BOSTON -- The 13-year-old blind and autistic boy who sang the national anthem before the Cleveland Indians-Boston Red Sox game Monday at Fenway Park received a loud and long ovation from the players and fans.
Christopher Duffley, from Manchester, New Hampshire, was born prematurely and weighed only 1 pound, 12 ounces at birth. He was rendered blind due to retinopathy of prematurity.
He paused before starting the anthem because the microphone didn't appear to be working. The crowd gave him encouragement and a loud ovation -- as did the players from both dugouts -- and he waved before starting.
When he was finished singing, the ovation was even longer.