The William Hoy Story: How a Deaf Baseball Player Changed the Game

by Nancy Churnin, Jez Tuya (Illustrator)

Overview

New York Public Library Best Books for Kids 2016
2017 Storytelling World Resource Award Honor Book
2017 Best Children's Books of the Year, Bank Street College

"[Churnin] tells William's story patiently and clearly, with a wonderfully matter-of-fact tone about the ways a deaf person navigates life."—New York Times Book Review

"A rewarding read-aloud choice for baseball fans."—Booklist

"A moving tribute to a hero."—Kirkus Reviews

William Hoy's love for baseball changed the sport forever.

All William Ellsworth Hoy wanted to do was play baseball. After losing out on a spot on the local deaf team, William practiced even harder―eventually earning a position on a professional team. But his struggle was far from over. In addition to the prejudice Hoy faced, he could not hear the umpires' calls. One day he asked the umpire to use hand signals: strike, ball, out. That day he not only got on base but also changed the way the game was played forever. William "Dummy" Hoy became one of the greatest and most beloved players of his time.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780807591925
Publisher:	Whitman, Albert & Company
Publication date:	03/01/2016
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	658,619
Product dimensions:	8.20(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	AD620L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Nancy Churnin is the award-winning author of multiple picture book biographies. The former theater critic for the Dallas Morning News and Los Angeles Times San Diego Edition, she's now a full-time writer and peace negotiator between her dog and cats. She lives in North Texas.

Jez Tuya is an illustrator based in Wellington City, New Zealand. He’s been honing his craft and working as an illustrator for many years, and over this time he’s worked for many clients in children’s book publishing, while occasionally dabbling in design work for animation.

Editorial Reviews

…delightful and illuminating…Anyone who plays or watches baseball today will experience a jolt of recognition as Churnin explains the genesis of this small but central aspect of the game. She tells William's story patiently and clearly, with a wonderfully matter-of-fact tone about the ways a deaf person navigates life. She strikes just the right balance between reporting the hardships and discrimination he faced…and emphasizing the personal grit that allowed him to persevere and overcome daunting obstacles. Tuya's simple digital illustrations are filled with feeling and individuality, neatly conveying motion and action but also, somehow, the dignity of William's silence.

The New York Times Book Review - Maria Russo

12/14/2015
This rousing underdog story from newcomers Churnin and Tuya introduces William Hoy, who became a major-league baseball player in the 1880s, despite being left deaf from a childhood bout with meningitis. Though an early manager tried to take advantage of him, and teammates would hide their mouths so Hoy couldn’t read their lips, Hoy taught his teammates American Sign Language—symbols that Hoy eventually got umpires to use, too, and (possibly) helped pave the way for officiating gestures still in use. Tuya’s bright cartoons give a solid sense of the period, as well as Hoy’s pride, satisfaction—and some hurtful moments—on his way to becoming “king of center field.” An afterword provides additional details about Hoy’s life, personality, and influence. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Karen Grencik, Red Fox Literary. Illustrator’s agent: Charlie Bowden, Pickled Ink. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

02/01/2016
PreS-Gr 3—This picture book biography demonstrates how an extraordinary deaf player from the early days of baseball made a lasting contribution to the game. The ambitions of William Hoy (1862–1961) were clear from the start. The boy thought of little other than baseball and practiced tirelessly in hopes of playing on a team. Achieving his goal brought challenges that he didn't expect, but giving up was not an option. Hoy realized that better communication was needed and knew just the way to do it. While he was not the only person to introduce hand signals to the game, he did popularize their use among players and fans. The book is well told and charmingly illustrated in a semirealistic style that conveys Hoy's emotions. Those who enjoyed Audrey Vernick's Brothers at Bat: The True Story of an Amazing All-Brother Baseball Team (Clarion, 2012) will want to read this engaging biography. VERDICT This is the largely unknown story of a differently abled athlete's valuable addition to the great American pastime.—Paige Mellinger, Gwinnett County Public Libraries, Lillburn, GA

School Library Journal

2016-02-17
William Hoy was a talented, hard-playing major league baseball player who had a profound effect on the manner in which the game is played. He played from 1888-1902, amassing an impressive record in both fielding and hitting. In the vernacular of the times he was known as "Dummy" Hoy because he was deaf, but it was also how he referred to himself. He could read lips and write notes, but there were many challenges to overcome. When he was up at bat, he could not tell whether a ball or strike was called because, in those days, umpires shouted their calls and, of course, Hoy could not hear them. He worked out a system of arm signals to call balls and strikes, safe and out, based on American Sign Language, and convinced the umpires to use his method. His career took off, and soon these signals became the norm for all baseball games and remain in use today. The fans learned to wave their arms so he would know they were cheering for him. Churnin tells Hoy's story in sprightly, descriptive language that reaches to the heart of his courage and ingenuity. Tuya's bright, flat, cartoon-simple illustrations complement the text perfectly, deftly capturing the era, Hoy's emotional ups and downs, and his determination and spirit. A moving tribute to a true hero. (biographical information, timeline, acknowledgements) (Picture book. 5-9)

Kirkus Reviews

New York Public Library Best Books for Kids 2016
2017 Texas 2x2 Reading List
2017 Storytelling World Resource Award Honor Book
2018 Illinois Monarch Award Master List
2017 Texas Topaz Nonfiction Reading List
2017 Best Children's Books of the Year, Bank Street College
2017 North Texas Book Festival Best Children's Book Finalist
2017-2018 Charter Oak Children's Book Award Nominee
2018-2019 Louisiana Young Readers' Choice List
2017-2018 Kennebec Valley Book Award List
2023 California Reads List

"Tuya's bright cartoons give a solid sense of the period, as well as Hoy's pride, satisfaction and some hurtful moments on his way to becoming "'king of center field.'"—Publishers Weekly

"The book is well told and charmingly illustrated in a semirealistic style that conveys Hoy's emotions. Those who enjoyed Audrey Vernick's Brothers at Bat: The True Story of an Amazing All-Brother Baseball Team will want to read this engaging biography."—School Library Journal

"This picture book offers a smoothly written text and simplified digital illustrations. A rewarding read-aloud choice for baseball fans."—Booklist

"Churnin tells Hoy's story in sprightly, descriptive language that reaches to the heart of his courage and ingenuity. Tuya's bright, flat, cartoon-simple illustrations complement the text perfectly, deftly capturing the era, Hoy's emotional ups and downs, and his determination and spirit. A moving tribute to a hero."—Kirkus Reviews

"This feel-good story is simply told, and it will be fairly easy to follow even for youngsters unfamiliar with baseball."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"[Churnin] tells William's story patiently and clearly, with a wonderfully matter-of-fact tone about the ways a deaf person navigates life."—New York Times Book Review

From the Publisher