Curtis Pride
Encyclopedia
Curtis John Pride is a former Major League Baseball
outfielder
and is currently the head baseball coach at Gallaudet University
. Pride stands at 6'0" tall and weighs 210 pounds. He batted left-handed
and threw right-handed.
at birth from rubella
, Pride developed oral skills early in his life and graduated from John F. Kennedy High School
in Silver Spring
, Maryland. He excelled in baseball, basketball and soccer in high school. After high school, Pride attended the College of William and Mary
. He played for the baseball team and was also the starting point guard
on the basketball team. He also was an excellent soccer player who played for the United States at the 1985 FIFA U-16 World Championship
in China (1985), scored two goals in the tournament, including the match winner against Bolivia
. He was named one of the top 15 youth prospects in the world for that year and was a 1986 Parade Magazine High School All American soccer player. Pride uses his 5% residual hearing to help him speak and is a fluent lip-reader.
, but reached the major leagues with Montreal
in 1993. At that time, he became the first deaf player in the majors since Dick Sipek
in 1945. A left-handed hitter, with good plate discipline, and considerable speed, he never played regularly in the majors. Instead, he pinch hit
or played in the outfield, usually left
or right
, as an injury replacement, and is regarded as an excellent fielder with a strong arm. His first Major League hit was 23 September 1993 in Montreal.
Pride became a free agent before the 1996 season and signed with Detroit
, where he played well in a part-time outfield role. With fewer than 300 plate appearances
in 95 games, he compiled career-high numbers in batting average
(.300), home run
s (10), RBI
(31), runs
(52), hits
(80), doubles
(17) triples
(5) and stolen base
s (11), and expected to gain more at bats in future seasons as a result. But 1997 found him on the disabled list
, and he was released and signed by the Red Sox
. After that, he played with the Braves
, returned to Boston and Montreal, and saw a little action with the Yankees
. He was signed by the Angels
in the 2004 season and was called up from Triple-A Salt Lake. In 2005, he was signed to a minor league
contract with the Angels, and was called up after an injury to Vladimir Guerrero
. He was returned to the minors after Guerrero recovered from the injury. After spending 2007, spring training
as a non-roster invitee for the Angels, he was assigned to start the 2007 season as a member of the Salt Lake Bees
.
Pride signed with the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
of the independent Atlantic League
on April 15, 2008. He was released by the Blue Crabs on August 23.
In an eleven-season major league career, Pride batted .250 (199-for-796) with 20 home runs and 82 RBI in 421 major league games.
.
In 1996, Pride received the Tony Conigliaro Award
, given annually to an MLB player who best overcomes adversity through the attributes of spirit, determination and courage. He keeps homes in both the Washington, D.C. area and Wellington, Florida
.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
and is currently the head baseball coach at Gallaudet University
Gallaudet University
Gallaudet University is a federally-chartered university for the education of the deaf and hard of hearing, located in the District of Columbia, U.S...
. Pride stands at 6'0" tall and weighs 210 pounds. He batted left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
and threw right-handed.
Youth
DeafHearing impairment
-Definition:Deafness is the inability for the ear to interpret certain or all frequencies of sound.-Environmental Situations:Deafness can be caused by environmental situations such as noise, trauma, or other ear defections...
at birth from rubella
Rubella
Rubella, commonly known as German measles, is a disease caused by the rubella virus. The name "rubella" is derived from the Latin, meaning little red. Rubella is also known as German measles because the disease was first described by German physicians in the mid-eighteenth century. This disease is...
, Pride developed oral skills early in his life and graduated from John F. Kennedy High School
John F. Kennedy High School (Montgomery County, Maryland)
John F. Kennedy High School is a public high school located in unincorporated Silver Spring in Montgomery County, Maryland.The school is a part of Montgomery County Public Schools.Over 1,550 students are enrolled at Kennedy...
in Silver Spring
Silver Spring, Maryland
Silver Spring is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It had a population of 71,452 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth most populous place in Maryland, after Baltimore, Columbia, and Germantown.The urbanized, oldest, and...
, Maryland. He excelled in baseball, basketball and soccer in high school. After high school, Pride attended the College of William and Mary
College of William and Mary
The College of William & Mary in Virginia is a public research university located in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States...
. He played for the baseball team and was also the starting point guard
Point guard
Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...
on the basketball team. He also was an excellent soccer player who played for the United States at the 1985 FIFA U-16 World Championship
1985 FIFA U-16 World Championship
The 1985 FIFA U-16 World Championship was held in the cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, and Dalian in People's Republic of China from July 31, 1985 to August 11, 1985...
in China (1985), scored two goals in the tournament, including the match winner against Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
. He was named one of the top 15 youth prospects in the world for that year and was a 1986 Parade Magazine High School All American soccer player. Pride uses his 5% residual hearing to help him speak and is a fluent lip-reader.
Career
Pride was originally signed by the New York MetsNew York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
, but reached the major leagues with Montreal
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
in 1993. At that time, he became the first deaf player in the majors since Dick Sipek
Dick Sipek
Richard Francis Sipek was a Major League Baseball outfielder, and the only deaf person to play in the majors between Dummy Murphy in and Curtis Pride in . He played in 82 games for the Cincinnati Reds in . He was also the first deaf ballplayer not to carry the nickname "Dummy".-Sources:...
in 1945. A left-handed hitter, with good plate discipline, and considerable speed, he never played regularly in the majors. Instead, he pinch hit
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
or played in the outfield, usually left
Left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
or right
Right fielder
A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball or softball who plays defense in right field. Right field is the area of the outfield to the right of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
, as an injury replacement, and is regarded as an excellent fielder with a strong arm. His first Major League hit was 23 September 1993 in Montreal.
Pride became a free agent before the 1996 season and signed with Detroit
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
, where he played well in a part-time outfield role. With fewer than 300 plate appearances
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
in 95 games, he compiled career-high numbers in batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
(.300), home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s (10), RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
(31), runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
(52), hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
(80), doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
(17) triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
(5) and stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s (11), and expected to gain more at bats in future seasons as a result. But 1997 found him on the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
, and he was released and signed by the Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
. After that, he played with the Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
, returned to Boston and Montreal, and saw a little action with the Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
. He was signed by the Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
in the 2004 season and was called up from Triple-A Salt Lake. In 2005, he was signed to a minor league
Minor league
Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities. This term is used in North America with regard to several organizations competing in...
contract with the Angels, and was called up after an injury to Vladimir Guerrero
Vladimir Guerrero
Vladimir Alvino Guerrero is a free agent Major League Baseball right fielder and designated hitter.In , he was voted the American League MVP...
. He was returned to the minors after Guerrero recovered from the injury. After spending 2007, spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
as a non-roster invitee for the Angels, he was assigned to start the 2007 season as a member of the Salt Lake Bees
Salt Lake Bees
The Salt Lake Bees are a Pacific Coast League minor league baseball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Bees serve as the Triple-A affiliate of Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. They play their home games at Spring Mobile Ballpark, known to fans as the Apiary, which was...
.
Pride signed with the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs is an American professional baseball team based in Waldorf, Maryland. They are a member of the Liberty Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, an independent baseball league which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. From the 2008 season...
of the independent Atlantic League
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball is a professional, independent baseball organization located primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, especially the greater metropolitan areas of the Northeast megalopolis. It operates in cities not served by Major or Minor League...
on April 15, 2008. He was released by the Blue Crabs on August 23.
In an eleven-season major league career, Pride batted .250 (199-for-796) with 20 home runs and 82 RBI in 421 major league games.
Coaching career
In 2008, Pride was selected to be the baseball coach at Gallaudet UniversityGallaudet University
Gallaudet University is a federally-chartered university for the education of the deaf and hard of hearing, located in the District of Columbia, U.S...
.
Personal life
When he is not playing baseball, Pride and with his wife Lisa are actively involved in the Together With Pride foundation, which aids hearing impaired children through a hearing aid bank, according to the foundation's website. There are several activities the foundation supports or hopes to support, such as a scholarship program, literacy, and mentoring.In 1996, Pride received the Tony Conigliaro Award
Tony Conigliaro Award
The Tony Conigliaro Award is a national award instituted in 1990 by the Boston Red Sox to honor the memory of their former star Tony Conigliaro. It is given annually to a Major League Baseball player who best overcomes an obstacle and adversity through the attributes of spirit, determination and...
, given annually to an MLB player who best overcomes adversity through the attributes of spirit, determination and courage. He keeps homes in both the Washington, D.C. area and Wellington, Florida
Wellington, Florida
Wellington is a village in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. As of 2006, the village had a population of 55,584 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Wellington is part of the South Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
.