Why Marty Brennaman wants this Cincinnati Reds legend in Cooperstown
Williams: Marty Brennaman says Reds legend William "Dummy" Hoy may be baseball's "biggest untold story." Why Brennaman wants Hoy in the Hall of Fame.
A few Cincinnati Reds players expressed their disappointment in the crowd sizes at Great American Ball Park during the playoff push late last season. The reason: Players feed off crowd noise, whether the cheers are for or against them. It motivates them.
But what if they didn't hear the crowd at all, sold out or not? Ever? In their entire playing career?
And yet still managed to produce over a long career? Marty Brennaman wants everyone to know there was a guy who did that – William "Dummy" Hoy, who played 14 seasons in the big leagues more than a century ago, including five with the Reds. Hoy was one of the great leadoff hitters of his era.
But not enough people know about Hoy, recognized as the first deaf player in the big leagues. Brennaman is trying to change that. The legendary broadcaster is calling for Hoy to be inducted into the national Baseball Hall of Fame.