Boston Red Sox
Blind, autistic teen wows Fenway with rendition of national anthem
Boston Red Sox

Blind, autistic teen wows Fenway with rendition of national anthem

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 11:59 p.m. ET

A blind, autistic teenager sang the national anthem Monday night at Fenway Park, bringing an announced crowd of 32,701 to its feet before the Boston Red Sox's 8-2 loss to the Cleveland Indians.

The boy, 14-year-old Christopher Duffley, of nearby Manchester, New Hampshire, was delivered premature and weighed just 1 pound 12 ounces when he was born. Retinopathy of prematurity, a disease that causes abnormal blood vessels to grow in the retinas of some premature babies, left him blind.

On Monday, Duffley -- who has also performed at the Winter Ball for Autism and alongside his sister, Grace, at the World Outreach Church -- paused briefly before he performed the Star Spangled Banner, thanking the crowd before beginning his 1:37 rendition of the song. As he finished the final notes, the crowd gave him a standing ovation that is sure to give you goosebumps:

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Monday actually marked Duffley's third national anthem at Fenway. He also sang before Red Sox games in 2011 and in 2013, in addition to a NASCAR truck series event at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 2011. And with pipes like that, it's no wonder they keep inviting him back.

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