Ed Dundon

Edward Joseph Dundon
(Dummy)

• Bats Unknown, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 170 lb.
• High School Ohio State School for the Deaf
• Debut June 2, 1883
• Final Game September 20, 1884
• Born July 10, 1859 in Columbus, OH USA
• Died August 18, 1893 in Columbus, OH USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Ed Dundon was born on July 10, 1859 in Columbus, Ohio. He was the first deaf player in Major League Baseball history. He pitched for the Columbus Buckeyes of the American Association in 1883 and 1884. In 1885 he played for the Atlanta team of the Southern Association, moving to the Savannah team of the same league in 1886. In December of 1886 Dundon signed to play for the Syracuse Stars of the International Association for the 1887 season.

Ed Dundon died in Columbus on August 18, 1893 and is buried at Mt. Calvary Cemetery.

Dundon had attended the Ohio State School for the Deaf, as did Major Leaguer Billy Hoy. At the time he joined the Columbus team, he was employed as a book binder by the deaf school in Columbus, which is pictured in the book Baseball in Columbus.

An article in the November 6, 1886 issue of The Sporting News credits Dundon with using hand signals while umpiring a game in Mobile, Alabama on October 20th of that year, the first such use of hand signals to call a game.

The Complete Armchair Book of Baseball has an article about the Syracuse team in 1887, which was beset with racial difficulties. The article indicates that white players were OK with Dundon as a deaf-mute but not with Negro players.

Related Sites

• Ed Dundon at the SABR Bio Project