Jim Abbott joins the podcast to talk about the #25 and his connection to Angels great Don Baylor.  We break down the Contenders with a discussion of polarizing #25s, Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Fred Biletnikoff and are still amazed that Jim Thome hit 612 HRs.   Talk about Richard Sherman and Ben Simmons in Heat Check. Award the inaugural Derrick Rose Award to none other than Derrick Rose, plus the Hall of Shame and the Hall of Fame. If you’re looking for a lively discussion of players and teams we hate, this is the episode for you!

Our Guest
Jim Abbott is one of the most inspirational players in sports history. Born without a right hand he went on to have his #31 retired at the University of Michigan where he also won the Sullivan Award in as the nation’s best amateur athlete. In 1988 he won the gold medal game in the Olympics and was a 1st round selection of the California Angels. Abbott played 10 years in the big leagues including a no-hitter in 1993, which is detailed in his excellent autobiography, Imperfect.

 2:05 – “Jim, welcome to Puttin’ Up Numbers.”
We dive right into it with a conversation with Jim Abbott.

12:50 – “Yeah, that’s a good word for it.”
Tom and Rudy discuss the most polarizing #25 of all-time, Barry Bonds. The conversation then moves to Mark McGwire and a shared (ruined) memory of a day spent with the slugger.

15:03 – “Who couldn’t see that coming?"
A discussion of Tommy John who, with 288 wins and 188 no-decisions, should be famous for more than just the surgery that bears his name.

17:02 – “He’s Astro royalty.”
Some lesser known, but still relevant #25s enter the conversation with Jim Abbott, Jose Cruz, Don Baylor and the Great Train Robbery that is Bobby Bonilla Day.

21:28 – “Appeared in Season 3 of our favorite old-time show, The White Shadow.”
Basketball gets a turn with a discussion of Gail Goodrich, Chet “The Jet” Walker, KC Jones, Danny Manning, Penny Hardaway, Nick Anderson, Mark Price, Steve Kerr, Robert Horry, Doc Rivers and Vince Carter.

24:32 – “25 is not really a huge hockey number.”
Dave Andreychuk, Joe Niewendyk and Jacques Lemaire . . . that’s it.  That’s the list

25:38 – “You overlook NASCAR everytime we do this.”
Rudy takes Tom to task for forgetting about great NASCAR drivers, kicking a shout out to the late, great Tim Richmond in the Folgers #25.

26:49 - “As a kid, that guy was evil.”
The football discussion begins with Fred Biletnikoff, followed by mentions of Tommy McDonald, Shady McCoy, Rocket Ismail, Jim Bakken and Haven Moses.

 31:53 - “It’s time for Screen Stars!”
Short list for #25
1. Mark Arnold as Mick McAlister in Teen Wolf (1985)
2. Wesley Snipes as Trumaine in Wildcats (1986)
3. Harold Sylvester as DC Dacey in Fast Break (1979)

35:19 – “Branding matters.”
Rudy explains “The Derrick Rose Award” for players who had their careers cut short by injury or circumstance seconds before turning around the giving Derrick Rose the Derrick Rose Award.  Tom also explains the Ben Wilson Effect.

38:13 – “Missed the Super Bowl, missed The Fridge, missed the stupid song.”
Hall of Shame returns with Chicago Bears DB Todd Bell, Big White Stiffs Chandler Parsons and George Zidek and Juicers (Bonds, Palmiero, McGwire, Giambi).

40:48 – “Heat Check.”
Guys making it happen on the field currently in the #25
1. Richard Sherman
2. Ben Simmons
3. Byron Buxton
4. Clyde Edwards-Helaire

43:28 – “It’s that time again."
These guys wore it best
1. Barry Bonds
2. Gail Goodrich
3. Fred Biletnikoff
4. Joe Nieuwendyk
5. KC Jones

Order Jim Abbott's book, Imperfect HERE.