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William Hoy & Baseball Dreams: The “I Am Now!” Mindset
- Kathleen Marcath
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
by ASL Picture Books
The Moment That Changes Everything
What if the dream you’re reaching for isn’t someday—but something you’re already living today?
As baseball season begins, we’re reminded of players like William Hoy, a Deaf athlete who changed the game by never giving up on his dream to "Play Ball."
Springtime and baseball go together like a hand and a glove. A few are fortunate enough to play the sport professionally, while many others dream of making it. From tee-ball to the major leagues, there is something for everyone in the sport: coaching, playing, cheering, and even writing about the game. Baseball truly is the All-American pastime.
I bought and listened to the audiobook “YOU ARE A WRITER (so start ACTING like one)” by Jeff Goins, and it stayed with me. He wanted to be a writer. He stressed, struggled, and believed “someday” was far, far away.
One day, a friend told him something simple—but life-changing:
“You already are a writer.”
Jeff didn’t understand at first. He wasn’t making a living with his writing. He was still trying to figure things out.
But his friend explained something like this:
“You write. You care about writing. You show up. That means—you are a writer.”
That moment shifted everything.
Jeff began to act like a writer—writing every day, believing in his work. And before long, his friend said to him:
“You found your voice."
Your faith and beliefs will rule your outcomes. Believing is key. You become what you believe. Your daily practices reflect what you think about your abilities and potential.
Listening to Children Dream
I love hearing what children are thinking, hoping, and dreaming. Sometimes they speak with remarkable wisdom, their youthful innocence still intact.
For March Reading Month, I read to my grandson's third-grade class, The William Hoy Story, about a Deaf young man who changed the game of baseball. (They had heard My Monster Truck Goes Everywhere with Me before.)
After reading, I gave the students a simple invitation:
“Write down your dream on a baseball sticker, and we'll send it to the author Nancy Churnin."
The room was filled with excitement, thoughts, and giggles. I read their answers and watched their faces light up as they shared their dreams of becoming athletes, artists, illustrators, dancers, and cooks. Construction workers, a judge, a police officer. Their dreams were big, joyful, and full of possibility. One answer especially caught my attention:
“I want to be a softball player. But I'm now!”
This third grader, wearing his baseball jersey, already understands something powerful. He is living his dream now, not waiting for someday. He is operating in a state of knowing he will because he is.
William Hoy & His Baseball Dreams
If you are not familiar with William Hoy, his story is one of determination and lasting impact.
William was born hearing, but before the age of three, he became ill and lost his hearing. In the 1880s, resources for Deaf individuals were limited, yet he attended the Ohio School for the Deaf and dreamed of playing baseball.
He tried out for the school team—but was told he was too small. He didn’t make the team. But he didn’t give up. He practiced every day, determined to improve.
Eventually, William made it to the National League and signed with the Cincinnati Reds. During one game, something unexpected happened—he didn’t swing because he didn’t hear the umpire’s call. He didn’t realize he had struck out. The crowd laughed.
It was a moment that could have ended his dream. But it didn’t.
Instead, William had an idea. He worked with umpires to introduce visual signals—using American Sign Language—to clearly communicate:
strike
ball
out
safe
These same signals are still used in baseball today.
Through visual language, William Hoy helped make the game more accessible—for everyone.
A Dream Bigger Than He Imagined
William set out to play baseball. He never imagined his dream would transform the game itself.
But like Jeff Goins discovered—and like that third grader already knows—you don’t wait to become something.
You begin.
You practice.
You live it.
And sometimes, your dream grows into something far greater than you ever imagined.
Because William didn’t give up, his impact continues more than a century later. And because he didn’t, the game changed.
What Is Your Dream?
So I’ll ask you:
What is your dream?
Trust me—it is not too big.
You may already be closer than you think.
Believe it. Live it. Practice it. And never give up.
So as the season begins and baseball fields come alive once again, take a moment to see the game differently. With every pitch, every swing, and every signal from the umpire, you are witnessing more than a game—you are witnessing a legacy.
The legacy of William Hoy—a boy who had a dream, lived it daily, and changed the game forever. And maybe that’s where it all begins, with a child’s dream, a quiet determination, a moment of courage.
Just like that third grader who said, “I am NOW.”
So as you step into this season—on the field or off—remember:
You don’t have to wait to become who you’re meant to be.
You are already!
Before you go, here are a few ways to keep growing on your ASL journey:
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Meet the Author: Kathleen Marcath
Kathleen Marcath is the award-winning author of My Monster Truck Goes Everywhere with Me and the founder of ASL Picture Books. She’s on a mission to share the joy of bilingual (ASL and English) education, creating stories that help children and families discover the limitless potential of ASL.
Stay in Touch: Follow Kathleen on Facebook and Instagram, or visit ASLPictureBooks.com for more resources and community updates.
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