Play Ball!
A sports chapter in a sign language book would not be complete without a story about a famous deaf ballplayer. William Ellsworth “Dummy” Hoy was born in 1862. He lived to be nearly 100 years old before passing away in 1961. Hoy was the first deaf professional baseball player in the major leagues.
There are several stories surrounding Hoy and his contributions to the game of baseball. Some of these stories have been validated by old newspaper clippings from as far back as 1888. In the early days of baseball, all umpire calls were shouted. It is said Hoy was responsible for the creation of the signals for “strike,” “safe,” and “out.” Hoy created these signals because neither he nor the crowd could hear the calls by the home plate umpires. Today these signals are tradition and are used by umpires worldwide.
Some say that the intricate system of hand signals used in baseball and softball games today can be traced back to Hoy. These additional signals would include the manager's call signals to the batter, as well as the outfielders'calls.
William Hoy was one of the few players to have played in four of the five recognized major leagues, and he held an outstanding baseball career record. The crowds loved Hoy, and to show their approval, they stood in the bleachers and waved their hats and arms to demonstrate their enthusiasm. Some say this is the first early form of “deaf applause,” a visual form of applauding.
DEAF APP LAUSE: Raise both hands high in the air, in an “open five” position, and shake them.
