Suppose that you could not hear or you could not speak, and that you were much smaller than most people. Would you have the courage and persistence to succeed in reaching your dream to play Major League Baseball? 

Baseball great William “Dummy” Hoy did, and he became the fi rst deaf player to have an extended career in the major leagues. Because of his deafness, he was instrumental in creating hand signals between coaches and players that are still used in baseball today.

William dedicated most of his life to developing and encouraging young baseball players, especially those with physical challenges who were playing on community teams. He grew up playing street baseball outside his house with his friends and local amateur teams.

I See the Crowd Roar is the inspiring story of William’s tenacity and perseverance, and of how he overcame his hearing disability to realize his dream of being a Major League Baseball player. His tenacity and work ethic also helped him set Major League records, stealing 82 bases as a rookie—a record that stood for 97 years—and throwing out three base runners at home plate in a single game—a record that still stands nearly 125 years later.

Most of all, William Hoy is an inspiration to all of us who must overcome life’s challenges. He is also a man of character and a great role model for today’s youth 

With study and hard work, Dr. Roetheli became a successful American businessman and humanitarian. He developed the highly successful Greenies® pet treats and is the primary inventor on two other patents. Dr. Ro etheli is passionate about helping others overcome challenges in life, as he has had to do himself.

Agnes Roetheli Gaertner has devoted her life to the field of education, teaching German and French at a large Southern California high school. She served as the chair of the Foreign Language Department and also of the school’s Leadership Team. The really fun part of her job was coaching the students on the Academic Decathlon and Odyssey of the Mind teams, where perseverance and hard work brought home numerous awards.