Edward Dundon portrait   Save
Ohio History Connection Archives/Library
Description: Portrait of Edward Dundon, from "Historical and Biographical Souvenir of the Ohio School for the Deaf," published in Columbus, Ohio, in 1898. In addition to a history of the school's operation, the book includes "portraits and biographical sketches of representative alumni" such as Dundon. His biographical sketch states that Dundon was born in Columbus in 1858 (though other sources list 1859), and after losing his hearing at an early age, enrolled in the Ohio School for the Deaf at age 10. He was an active athlete, playing for the school's baseball team the Independents. He was drafted to the American Association for the Columbus Buckeyes in 1884, becoming the first deaf player in the major leagues. He continued playing professional baseball for various teams around the country until 1889, when his health forced him to retire. Dundon died several years later in 1893. According to the volume, "Since his day other deaf ball players have won distinction on the diamond, but he was practically the first one to enjoy a national reputation along this line. In the athletic annals of the Institution his name and memory will always remain illustrious." View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: 362_4H629_Dundon
Subjects: Deafness; Ohio School for the Deaf; Baseball--History; Baseball players; Athletes; Sports--Ohio--History;
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)