1976 Topps #322 - Glenn Abbott

• Glenn Abbott pitched for three teams from 1973-1984. Glenn was 6'6" and weighed 200 pounds. He had most of his playing time with the Seattle Mariners in the late 70s and early 80s. Abbott was drafted by the Oakland A's in 1969. He was in the minors from 1970-1973. Glenn pitched in one game for the A's in July 1973 and in four more games in September 1973. Abbott ended up with a 3.79 ERA and a 1-0 record in five games (three starts).

• Abbott bounced betwen AAA Tucson and Oakland in 1974. In 19 games (17 starts) Glenn was 5-7 with a 3.00 ERA. He didn't see action in the postseason. In 1975 he again bounced between Tucson and Oakland. It was hard for Glenn to crack the great A's pitching staffs of those years. Abbott pitched in 30 games (15 starts) for the A's and was 5-5 with a 4.25 ERA. On the last day of the 1975 season Abbott combined with three other Oakland pitchers on a no-hitter of the California Angels. Glenn pitched one inning in the ALCS without allowing any runs.

• It looks like Glenn had some injury problems in 1976. He missed three weeks in three different periods of time during hte season. In 19 games (10 starts) Abbott was 2-4 with a 5.49 ERA. After the season Abbott was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the expansion draft.

• Abbott became a main part of the Seattle rotation in 1977. He got hammered in four of his first six starts but righted the ship and ended up with a 12-13 record with a 4.45 ERA in 36 games (34 starts). In 1978 Abbott was 7-15 with a 5.27 ERA in 29 games (28 starts). He had two three-week absences that season.

• Glenn battled injury again in 1979. He had one 3-week period and another 4-week period in which he didn't pitch. He didn't make any starts (just three relief appearances) after July 28. Abbott ended up 4-10 with a 5.17 ERA in 23 games (19 starts).

• Abbott bounced back in 1980 and made 31 starts. He was 12-12 with a 4.10 ERA. In 1981 Glenn was 4-9 with a 3.94 ERA in 22 games (20 starts).

• Abbott was out for the entire 1982 season due to viral meningitis. He was able to return to the majors the next season, but he lost some of his hearing in his left ear.

• Glenn got a few starts in AAA Salt Lake City before returning to the Mariners in June 1983. He made 14 starts for Seattle and was 5-3 with a 4.59 ERA before being sold to the Detroit Tigers on August 23 for $100,000. He was the last of the original Seattle Mariners. Glenn started 7 games for the Tigers and was 2-1 with a 1.93 ERA.

• Abbott started the 1984 season with the Tigers but wasn't very effective and wasn't getting regular work. He spent some time with AAA Evansville, came back to the Tigers, and was released on August 14. His record with the Tigers before his release was 3-4 with a 5.93 ERA in 13 games (8 starts).

• Since his retirement Abbott has been coaching for various minor league teams. Here is a "where are they now" article about Abbott written in 2002. Abbott was the pitching coach for the AAA Portland Beavers (San Diego Padres) in 2008 and 2009 and will be the pitching coach for the San Antonio Missions (AA - Padres).

• Liked to face: Buck Martinez (.080 in 25 AB); Wayne Gross (.111 in 36 AB); Alfredo Griffin (.133 in 30 AB)
• Hated to face: Rickey Henderson (.600 in 20 AB); Fred Lynn (.516 in 31 AB); Jorge Orta (.450 in 40 AB)