Washington baseball enthusiasts would have read the following in December 1886, “Dummy Hoy, the St. Louis Maroons’ deaf-mute outfielder, is said to be quite a sprinter, good batsman, excellent fielder and one of the best throwers in the business.”
The Maroons of St. Louis trace their origin to the Union Association. Henry Lucas founded the association and the Maroons. The team was by far the best in the association. The team was brought into the League. Facing tough competition from the cross town American Association Club, the Maroons drew poorly and by the close of the 1886 season Lucas had spent most of his wealth.
Following the 1886 season, the team was sold to John T Brush. If Hoy had been signed to a contract the new management team saw fit to void it, a 5-06 tall deaf and dumb outfielder might have been too much of a project for Brush to throw money at. It would be a good break for Hoy. The manager for the 1887 Oshkosh Club is Frank Selee. Selee had a keen eye for talent, while chiefly known today for his laying the foundation for the great Cubs teams of the early 1900s; Selee was one of the best managers of his era. The loss for Indianapolis would soon be Washington’s gain. Hoy would sparkle in the south during spring practice in 1888 and soon establish his place among the best in the game.
