The player who should be in the Hall of Fame is not from the PEDs era

[mikelink45]

We have recognized players for breaking the color lines, for being the first Latin American, the integrating African Americans and we have attempted to recognize past greatness in fields peripheral to baseball.  We even have Alexander Cartwright who is as legendary as Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox who were just as involved in the great game of baseball.  But we have left out a real ball player with a real case as both a player and as a ground breaker - William or Billy Hoy.

Unfortunately he is better known as Dummy Hoy - because he was deaf and he was in an era where sensitivity did not exist. 

He could not hear so he could not know the balls and strike calls and this necessitated a system where the third-base coach signaled him by raising his left index finger for a ball, the right for a strike.  

He was known as an outstanding fielder, but had to have his corner fielders acknowledge that if they heard him call for the ball it was his, if they did not hear him the ball was open to them,

He had 32.5 WAR in 14 years of playing with 2,048 hits from 1888 to 1902.  His slash line was 288/386/374/760.  

He was not the only deaf player in MLB, but he set an early standard and according to History Channel, "

Hoy hit .367 for Oshkosh in 1887, the same year his “horse catch” became part of baseball lore. In the season finale against Dubuque for the league title, Hoy played center field. Fans, some with their horses and buggies nearby, ringed the field. In the ninth inning, Hoy miraculously caught a deep fly ball in the area where the horses stood. 

“One old-timer insists that Hoy hopped up on a horse’s back, stuck up his glove and—kerplunk! He caught the ball to retire the side," according to a mid-20th-century account. "Another old-time twist to the Hoy catch was that he circled between some horses, put his arms around the horse’s neck and presto—he made the catch!”

 

 

[DJL44]

No thanks. I don't think there is any evidence that people with hearing loss have been discriminated against by MLB as a class, (unlike the other categories you mentioned). Hoy wasn't nearly good enough as a player to get a plaque. If he's going to be recognized you might as well recognize the "first guy named Jayden in MLB" or some other such "first". I hope this isn't what Bud Fowler's induction sets as a precedent.

[mikelink45]

15 hours ago, DJL44 said:

No thanks. I don't think there is any evidence that people with hearing loss have been discriminated against by MLB as a class, (unlike the other categories you mentioned). Hoy wasn't nearly good enough as a player to get a plaque. If he's going to be recognized you might as well recognize the "first guy named Jayden in MLB" or some other such "first". I hope this isn't what Bud Fowler's induction sets as a precedent.

I understand your perspective, but the discrimination against hearing loss in his life period was much more difficult (I believe - since I am not seeing deaf players now I am not sure).  In 1888 he lead the league in walks and SB, he had over 2000 hits, and was an outstanding fielder.  But more important, even today the deaf face discrimination in the work place.  They might not be called dumb or dummy in most society now, but the challenge of accommodating deafness leads to much fewer opportunities. 

[gunnarthor]

It's an interesting question and brings up what it means to "be in the HOF." Bonds, Clemens, ARod are all in the HOF in that all of them have had exhibits about them and or their accomplishments and or their teams. You can go to the HOF and watch video of Jack Morris long before he was "in the HOF." 

So, does "in the HOF" only mean he needs a plaque gallery? If so, I'd say he probably shouldn't be in the HOF. But I would certainly enjoy an exhibit that touches on him and other players who had physical disabilities and the challenges they faced. 

[bean5302]

Neat story, but no lasting impact on the game of baseball. I'd say no to inclusion in the hall based on privilege points.