William Hoy
How old was William when he became deaf?
Two years old
Was William ambidextrous?
Yes. He threw right-handed and batted left-handed.
What did William love to do even though he could not hear?
Play baseball
William was very tall.
No. He was only about 5 feet 4 inches tall.
Despite being small, Hoy was an extremely fast
What does it mean to persevere?
To keep trying even when something is difficult.
Where did William live ?
On the family farm in Ohio
Near Columbus
Was William Hoy married?
Yes, to Anna Marie Lowery
What part of the baseball field did William play in?
Outfield
He played professional baseball for 20 years.
No. He played professional baseball for about 17 years. His professional career began in 1886, and he continued playing until 1903.
Name one quality William Hoy showed.
Determination, courage, perseverance, confidence, or creativity.
Where did William go to school?
Columbus School for the Deaf
Did William create a doorbell for his home since he could not hear a bell?
Yes. He put a baseball in a groove by the doorbell mechanism. The pulling of the bell knocked the ball onto the floor. The vibrations announced the visitor.
What did William's teammates and coaches learn to use to communicate with him?
William would wave his arms when he was about to catch a ball in the outfield letting other outfielders know he claimed it.
No. He used a little squeak to claim a fly ball.
Even though he couldn't hear, Hoy made a distinctive sound when he was going after a fly ball. Teammates learned to recognize it.
What can we do when someone communicates differently from us?
Be patient, listen, learn, and find ways to communicate.
What job did William do when he graduation?
Shoemaker
After he retired from baseball, did William run a restaurant?
No. After he retired, Hoy stayed busy. He ran a dairy farm near Cincinnati for 20 years.
Why were signals especially important to William during a baseball game?
He could not hear the umpire's calls.
He had more than 2,000 major-league hits.
Yes. He had more than 2,000 major-league hits.
Hoy finished his career with 2,048 hits, an impressive accomplishment for any player.
What did William prove about having a disability?
A disability does not have to stop someone from achieving their dreams.
How old was William when he died?
99
Is William in the Baseball Hall of Fame?
No. William is not currently in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, but a major renewed campaign called "Sign for Hoy" was launched in September 2026 to push for his induction
He once threw out THREE runners at home plate in one game.
Yes. He once threw out THREE runners at home plate in one game.
On June 19, 1889, Hoy threw out three runners trying to score—an extraordinary defensive accomplishment.
His eyes were his superpower.
Yes. Hoy explained that relying heavily on his eyesight helped him judge fly balls and watch what was happening on the field
If you could give William Hoy an award, what would you call it and why?
(Answers vary)
Resilient
Inspiration
...