Curtis Pride: Breaking Barriers with Heart, Hustle, and Purpose

When you think of disabilities, you might think about limitations. Curtis Pride is one of many who refused to let those limitations define him. Born 95% deaf due to rubella, Pride shattered expectations long before he stepped onto a Major League Baseball field.

Armed with sharp lip-reading and oral communication skills, Pride became a standout athlete in multiple sports during his youth — excelling in baseball, basketball, and soccer. At just 16, he represented the U.S. in the 1985 FIFA U-16 World Championship, netting two goals on the world stage.

Pride went on to attend William & Mary on a basketball scholarship, where he started at point guard all four years while majoring in finance. During his summers, he quietly built a baseball career in the minor leagues, creating the foundation for a historic MLB debut.

In 1993, Pride made history as the first deaf player in Major League Baseball since 1945, debuting with the Montreal Expos. His first four career hits formed a rare cycle: a double, triple, home run, and single. Over the course of an 11-year MLB career (1993–2006), he played for six teams, including the Tigers, Yankees, and Red Sox. His numbers were impressive: he batted .250 with 20 home runs and 82 RBIs in 421 games. His best season came in 1996 with Detroit, when he hit .300 with 10 home runs and 11 stolen bases. That same year, he earned the Tony Conigliaro Award for overcoming adversity.

After retiring, Pride dedicated himself to shaping the future of the game and advocating for inclusion. As head baseball coach at Gallaudet University from 2009 to 2024, he led the team to a record-breaking 27-win season in 2014. In 2015, he was named MLB’s first Ambassador for Inclusion, using his platform to advise on disability outreach and youth engagement.

A passionate advocate, Pride co-founded the “Together With Pride” foundation, which supports deaf and hard-of-hearing youth through scholarships, mentoring, and access to hearing aids. His leadership extended to national service, including a role on the U.S. President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition, and coaching Team USA to gold in the World Physically Challenged Tournament in Japan.

Curtis Pride’s story is one of resilience, representation, and the relentless pursuit not just of athletic success, but of meaningful change.