Famous Deaf Person - William E. Hoy

William E. Hoy, a Deaf professional baseball player from 1886-1903, was born on May 23, 1862. He went Deaf due to spinal meningitis at the age of two, so he received his education from the Ohio School for the Deaf. William Hoy, or “Dummy Hoy” as he was called, began his professional baseball career at the age of 24 when he joined with the pennant-winning Oshkosh Club after a brief experience with the Milwaukee Brewers.

At only five feet, five inches, 145 pounds, Hoy led the National League in stolen bases during his major league rookie year. He led the Washington Senators offence in hits, and he set a fielding record during a game in Washington D.C. in 1889 by throwing out three runners at home plate from his position in the outfield. Throughout his professional career he played in four different leagues on 9 different teams, four of which won pennants during his time with them.

Among his greatest contributions to baseball was Hoy’s invention of the hand signals used by umpires, coaches, and players that indicate balls and strikes, safe and out, and pitching, stealing, and batting signals that have been used by virtually every team since their invention . His determination, high level of skill, and intelligence proved to millions of fans and fellow players that not only was Hoy just as capable of playing baseball as every hearing player, but he brought something to the game that none of them could, hand signals. Many of Hoy’s teammates learned sign language so that they could communicate with him. Hoy’s teammate Tommy Leach tells how they communicated with him in the outfield: “…you never called for a ball. You listened for him, and if he made this little squeaky sound, that meant he was going to take it,” (qtd. in Ritter). Hoy was given the honor of throwing the pre-game pitch of the third game of the 1961 World Series at the age of 99.

Following his professional career, Hoy worked in the Deaf community directing many Deaf workers at Goodyears, coaching the Deaf Goodyear Silents baseball club, and umpiring games for Deaf teams. Hoy continued playing baseball and softball on local teams in Cincinnati long after his retirement. Joshua Evans of Sports Collectors Digest gives credit to Hoy’s successful life and career as: “a symbol of people who just need to be given a chance – a chance to be treated just like everyone else.”

I was aware that there were several famous Deaf athletes, but I had no idea what kind of impact they have made on sports. William Hoy’s invention of the hand signals that have been used in baseball and softball for the past hundred years just shows how beneficial the differences between Deaf and hearing people can be for each other if we share our knowledge and culture. Hoy was not afraid to live his dream even during a time when he was looked down upon just because he was Deaf. He lived his life to the fullest and opened the doors for more Deaf athletes to be able to enjoy playing and watching baseball.

I was glad to see the reactions of Hoy’s teammates and coaches was largely positive in that they all found ways to communicate, whether it was by learning to sign, or writing to him, or simply by observing him and responding to his actions like Tommy Leach mentioned. I am also glad to see that many people are trying to get William Hoy into the Hall of Fame, and it looks as if it may very well happen with the upcoming publication of his biography as well as the campaigns in Cooperstown to have him recognized by the general public as he is by the athletes that know of and appreciate his contributions to baseball and to history. People need to know what he has accomplished not only as a baseball player but as a Deaf man who refused to let other people’s opinions get in the way of his goals.

Copyright Karen Getz 2007