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About “Dummy” Hoy
William Ellsworth “Dummy” Hoy was the first Deaf Major League baseball player. He is considered to be the most accomplished Deaf player in the leagues history.
Since the ability to speak was often connected to one's intelligence, words like "dumb" and "dummy" became interchangeable with stupidity during his time.
Hoy himself often corrected individuals who addressed him as William, and referred to himself as Dummy.
"Dummy" Hoy was credited with creating baseball hand signals that many players still use today. During his career the umpire would shout calls and his third base coach would correlate them with arm signals. Ellsworth was so talented that he even inspired the crowd to use hand signals while cheering!
He is also one of the few players to ever compete in four different Major Leagues: the National League, American Association, Players' League, and the American League.
In 1951, he was the first deaf athlete elected to membership in the American Athletic Association of the Deaf Hall of Fame.
