Pride, Curtis John

Born deaf in Washington DC; native of Silver Spring, MD; graduated from John F. Kennedy High School; bachelor's degree (1990) from the College of William and Mary. Drafted by the New York Mets and played in Mets farm teams for 6 years; broke into the major leagues when he was called up by the Montreal Expos, 1993; signed up with the Detroit Tigers in Jan. 1996. Went to the Atlanta Braves, but was released by them at the beginning of 1999; he then signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals. In January 2000, he again signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets. That April, he was traded to the Boston Red Sox farm system, playing for Pawtucket, RI. In 2003, he signed up with the Nashua [NH] Pride, a pro ball team playing in an independent league not affiliated with Major League Baseball. In 2004, he went to the Anaheim Angels, then the Salt Lake City Stingers. Returned to the major leagues in May 2005 when he was called up to the Los Angeles Angels to replace another player sidelined by injury.