Deaf baseball players?

Good question. I just 'Googled' deaf MLB player and some information popped up. I'm not good at posting links so you can do the same as I just did. Much success in your search.

This doesn't address the pro issue, but our American HS team over here in Korea played a double-header against a Korean HS team whcih consisted entirely of deaf students. Their play was in no way impacted. They played as well as any Korean team we've seen, and they are on a par with any Japanese HS team.
I'm assuming a dedicated player can overcome deafness and play ball.

Curtis Pride has played on several Major League Teams

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=5166

In the mid 90's I do believe or there abouts there was a Deaf OF for the Montreal Expos.

I remember the interview I saw of him, and he said he viewed it as an advantage over the other ball palyers because he never had to worry about hearing the Hecklers in the stands.

quote:

Originally posted by Tiger3boy:
Curtis Pride has played on several Major League Teams

Growing up near atlanta during the braves streak through the 90s (now even through this year) he was the first and only name to come to mind.

I played against a deaf player in JUCO, he was in our conference, and played him in Karl-Young summer ball as well, so I saw him often. Great arm, good wheels, and a good stick, the guy could flat out get after it!

And he always had a smile on his face.

In a less sensitive era, the standard nickname for deaf players was "dummy". I did a quick search for dummy at baseball reference and came up with these names. I would suspect there are more deaf players who played ML

Player years played Given Name
Dummy Deegan 1901-1901 William John Deegan
Ed Dundon 1883-1884 Edward Joseph Dundon
Dummy Hoy 1888-1902 William Ellsworth Hoy
Dummy Leitner 1901-1902 George Michael Leitner
Danny Lynch 1948-1948 Matthew Daniel Lynch
Dummy Murphy 1914-1914 Herbert Courtland Murphy
Dummy Stephenson 1892-1892 Reuben Crandol Stephenson
Dummy Taylor 1900-1908 Luther Haden Taylor

I read an article several years ago on all those "dummies" in early baseball

The term wasn't seen as pejorative 100 years ago. And there may have been a valid reason for pointing out a player's situation to others. Certainly the ump would have to know.

My guess is that deafness was far more common before antibiotics reduced some types of childhood deafness.
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Early baseball nicknames followed interesting "conventions." If you had even a sliver of Indian blood, your name became "Chief." (Chief Bender is in the HOF)

If you had a deformity, that became your nickname ala "Three Finger" Brown, another HOF pitcher.

Ah, the good ole days!

Its got to be easier than being a blind umpire and we see them all the time.

My son played with a deaf kid, left handed pitcher. Has one of the best moves I have ever seen and has a top level fastball and good off speed stuff so I figure we will find out in about 3 years. The kid is amazing, he was a starter for his high school his Freshman year last year. I will try to find out what school. I know that it is in Orange County Ca.

With the fine line of making it to the "bigs", and the amount of hearing skills required to play the "complete" game, it would take one special player to make the grade. I hope to someday see that player as he will be the "purest" skilled player of all time.

Go to a game and put in some good ear plugs and imagine yourself on base, in the box, on the mound, in the field. You can do all the basic hit, run, catch, throw skills without your sense of hearing. But, factor in the other intangibles that go on in a game, and the stress that goes to all players not to make a mistake. It would take a special player

I think a deaf player can play all the way through college. But, with the level of competition in pro ball I don't think you will find an everyday deaf position player in todays baseball. I would not be surprised that there has been, or will be, deaf pitchers or DH's.

Note:
My Bad. I should have read all the posts because I see Curtis Prides name mentioned. He has been in the system for many years.

rz1:

You've made some good points and observations.

I have come to understand that when an animal, and in this case a human, is deficient in one or more senses they compensate with even keener senses elsewhere.

Considering that it makes you wonder with amazement just how, in the case of Curtis Prides, he was able to successfully overcome deafness and excel to the point of playing baseball at the highest level...for many years evidently.

All of those intangibles that you mention indeed do exist and are very important to recognize and master to be successful...how did Curtis, and others, manage? It would be interesting to find out.

Hey, there's only one handicap that matters in some colleges. Gawd forbid a kid isn't 6 feet tall.

micdsguy:

My height deprived guys know all about that!

For some it isn't 6'-0" it's 6'-2" !

wow I guess there's more posts than I thought..thanks for all the info guys