A game played and loved internationally has some traditions with central Ohio roots.
Professional baseball has had many incarnations in central Ohio. From the Blue Birds and Elite Giants, the Jets and the Clippers, some of baseball’s nuances were developed in Columbus, 10TV News reported.
Two players from the Columbus Independents, from the Ohio State School for the Deaf, played a very recognizable role.
“The first boy in Columbus ever to play in the Majors was Eddie “Dummy” Dunden,” said Joe Santry of the Columbus Clippers. “He was one of the first graduates of the Ohio School for the Deaf.”
"When they slid into second base he couldn't hear if he was out or safe,” Santry said. “So, the umpires evolved a set of hand signals and they would go, you're alright (safe motion) stay there or go on back to the bench, you're out (out motion)."
Santry said that the hand motions became commonplace for all umpires. Columbus ball players also impacted sports writers.
Santry said that Dummy Hoy, was also a player out of Columbus. Hoy succeeded as pitcher despite being hearing impaired.
Other local products played an important role.
"We had a great pitcher Eddie Cannonball Morris, they had great names back in the 1880s and Eddie was one of the very first, in fact he was the first great left handed pitcher," Santry said. “We had a great pitcher Eddie Cannonball Morris, they had great names back in the 1880s and Eddie was one of the very first, in fact he was the first great left handed pitcher."
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