Gallaudet University to Name Baseball Field in Honor of William "Dummy" Hoy

Washington, DC-On Sunday, April 8, Gallaudet University will dedicate its baseball field in honor of William "Dummy" Hoy who played professional baseball from 1886 to 1902 and who is credited with inventing the hand signals used by umpires.

Hoy, who was deafened at the age of 2 and attended the Ohio School for the Deaf, played for the Cincinnati Reds and the Washington Senators. He asked the umpires to raise their right arm to signify and strike and left arm to signify a ball. In 1961, at the age of 99, Hoy threw out the ceremonial first pitch to open the World Series between the Cincinnati Reds and New York Yankees. Two months later on December 15, Hoy passed away.

On Sunday, April 8, a breakfast and program, by invitation only, will be held in the University's cafeteria from 9 a.m. to 11a.m. Invited guests and speakers include Brooks Robinson, former Baltimore Oriole third baseman, Buck O'Neil, a member of the Veterans Committee, and Miriam Skaggs, a relative of Hoy.

After the breakfast, the guests will proceed to the baseball field where a plaque will be unveiled to commemorate the dedication of William "Dummy" Hoy Baseball Field.

Everyone is welcome to attend the dedication ceremony and watch the double header the Gallaudet Bison will play against Lincoln University. Persons wishing to attend the dedication ceremony at the baseball field should arrive at noontime. The baseball game will begin immediately following the ceremony.

Read more about William Hoy:

• Dead Ball Era
• 1900 Chicago White Sox Top Stars

Visit http://www.gallaudet.edu/ for more information about Gallaudet University.