This video clip shows a freak fate for baseball. The ball got stuck in the umpire’s pocket.
This unusual feat reminds me of what happened to Dummy Hoy in the outfield during his 15-year major league from 1888-1903. He developed his baseball skills at the Ohio School for the Deaf.
Hoy was an excellent outfielder and had a cannon arm. In the first few years, he caught balls barehanded Like everybody who makes mistakes, he missed a flyout. The ball traveled through his clasped hands and landed in his front pocket on the uniform. I don't remember what the umpires decided about the ball caught in his pocket.
More significantly, the league soon decided to remove the front pocket for what happened to Hoy. To this day, we still don't wear the uniform shirt with a chest pocket at all age levels since the 1890s.
Hoy made several contributions to baseball that we see today
Dummy Hoy (1861-1961) is a folk hero to the entire Deaf community.
Kevin Struxness
Deaf Studies Scholar