I had never heard of William (Dummy*) Hoy.  But once I learned his inspirational true story, I knew I wanted to share it with as many people as possible.  We had the privilege of designing a baseball bat as part of the effort to raise awareness of his story in hopes to have him inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

When it came to baseball, William Hoy had a natural gift.  During his rookie year he led the National League in stolen bases.  But it was his disability that ultimately had the biggest impact on baseball.  William was deaf.  As it stands today, there are NO deaf baseball players in the baseball Hall of Fame.

During the 1880s, few people used sign language and certainly no one used it in baseball.  Imagine trying to play baseball when you can’t hear and are too far away to read the umpire’s lips.  Imagine other players (some of them on your own team) talking behind your back and hiding their mouths so you couldn’t read their lips.   On one particularly hard day, William let three pitches go by because he thought they were balls.  As he stood waiting for his next pitch, the pitcher started pointing and laughing and people in the stands started laughing as well. It was after that low-point William had an inspirational idea.  He wrote a note to the umpire and asked him to raise his right hand for a strike and his left hand for a ball.  He also asked him to use American Sign Language symbols for safe and out.  The use of these hand signals spread and soon his teammates, other teams, and even the fans began to rely on them as part of the game.  William was not the only person to introduce hand signals but he did work with umpires to develop a number of signs.

We believe William Hoy deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.  In 2018 he was selected as Most Overlooked 19th Century Baseball Legend.  In 2019, he was selected as the Great Ohioan Award by the Ohio Statehouse.  Nancy Churnin has written a children’s book titled The William Hoy Story in hopes that kids would help write letters to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.   A movie called The Silent Natural had a premier last weekend and is based on the life of William Hoy. Texas Timber has supported his Hall of Fame nomination by being a member of the Hoy for the Hall committee, being the lead designer of the Hoy for the Hall bat, donating a bat to the Gallaudet University baseball team and by being a constant voice for this baseball innovator, William Dummy Hoy. 

If you would like to write a letter to support William Hoy’s nomination to the Hall of Fame, please send a letter to the following address:

National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
25 Main Street,
Cooperstown, NY 13326

*During William’s time Dummy was a common name for people who were deaf and mute.  William who was proud of being deaf and referred to himself as Dummy.

If you would like to purchase a Hoy for the Hall baseball bat, click here to support our efforts to bring awareness to this special cause:

Hoy for the Hall Special Edition Bat

Crafting our first-ever gold colored bat back in 2015 was about so much more than a pretty color.  It was about honoring one of the smallest and bravest heroes we have met.   

In May of 2015 the Byrd family was busy juggling work and family as they raised their 15-month-old triplets Grace, Elizabeth, and Thomas.  On May 22, their world was turned upside down when Grace was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). Nothing can prepare you for a cancer diagnosis.  Especially a cancer diagnosis for your own young daughter.

Surviving triplets is one thing, but parenting triplets while navigating chemotherapy treatments, multiple hospital visits, a weakened immune system, etc. is almost impossible to comprehend.  But the Byrds used every ounce of energy to help Grace fight the battle and in September of 2017 she took her last dose of chemo and she has been free of cancer since.  We will never forget attending the End of Treatment Party for Grace!  It was the best kind of celebration!

In baseball, every “at-bat” is a battle.  But “winning the battle” took on a new meaning for us as we watched Grace fight for her life.  It was our sincere honor to craft a gold bat for this brave warrior!  And yet, since making her bat we have seen that fighting cancer is really not a battle.  It is life-changing and complex.  To say somebody lost their battle to cancer implies that person could have done more to win, but we know that is not the case. Cancer outcomes are determined by the tumor type, stage of cancer, and available treatments.  “When you die, it does not mean that you lose to cancer. You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and the manner in which you live” – Stuart Scott (former ESPN anchor who died of cancer). 

As we witnessed the Byrd’s battle with cancer, we were shocked to learn how little funding goes towards childhood cancer research.  Only 4%!  September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, so please spread the word and let’s do better than 4%. The Childhood Cancer Awareness ribbon color is Gold.  Let’s Go Gold for Grace and all the other brave children fighting to win the battle! 

The Byrds have registered a fundraiser with Cookies for Kids’ Cancer to help make a difference in the fight against pediatric cancer.  If you would like to donate, please use this link: http://cookiesforkidscancer.org/fundraiser/rockwall2018

Throughout the years, Texas Timber has crafted bats for heroes of all types!  We are excited to share these personal stories “behind the bat.”  Thank you all for allowing us to be part of your story, we are truly honored and humbled to have connected with so many incredible families and individuals.  

Spencer Speirs – “Safe At Home”

November 2017

When we heard Spencer’s story, we were instantly touched because he was simultaneously dealing with one of life’s greatest joys, the pending birth of his son Wyatt, while also dealing with the reality that his time on earth was limited.  His condition was so serious, no one knew if he would be able to witness the birth of his own son. 

Spencer was a longtime baseball fan who enjoyed attending Texas Rangers baseball games with his Grandpa Charles and his brother Seth.  The love of baseball runs deep throughout the family.  His sister Hannah Speirs is currently known as the Texas Rangers Dancing Usher and is an inspiration and encouragement to so many. 

Spencer wanted to share his love of the game with his son in hopes that Wyatt would remember his dad’s passion for baseball.  Spencer’s condition continued to worsen, but on February 3, 2014 we were full of joy to hear Spencer witnessed the birth of his son!  We had the honor of making a baby bat to commemorate Wyatt’s birth.  

Twenty one days later on February 24, 2014 Spencer passed away.  As a tribute, his brother Seth requested a bat with the inscription “Safe At Home.” 

Once he gets older, Wyatt will be able to hold the baseball bat his father once held.  And although their time together on earth was too brief, it is heartwarming to know these two generations connected on earth and will reconnect someday in their heavenly home.