I Felt the Cheers
This inspirational memoir takes readers on the ride of a lifetime, exploring the astonishing journey of Curtis Pride as he fought to overcome the many obstacles on his road to the major leagues.
On a September night in Montreal in 1993, Curtis Pride got his first Major League hit prompting a long, emotional standing ovation from the crowd of 45,757 fans. Profoundly deaf since birth, Pride couldn’t hear their thunderous applause. But as the cheers grew louder and more insistent, he realized he was feeling those vibrations within his chest—an undeniable acknowledgment of an extraordinary achievement.
Pride went on to play in 420 more major-league games over 11 different seasons with the Montreal Expos, Detroit Tigers, Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Angels, and New York Yankees. He was then hired as head baseball coach at Gallaudet, the world’s leading university for deaf and hard of hearing students, and was also named as a Major League Baseball Ambassador for Inclusion. Pride has received countless national and local awards for his achievements and his service in inspiring and educating others.
With candor, warmth, and humor, Pride writes from the heart in I Felt the Cheers. From the first time he played T-ball at age six and got a couple of hits, he dreamed of playing in the major leagues. No matter how unlikely it seemed, or how much skepticism he faced from teammates or coaches, Pride stayed resolute. Far from it 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 journey is unique, but his message is a powerful, universal one, sure to resonate deeply with everyone who has faced difficult challenges. I Felt the Cheers is living proof that dreams can come true, no matter how impossible they seem.
“Curtis’s story will inspire and encourage everyone. We remain so proud that one of our own has accomplished so much while demonstrating such class and character.”—Scott Van Pelt, sportscaster and host, SportsCenter on ESPN