Curtis Pride’s Journey to the Major Leagues as a Deaf Player Began With a Tee-Ball Standoff

A veteran of 421 MLB games over 11 seasons with six clubs, Pride tells his inspiring tale in a new autobiography.

Curtis Pride of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim during spring training at Tempe Diablo Stadium in Ariz. on Feb. 24, 2005. Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

From when he first played tee-ball, it was clear Curtis Pride wasn’t a quitter.

One of the most compelling stories in Pride’s recently released autobiography—“I Felt The Cheers: The Remarkable Silent Life of Curtis Pride”— is about his parents’ attempt to sign him up as a 6-year-old with a league sponsored by the Wheaton, Maryland, Boys Club. John and Sallie Pride were as enthusiastic as their son as they awaited his chance to be treated as normal and get his first taste of organized baseball. But rapidly, during the sign-up and selection phase, Pride’s not being chosen by any team became an issue.