Curtis Pride (born December 17, 1968 in Washington, DC) is a Major League Baseball outfielder who has played with the Anaheim Angels/Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim since 2004. Previously, he played for the Montreal Expos (1993, 1995, 2001), Detroit Tigers (1997), Boston Red Sox (1997, 2000), Atlanta Braves (1998) and New York Yankees (2003). Pride has overcome deafness to be a viable major league outfielder; he is an inspiration to many in the deaf community.
Deaf at birth from rubella, Pride developed oral skills early in his life and graduated from the College of William and Mary. He did not play baseball at college but was the starting point guard on the basketball team. He also was an excellent soccer player who played for the United States at the Under 17 World Championships in China (1985). At the same time, he has been extraordinarily active in community service.
Pride was originally signed by the NY Mets, but reached the major leagues with Montreal. A left-handed hitter, with good plate discipline, some power, and considerable speed, he has never played regularly in the majors. Instead, he has pinch hit or played in the outfield, usually left or right, as an injury replacement, and is regarded as an excellent fielder with a strong arm.
Pride became a free agent before the 1996 season and signed with Detroit, where he played well in a part-time outfield role. With fewer than 300 plate appearances in 95 games, he compiled high-career numbers in batting average (.300), home runs (10), RBI (31), runs (52), hits (80), doubles (17) triples (5) and stolen bases (11), and expected to gain more at-bats in future seasons as a result. But 1997 found him on the disabled list, and he was released and signed by the Red Sox. After that, he played with the Braves, returned to Boston and Montreal, and saw a little action with the Yankees. He was signed by the Angels in the 2004 season and was called up from AAA Salt Lake. In 2005, he was signed to a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and was called up after an injury to Vladimir Guerrero. He was returned to the minors after Guerrero recovered from the injury.
In an eight-season career, Pride has batted .253 (182-for-718) with 19 home runs and 77 RBI in 353 games.
When he is not playing baseball, Pride and with his wife Lisa are actively involved in the Together With Pride foundation, which aids hearing impaired children through a hearing aid bank, according to the foundation's website. There are several activities the foundation supports or hopes to support, such as a scholarship program, literacy, and mentoring.
In 1996, Pride received the Tony Conigliaro Award, given annually to an MLB player who best overcomes adversity through the attributes of spirit, determination and courage.
