Deaf Baseball Player Curtis Pride Gives Hope to Hearing Impaired Athletes

Curtis Pride did not make national headlines when he signed with the Los Angeles Angels last week. Although most people have never heard of the 38 year old journeyman outfielder, Curtis Pride has plenty of fans across America. Most of this fans are deaf. Thats right, deaf fans, this is because Pride himself is deaf. For the last 20 years Pride has played professional baseball and although the road has been rocky he prides himself on giving hope to deaf kids across America. Pride said:

"Every time I take the field in a Big League uniform I show the deaf children of America that it is possible to play Major League Baseball. And keeping the hopes of children alive is what keeps me playing baseball. I am 38 years old and have been in the game along time and I am not going to retire. They will have to chase me out of the game. I am going to play as long as I possible can Major Leagues, Minor Leagues or whatever. Because it doesn't matter if the children see me on national television or in some small town Minor League ballpark it keeps their dreams and hopes alive"

Pride was drafted in the 10th round of the 1986 draft by the New York Mets out of William and Mary College. After spending six years in the Mets organization Pride was granted free agency and signed with the Montreal Expos. After a strong season in AAA Pride was called up the the Major Leagues in September of 1993. He spent the last month of the 93 season with the Expos and played well in limited action (10 games).

Pride was injured during the strike shortened 1994 season and did not play in the Major Leagues. Pride spent the 95 season being shuffled between AAA and the Major Leagues. Although he hit well over .300 in that year in AAA, he only hit .175 in the Major Leagues. And in 63 major league at bats he only had one extra base hit. Montreal released then Pride at the end of the season.

In November of 1996 Pride signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers. He was told that we would be invited to Major League spring training and if he played well enough the Tigers were going to keep him around as a left handed pinch hitter and a back-up outfielder. Pride shocked everyone when he arrived to spring training. He had added 25 pounds of muscle and began swinging the bat like a power hitter. After putting up incredible numbers in the spring the Tigers decided to make Pride their everyday right fielder. Pride responded with a career year hitting an even .300 with 10 home runs. The success of 1996 however was to be short lived.

In 1997 Pride found himself on and off the disabled list all year long. He spend time with three teams and played poorly the whole year. He started the year with Detroit but was traded to Toronto in July. Playing hurt and playing bad Toronto released Pride in September. The Boston Red Sox then picked Pride up down the stretch to add left handed hitting dept when rosters expanded. When playoff rosters were announced Pride was again released.

In 1998 Pride signed with the Atlanta Braves. Once again healthy he served as a viable back up outfielder. He spent the whole season with the Braves and did not miss one game due to injury. Although the Braves were loaded with talent, Pride still managed go get into 70 Major League games while hitting a respectable .252. After the Braves lost in the playoffs, the organization informed Pride they were no longer in need of his services. Even though he had played well they were in favor of developing younger players.

Pride spent the next two years bouncing around in the minor leagues. He briefly played in AAA with the Royals and also had a short stint in Japan. Upon returning to the United States he appeared in 18 games in the Independent Atlantic League before moving on to Mets Organization where he again played at the AAA level. He was then traded in the minors to the Boston Organization. After almost two years of being out of the Major Leagues Boston called Pride up when rosters were expanded down the stretch. Pride played well in limited action and gained the attention of other Major League teams.

Pride was signed again by the Montreal Expos in the spring of 2001. He again served as a back-up outfielder and played well. Montreal however finished dead last in the standing and made the decision to release all veteran players and replace them with younger players, thus cutting salary's and hoping to developer the younger players into a winning team. Pride was again released and found himself again looking for a job.

In the winter of 2001 Pride was underwent a knee operation. After the rehab failed, he underwent another operation. Now 33 years old with bum knees it was hard for Pride to convince anyone to give him a chance. Not to mention that he had been nothing than a journeyman outfielder in his prime. Unable to get the attention of any Major League team Pride again signed a contract to play in the Independent Atlantic League. After tearing up the minor league pitchers the Yankees purchased Pride again when rosters expanded for their September play-off run. Pride was nothing less than spectacular with the Yankees and even hit a homering in his first at-bat. Needless to say he would have no problem getting a contract for the next season.

He spent the next three season in Los Angeles, playing with the Angels as a back-up outfielder. When he is not playing baseball he and his wife Lisa, are actively involved in "The ACTIVE WITH PRIDE" organization. They raise money for hearing impaired children for medical treatments, school grants and other research's. Pride will continue to run down balls in the outfield as long as his body will allow him, but according to him more importantly he will continue to help hearing impaired children long after his playing days are through.