Paul Abbott Signs with the GBL
July 2, 2005 - Golden Baseball League (GBL) News Release
(Pleasanton, CA. July 1, 2005) The Golden Baseball League announced today that major league veteran pitcher Paul Abbot, 36, has signed with the Fullerton Flyers and will be pitching on Sunday, July 3rd at Goodwin Field, home of the Flyers in Fullerton. Abbot is the 19th professional ballplayer with major league experience to sign with the GBL in 2005, and the first to have played in the big leagues as recently as last season. "Obviously Paul is a great addition to the Flyer's rotation and is a marquee player for the league," said Kevin Outcalt, GBL Commissioner. "His signing is a good indicator of the increasing interest in the league by top level players and will contribute to an increasing quality of play and fan experience in the league immediately." Paul Abbott began his career as a 3rd round draft pick of the Minnesota Twins in 1985 as a 17 year old out of Sunny Hills High School in Fullerton, CA. He had reached the majors by the 1990 season and was a member of the Minnesota Twins World Championship team in 1991. He has played for six teams in his 12-year MLB career, most notably for the Seattle Mariners between 1998 and 2002 as a top pitcher on the 2000 and 2001 playoff teams, winning 26 games in those two seasons including going a spectacular 17-4 in 2001. Last year, Abbot played for both the Philadelphia Phillies and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays starting 19 games and pitching nearly 100 innings. "Paul is a great individual, with strong ties to this community," said Flyers Manager Garry Templeton. "He is a first class major league pitcher, and that should not only help us on the field, but off as well. He has already been a great role model to our young guys in just his first few workouts. I can't imagine he will last long with us with so many major league ball clubs and scouts in Southern California who will see him pitch -- but our team and fans will enjoy it as long as it lasts." "I am excited to continue my professional career with the Fullerton Flyers and to pitch here in my home town of Fullerton," Abbott stated. "I believe I can still make a difference at the Major League level and see this as an opportunity to stay fresh, and show that I still have what it takes to get hitters out. My family lives here in Fullerton and it will be fun to pitch in front of so many friends and family."
Golden Baseball League Stories from July 2, 2005
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