Abbott’s Ad Thanks Fans For Good Times And Bad

Pitcher Jim Abbott, released by the Anaheim Angels earlier this week, took out an advertisement in Friday’s Orange County Register to thank fans of the team.

And he managed to get in a little jab while doing so.

The autographed advertisement with a picture of Abbott read: “Angels Fans … Thanks for the Cheers, Thanks for the Jeers, Thanks for the Memories. All My Best. Jim Abbott.”

Abbott, a 29-year-old left-hander born without a right hand, suddenly became baseball’s biggest loser last season after rejoining the Angels in 1995, going 2-18 with a 7.48 ERA.

He was 1-2 with a 13.50 ERA in 14-2/3 innings this spring before being released by the Angels on Monday. The team ate the final two years of a three-year, $7.8 million contract he signed before the 1995 season - a total of $5.6 million.

On the day he was released, Abbott said he wasn’t sure if he would pitch again, but wasn’t ruling it out.

Abbott went straight from the University of Michigan and the 1988 U.S. Olympic team to the big leagues, with the Angels in 1989. He was the eighth overall selection in the June 1988 free-agent draft.