A Book Discussion about The William Hoy Story: How a Deaf Baseball Player Changed the Game with Author Nancy Churnin and Special Guest Eric Nadel
Watch the STORYTime Interview
About the Book
All William Ellsworth Hoy wanted to do was play baseball. After losing out on a spot on the local deaf team, William practiced even harder―eventually earning a position on a professional team. But his struggle was far from over. In addition to the prejudice Hoy faced, he could not hear the umpires’ calls. One day he asked the umpire to use hand signals: strike, ball, out. That day he not only got on base but also changed the way the game was played forever. William “Dummy” Hoy became one of the greatest and most beloved players of his time!
Learn more about this fascinating story here.
About the Author: Nancy Churnin
Nancy Churnin is an American author and journalist. Nancy is a former theater critic for The Dallas Morning News. She has published eight children’s books as of March 2021 and has two more expected by the end of 2021.
Churnin was born and raised in New York City. She received a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and an M.S. in journalism from Columbia University.
Churnin worked as a theater critic for the San Diego edition of the Los Angeles Times from 1986 to 1992. In 2000, she joined the staff of The Dallas Morning News, writing about such topics as health, lifestyles, children’s entertainment, and parenting. In January 2014, Churnin became the primary theater critic for The Dallas Morning News, a position she left in January 2019.
About our Special Guest: Eric Nadel
Eric Nadel is the Voice of the Rangers. The Rangers hired Nadel in 1979, and he called games on television and radio in his first three seasons. Beginning in 1982, he began a 13-year run with Mark Holtz as the radio team on WBAP, returning to the television booth for one year in 1984. Nadel became the team’s lead radio voice when Holtz moved to television in 1995. Since becoming the primary play-by-play voice for the Rangers, Nadel has worked alongside Brad Sham, Vince Cotroneo, and Victor Rojas.
In May 2006, Nadel announced that he had signed a “lifetime contract” with the Rangers, allowing him to continue on their broadcast team until he chooses to retire. He later said that he hopes to outlive his contract.[1] Beginning in 2009, he was partnered with longtime ESPN and former Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs announcer Dave Barnett, who also did Rangers games on television with Brad Sham in the late 80s and early 90s. After Barnett moved to television, former MLB pitcher Steve Busby was Nadel’s partner. Since July 2012 after Busby replaced Barnett on television, Nadel has been joined by Matt Hicks in the radio booth. Rangers games are now primarily on 105.3 The Fan, which has been the Rangers’ flagship station since the 2015 season. At the conclusion of the 2018 season, Nadel joined a handful of broadcasters to call Major League Baseball games for 40 years, with the added distinction of calling all of them for one franchise.
Among Nadel’s most memorable calls was the 5000th strikeout of Nolan Ryan’s career on August 22, 1989. His main home run call is “That ball is history!”
About the STORYTime Series
Celebrating Authors and the Art of Storytelling
Started in February 2021, the STORYTime Series offers a personal view into the work of a children’s book author. Each month will focus on a different book and theme. The presentation by the author is provided virtually and recorded for viewers to enjoy online.
In the inaugural year of the STORYTime Series, AIR4arts is pleased to select Nancy Churnin as the featured author.
AIR4arts is funded in part by a grant from the City of Richardson through the Richardson Cultural Arts Commission.
