14-year-old blind, autistic boy wows Fenway crowd with anthem

BOSTON – A 14-year-old blind and autistic boy who sang the national anthem at Fenway Park before the Cleveland Indians-Boston Red Sox game received a loud and long ovation from the players and fans.

Christopher Duffley, from Manchester, New Hampshire, was born prematurely and weighted only 1 pound, 12 ounces at birth and was rendered blind due to Retinopathy of Prematurity.

He paused before starting the anthem when the microphone didn’t appear to be working. The crowd gave him encouragement and a loud ovation – as did the players from both dugouts – as he waved before starting.

When it was over, the ovation was even longer.