher, after finishing 18-11 with a 2.89 ERA. Over the course of his 10-year professional career, he compiled a 87-108 record and a 4.25 career ERA.

Abbott found himself on the mound again Saturday against Michigan State. But this time, his first pitch was ceremonial.

His number was retired in front of a crowd of fans and former players at Ray Fisher Stadium, many of whom donned Abbott’s No. 31 in honor of the legendary southpaw.

Abbott’s jersey became just the fifth to be retired at Michigan, joining the company of former Wolverine greats Ray Fisher, Moby Benedict, Don Lund and Bill Freehan.

“The program is over 100 years old, and we only have five numbers up in the outfield,” senior tri-captain Kevin Cislo said. “So obviously, it’s a great honor. What he brought to Michigan, what he did after Michigan, it represents a great showing to his importance to this program.”

In a season full of adversity, Abbott’s presence was an inspiration to a team that Michigan coach Rich Maloney has referred to as “in a rut”.

“(Abbott) battled through adversity his whole life and overcame it,” junior outfielder and pitcher Alan Oaks said. “He’s a Hall-of-Famer. If we can battle through our adversity and make it to the postseason, we know we can overcome.”

For Abbott, it wasn’t about the accolades or the adversities — it was about being able to continue the tradition of baseball at Michigan.

“I just remember the fall practice my freshman year,” Abbott said. “Being here and looking at that Michigan jersey, I was just thinking, ‘Wow, this is what I’d really, really hoped for.’ ”