May 01, 2025
by Ryan Fitzgerald
Hand signals have always had a big part of the game of baseball. Whether it’s the catcher signaling to the pitcher what pitch to throw, the third base coach signaling to a runner when to steal, or even when a hitter is to bunt, those hand signals are always a big piece of the game. However, I never really understood how big they really are, until I was asked to be a coach at the Iowa Baseball Camp for the Deaf.
Before starting at Principal, my first job out of college was actually a professional baseball player in the Chicago Cubs organization. After that journey ended, I made my way to Principal and became the head baseball coach at Roosevelt High School in Des Moines. It was at Roosevelt where I met a young man named Dylan Heuer, who loved baseball and became involved in our team as a photographer.
Ten years later, my path crossed with Dylan once again. He wanted to know if I’d be interested in coaching for one of his new projects, the Iowa Baseball Camp for the Deaf—and it was an immediate “yes!” I was really excited and let him know that it not only aligns with my love of baseball but my current job at Principal, which is focused on stewardship and engagement!
In my role as a stewardship and engagement analyst, I work with investment teams within Principal Asset Management as they engage with companies on certain sustainability topics. I help with oversight and awareness of engagement activities within the organization, and this kind of social engagement with a focus around the inclusion of all kids is something that is very rewarding.
Getting on the field in a whole new way
In 2016 I stepped in as a head coach and looked forward to the opportunity to meet the kids and have fun. The camp takes place one week every June and is for kids ages 7-14. There is no requirement for campers to know anything about baseball. (Which seems fair because when I started coaching at the camp, I didn’t know anything about sign language!)
At the beginning of a typical day at camp, I get to lead morning stretches. While it can be a challenge to motivate those couple kids who are still sleepwalking at 8:30 a.m. this is typically the time when we get to ask fun questions, make jokes, and have some laughs. I’ve learned it’s nice to get some of those laughs in early because the moment I mention running, the groans and eye rolls are everywhere.
A breakdown of the week
- Monday and Tuesday: These games are about learning about where to go, how to make outs, running the bases, and cheering on your teammates. The learning curve, especially for the younger kids, these days can be a big one. While we’re focused on building new skills, we also make time to have some fun along the way.
- Wednesday and Thursday: By the middle of the week, I always find myself thinking about how far the kids have come. The need for constant instruction goes way down and their success on the field goes way up. On Thursday night, the campers also get to sign the national anthem before the first pitch and “take me out to the ball game” during the seventh inning stretch at the Iowa Cubs game. (Last year, the players even had special uniforms in recognition of deaf culture—which was cool to see for the first time.)
- Friday: As Friday rolls around, I have a huge smile on my face while we celebrate big hits and great plays at our big final game, which is held at Principal Park. Some Iowa Cubs players always seem to find their way onto the field to play with the kids. It’s really a fun way to end the week.
Throughout the week we also have visits from current Iowa Cubs players, former Major League Baseball players, umpires, front office executives, news media, and more.
Grateful for a life-changing experience
Being a part of the Iowa Baseball Camp for the Deaf has been a truly amazing experience. The joy on all the kids faces who typically don’t get to participate in youth activities like baseball because of being deaf is really heartwarming. Being the coach that gives the kids fun nicknames before they steal my hat and dump ice water on me only makes it more enjoyable. Taking a week out of the year to not only be a part of the deaf community but to continue my work that I do at Principal of a focus on community stewardship and engagement has been so rewarding and allowed me the opportunity to make some terrific friends and watch the campers grow up and become young adults. It is truly one of my favorite weeks of the year and I can’t wait for camp again.
