I Felt the Cheers

From the deaf baseball legend and former MLB Ambassador for Inclusion, a powerful anthem of ability diversity and overcoming the odds for readers of Nyle DiMarco'sDeaf Utopiaand sports memoirs such asImperfectby Jim Abbott, Des Linden'sChoosing to Run,andLimitlessby Mallory Weggemann. FOREWORD BY NATIONAL BASEBALL HALL OF FAME MEMBER CAL RIPKEN, JR. On a September nightin Montrealin 1993, Curtis Pride got his first Major League hit, prompting a long, emotional standing ovation fromthecrowd of 45,757 fans. Profoundly deaf since birth, Pride couldn't heartheir thunderous applause. But asthecheersgrew louder and moreinsistent, he realized he was feeling those vibrations within his chestan undeniable acknowledgment of an extraordinary achievement. Pride went on to playin 420 more major-league games over eleven different seasons withtheMontreal Expos, Detroit Tigers, Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Angels, and New York Yankees. He wasthen hired as head baseball coach at Gallaudet,theworld's leading university for deaf and hard of hearing students and was also named Major League Baseball's Ambassador forInclusion. Pride has received countless national and local awards for his achievements and his serviceininspiring and educating others. With candor, warmth, and humor, Pride writes fromtheheartinIFelttheCheers.Fromthefirst time he played Tball at age six and got a couple of hits, he dreamed of playinginthemajor leagues. No matter how unlikelyit seemed, or how much skepticism he faced from teammates or coaches, Pride stayed resolute. Far fromit being a disadvantage, he came to see that his deafness could sometimes be a secret weapon, forcing him to use senses that other players take for granted. Curtis's personal journeyis unique, but his messageis a powerful, universal one, sure to resonate deeply with everyone who has faced difficult challenges.IFelttheCheersis living proof that dreams can come true, no matter howimpossiblethey seem.