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William “Dummy” Hoy. 1 st deaf major-leaguer. Born May 23, 1862 on a farm in Houcktown, Ohio Born Hearing. Age 2 or 3- became deaf from “brain fever” (spinal meningitis) Had 3 Hearing brothers No school until 10 yrs old Went to “the Deaf and Dumb Institute” (now Ohio School for the Deaf).
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William “Dummy” Hoy 1st deaf major-leaguer
Born May 23, 1862 on a farm in Houcktown, Ohio • Born Hearing
Age 2 or 3- became deaf from “brain fever” (spinal meningitis) • Had 3 Hearing brothers • No school until 10 yrs old • Went to “the Deaf and Dumb Institute” (now Ohio School for the Deaf)
OSD was 1st school for the Deaf to have baseball • Hoy was trained in shoemaking • Graduated 1879- valedictorian –after only 8 years of education • Returned home & opened shoe-repair shop • Business was slow in summertime- Why?
Hoy & his 3 brothers joined the “Stonewall Jackson” club (amateur team) • Played as catcher • Under estimated as he was small (5’4’’ or 5’5’’ tall 145-155 lbs) • Invited to play on other teams locally- • Decided he was good enough to try pro baseball
Age 24, (1886)closed his shop, boarded a train in middle of night to Milwaukee, Wisconsin • Didn’t tell his strict parents Why? • 1886- began pro career in Oshkosh, Wisconsin for $75 a month= how much today? • Later- went home, sold the shop, & got the blessing from his parents • “Dummy”- nickname for any Deaf player- Hoy proud to be called “Dummy” Why?
Hand Signals • Taught his teammates fingerspelling & signs • They used them as “secret” signals during games • 1887- asked teammate/coach to use his arms to signal strikes & balls
MAJOR LEAGUE TIME • 1888- Joins Washington Senators • Led national league in base stealing after rookie year (82) • June 18, 1889- did something incredible against Indianapolis…What ????
1890- joined Buffalo Brotherhood team • 1891 joined St. Louis Browns • 1892 back to Washington • 1894- sold to Cincinnati Reds (4 seasons)>>> 1894 team • 1898- traded to Louisville Colonels • 1901- Chicago White Sox… May 1st- hit 2nd grand-slam home run in new American League. They won the pennant
End of Baseball Career • 1,792 games in major leagues • .291 lifetime batting average • Finished career in Los Angeles in winter league • Married Anna Maria Lowery (Deaf) in 1903 • 3 children- Carmen, Clover, Carson • 1903- bought dairy farm Cincinnati, Ohio • Sold farm in 1924 • Coached Goodyear Silents1919-1920
Hoy Honored • 1951- 1st player in AAAD hall of fame • October 7, 1961- tossed 1st ball at Opening Day of 3rd World Series game Reds vs Yankees at Crosley Field • Finally……….. • December 15, 1961- died of a stroke (99 years old)
William Hoy Film • Location- My Videos