A moment of Pride in Montreal

Curtis Pride

Curtis Pride, an outfielder from Washington, D.C., who is born 95-percent deaf, collects his first hit in the majors while playing for Montreal 32 years ago today.

Pride, whose once-foundering career turns around earlier in the 1993 season while playing in Class AA Harrisburg, picks up his milestone hit with a pinch-hit, two-run double in the seventh inning off Philadelphia’s Bobby Thigpen.

He then scores the tying run before the Expos win 8-7 in 12 innings at Olympic Stadium.

Pride goes on to play all or parts of 11 seasons in the majors, becoming a role player for six teams before retiring and becoming a successful baseball coach at predominantly deaf Gallaudet University.

Pride’s moment 32 years ago comes before an overflow Friday night crowd of 45,757, which responds to Pride’s first hit with a five-minute standing ovation that Pride cannot hear but instead senses through the vibration of the applause.

“I felt the cheers,” Pride later says.

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