Hand Signs in Baseball

Do you like baseball? Did you know baseball players and fans owe a lot to early baseball players who had disabilities? One such person is William Ellsworth “Dummy” Hoy who was born in 1862. He was deaf. (Someone who couldn’t hear was often called “Dummy” back in those days. Now it is not polite.) Hoy taught his teammates and umpires a few signs to help him know what was going on around him. Everyone else found it so helpful to have the visual signals, that it became an important part of the game! So next time you are watching a baseball game (or playing in one!) keep an eye out for hand signs!