Myrtle Beach, SC (WBTW) — The Myrtle Beach Pelicans hosted their first deaf awareness night at the park with a win over the Buies Creek Astros. The event was headlined by former MLB veteran outfielder Curtis Pride who was born deaf. Pride is also the MLB’s Ambassador for Inclusion and the head baseball coach at Gallaudet University in Washington D.C.
The day began with a free youth clinic hosted by Pride for members of the deaf community. Following the youth clinic the Pelicans hosted a free American Sign Language course in the stadium and held a question and answer session with Pride. Once the game started the Pelicans geared the evening towards the inclusion of the deaf community. There was a silent inning in the third, a RID certified deaf interpreter that performed the National Anthem and the seventh inning stretch was also performed by an ASL interpreter.
In addition the Pelicans held a free raffle for the teams special ASL jerseys for members of the deaf community in attendance and auctioned off a select few signed team jerseys with the proceeds going to benfit the deaf community.