Part 4/8:
Abbott's skill was no illusion. He had already made headlines during his high school years as an exceptional quarterback and a dominating amateur baseball player, even earning accolades like the Golden Spikes Award. However, once in the professional arena, the challenges intensified. His owner, George Steinbrenner, whose relationship with Abbott was contentious at best, publicly criticized him for not displaying sufficient courage, notwithstanding Abbott’s remarkable ability to pull off plays and strikes during games.