Dummy Hoy

Who was Dummy Hoy?

William Ellsworth Hoy, nicknamed "Dummy", was an American center fielder in Major League Baseball who played for several teams from 1888 to 1902, most notably the Cincinnati Reds and two Washington, D.C., franchises.

Hoy is noted for being the most accomplished deaf player in major league history, and is credited by some sources with causing the establishment of signals for safe and out calls. He held the major league record for games in center field from 1899 to 1920, set records for career putouts and total chances as an outfielder, and retired among the leaders in outfield games, assists, and double plays. He was also an excellent baserunner, scoring over 100 runs nine times, and often finishing among the top base stealers. He is one of only 29 players to have played in four different major leagues. His 1,004 career walks put him second in major league history behind Billy Hamilton when he retired, and he also ended his career ranking eighth in career games played.