Curtis Pride facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Curtis Pride |
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Pride with The President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition in 2011
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| Gallaudet Bison | |||
| Coach / Outfielder | |||
| Born: December 17, 1968 Washington D.C., U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 14, 1993, for the Montreal Expos | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 1, 2006, for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .250 | ||
| Home runs | 20 | ||
| Runs batted in | 82 | ||
| Teams | |||
As player
As manager
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Curtis John Pride (born December 17, 1968) is a former professional baseball player. He was an outfielder who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1993 to 2006. What makes Curtis special is that he is deaf.
He played for several teams, including the Montreal Expos, Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees, and Anaheim Angels / Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. In 2015, Curtis Pride was chosen as MLB's Ambassador For Inclusion. This means he helps make baseball welcoming for everyone. From 2009 until 2024, he was also the head baseball coach at Gallaudet University, a school for deaf and hard-of-hearing students.
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Early Life and Sports Talents
Curtis Pride was born deaf because his mother had rubella during pregnancy. Even so, he learned to speak well from a young age. He went to John F. Kennedy High School in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Curtis was a fantastic athlete in high school. He was great at baseball, basketball, and soccer. After high school, he attended the College of William and Mary. There, he was the main point guard for the basketball team. He was also an excellent soccer player. He even played for the United States in the 1985 FIFA U-16 World Championship in China. He scored two goals in that tournament, including the winning goal against Bolivia. Experts named him one of the top 15 young soccer players in the world that year. He could also read lips very well, which helped him communicate.
Playing Baseball in the Major Leagues
Curtis Pride first signed with the New York Mets. However, he made his big league debut with the Montreal Expos in 1993. When he joined, he became the first deaf player in Major League Baseball since 1945.
Curtis was a left-handed hitter. He was known for being patient at the plate and for his great speed. He usually played in the outfield, often in left or right field. He was also an excellent fielder with a strong throwing arm. His first hit in the Major Leagues happened on September 17, 1993. His first four hits were amazing: a double, a triple, a home run, and a single!
Career Highlights and Teams
Before the 1996 season, Curtis became a free agent. He then signed with the Detroit Tigers. He played very well for them as a part-time outfielder. In 95 games, he had his best career numbers. He hit for a .300 batting average, had 10 home runs, and 31 RBI (runs batted in). He also scored 52 runs, got 80 hits, and stole 11 stolen bases.
After his time with the Tigers, Curtis played for several other teams. These included the Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves, and New York Yankees. In 2004, he joined the Anaheim Angels. He played in the minor leagues for their team, the Salt Lake Stingers, and was called up to the Angels when needed. He continued to play until 2006.
In his eleven seasons in Major League Baseball, Curtis Pride played in 421 games. He had a career batting average of .250. He hit 20 home runs and had 82 RBI.
Coaching Career
In 2008, Curtis Pride was chosen to be the head baseball coach at Gallaudet University. This university is special because it is for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. He coached the team until 2024, when the university decided to end its baseball program. In the summer of 2011, he also worked as an assistant coach for the Wareham Gatemen in the Cape Cod Baseball League.
Life Off the Field
Curtis Pride and his wife, Lisa, are very involved in their foundation called Together With Pride. This foundation helps children who are hard of hearing. They have a program that provides hearing aids. The foundation also supports scholarships, helps with reading skills, and offers mentoring programs.
In 1996, Curtis received the Tony Conigliaro Award. This award is given each year to an MLB player who shows great spirit, determination, and courage in overcoming challenges. In 2016, he also won the Henry Viscardi Achievement Award. Curtis has homes in the Washington, D.C. area and in Wellington, Florida.
