“Whenever I stepped onto the baseball field, I never looked at my arm. I only saw my dreams.”

This quote from former Major League pitcher Jim Abbott often serves as the cornerstone of my lectures. Born without a right hand, Abbott’s story transcends the concept of disability, demonstrating instead the power of determination.

It’s astonishing that he stood as a starting pitcher in the world’s premier baseball league without a right hand. Yet, his professional achievements are equally remarkable: over a 10-year MLB career, Abbott amassed 87 wins and 108 losses with a 4.25 ERA, and in 1993 with the New York Yankees, he pitched a no-hitter. In 1988, he also captured a gold medal at the Seoul Olympics.

Still, when I speak of Abbott, I focus first on his mindset rather than his records. Not once did Abbott use his physical condition as an excuse. He fixed his eyes solely on his dream, enduring relentless practice and ultimately overcoming a world of obstacles. The way he would toss the ball and then swiftly slip on his glove with his left hand became an enduring symbol of perseverance and effort.

In 2020, during a baseball game in Namyangju, I encountered another “Abbott.” Invited to throw the ceremonial first pitch, my attention was drawn to a pitcher standing on the mound—using only his left arm. His name is Kim Woo-jung, a student at Seoul National University and pitcher for the Recovery Baseball Team.

Due to a medical accident at birth, Kim suffered nerve damage in his right shoulder, leaving him unable to move his right arm. Yet he clung to his love for baseball, finding his own way to stand on the mound. Kim’s deliveries are even more complex than Abbott’s. With his right arm completely immobile, he tucks his glove under his armpit to pitch, then retrieves it with his left hand after the throw. Every motion is slower and more complicated, but Kim has already become the ace of his team.

An interview with Kim left a lasting impression on me:

“When a pitcher grips the ball and prepares to throw, there’s a hush as the tension builds. I love that fleeting moment. The thrill of being in the spotlight—there’s nowhere else in my life where I get to feel that except on the mound.”

In this single sentence, Kim revealed both his passion for baseball and his attitude toward life. For him, baseball is not just a sport, but the very stage that gives him purpose.

Today, society faces reasons for despair and resignation. Adolescents, young adults, and even the older generation often find themselves giving up on their dreams. At times like these, I ask myself: “What am I living for? What are my eyes fixed on?”

Jim Abbott set his sights on the big leagues. Kim Woo-jung chases that fleeting moment in the spotlight. And I, too, take another step each day toward my own vision and mission.

Never, ever give up. Scars into Stars.

Wounds will one day become stars, illuminating the night sky. Even if no one is watching now, we walk steadily forward in faith that day will come. And one day, we will be able to say:

“The impossible was not meant for me.”

Written by Lee Man-soo, President of the Hulk Foundation, former manager of SK Wyverns Edited by Joo Jin-no

Note “This article was translated from the original Korean version using AI assistance, and subsequently edited by a native-speaking journalist.”

Photo=Hulk Foundation