1. William “Dummy” Hoy 1 st deaf major-leaguer

2. Born May 23, 1862 on a farm in Houcktown, Ohio Born Hearing

3. 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)

4. Ohio School For the Deaf Circa 1900

5. OSD was 1 st 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?

6. 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

7. 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?

8. 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

9. 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 ????

10. Washington Senators Field circa 1901

11. 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 1 st - hit 2nd grand-slam home run in new American League. They won the pennant

13. 1902 returned to Reds August 7, 1902- Reds released him

14. 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

15. Hoy Honored 1951- 1 st player in AAAD hall of fame October 7, 1961- tossed 1 st ball at Opening Day of 3 rd World Series game Reds vs Yankees at Crosley Field Finally……….. December 15, 1961- died of a stroke (99 years old)

16. Should he be in the Baseball Hall of Fame?

17. William Hoy Film Location- My Videos