Big thanks to Mark Sackler for the name recommendation. William Ellsworth “Dummy” Hoy (1862-1961) is a dummy only if you consider setting multiple Major League records for outfield defense (including games played as a center fielder and total putouts by an outfielder – records which have since been surpassed), all while maintaining a .288 career batting average with 2,044 hits and 596 stolen bases, to be unimpressive. In which case, you’re probably the dummy, because Dummy Hoy ain’t no dummy.
And while those numbers are impressive – although not Hall of Fame worthy – in their own right, I’ve left out one important fact – Dummy Hoy was deaf. While that may not seem that important, imagine trying to learn how to play baseball without being able to hear your coaches and teammates. Playing in the outfield would also be a challenge, as outfielders frequently need to verbally “call off” their teammates, to avoid collisions and make it easier to catch the ball.
The one and only Dummy Hoy. He looks like he’s trying to meditate and catch the ball at the same time. I wouldn’t put it past him, he was quite the guy!
Born in Houcktown, Ohio, the 5’6” Hoy became deaf after a bout with meningitis at the age of three. But he didn’t let this stop him. Hoy went on to graduate from the Ohio State School for the Deaf as class valedictorian. He later opened a shoe repair business while playing baseball on the weekends, before earning his first pro contract with a team in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. He then went on to have a fantastic career, and is widely regarded as the greatest deaf man to ever play the game.
Hoy was also an interesting guy off the field. Correcting people who addressed him as William (he apparently preferred Dummy), Dummy Hoy was said to have been able to speak with a squeaky voice. He has also been described as an intelligent man, despite his unbecoming nickname, and is sometimes credited as being instrumental in the development of the hand signals umpires use on the field. However, this assertion has been disputed. After his career, he and his deaf wife ran a dairy farm in – get this (amazing city name alert!) – Mount Healthy, Ohio. Speaking of healthy, Dummy died at the age of 99, a remarkable feat given the fact that he was born in the 1860’s (many ballplayers in that era didn’t make it past 40.)
Way to go, Dummy Hoy!
Amazing all the excuses he could have used….but didn’t!
I know – it is pretty impressive!
You can call me anything you like if I live to 99! Thanks for taking up the suggestion and a great job of research on the bio.
My pleasure – thanks for the suggestion!
An cheers to his Cincinnati connection.
I always thought Felipe Alou was the best deaf man to ever play the game! 😉
Which reminds me, did you know that Boog Powell was really an Alou?
How was he an Alou? Did he marry into the family? Btw, that’s a great name and one I was thinking of writing about at some point. You may be seeing Boog one of these weeks.
If your name was Boog Alou, wouldn’t you change it? http://tinyurl.com/2qr8dv
Hahaha I’m not even gonna touch that one Dave! 😉
Interesting story. I’d probably be more impressed if I was more of a baseball fan.
Haha I hear you. Well you could always become more of a baseball fan! 😉 Baseball fever can strike at any time. And baseball is a haven for unusual and fantastic names and nicknames!
Curious: Do you find that nick names in general are on the wane?
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I forgot about this one. A good post!
Times are chningag for the better if I can get this online!
A few years ago I’d have to pay someone for this information.