The Yankees continued their fourth annual HOPE Week on Wednesday, honoring five-year-old Andy Fass and his family.
Andy suffers from oculocutaneous albinism, which affects approximately 40,000 people around the world. He's legally blind and lacks skin pigment, making extended sun exposure dangerous.
On April 25, Fass took in a Trenton Thunder game where Andy Pettitte was making a tune-up start. When the Yankees starter was done warming up, he tossed Fass a baseball. Encouraged by the gesture, Fass decided to sign up for a local tee-ball league.
On Wednesday the youngster met a few more New York players. Told only that he was going to watch a matinee between the Yankees and Indians in the Bronx, Fass was surprised by his whole family along with CC Sabathia, Phil Hughes and Clay Rapada in a Yankee Stadium suite.
"It's like a miracle," Fass said. "Like what my dream was."
After participating in pregame ceremonies -- including a ceremonial first toss -- Andy sat back, relaxed and enjoyed the game. On the mound for the Yankees: His old new pal Andy Pettitte.
After the game, Fass received baseball lessons from Yankees players and coaches before heading to the MLB Fan Cave to play tee-ball with his friends and family.
Learn more about HOPE Week here and about Andy's condition here.
-- Matt Latimer
