A First Pitch From 1,800 Miles Away
Nick LeGrande threw out the ceremonial first pitch before tonight's game between the Oakland A's and New York Yankees. But he did it all the way from his home in Kansas City, Missouri. Yeah, you read that correctly. How you ask? Well...
Nick had the help of a telerobotic pitching machine. LeGrande, who is a fan of both the Yankees and the A's, suffers from aplastic anemia, which is a rare blood disorder that induces fatigue and leaves him unable to go to live games.
Check out #NicksFirstPitch from 1800 miles away. #GreenCollar vine.co/v/blwAEb6Zgj2
- Oakland Athletics (@Athletics) June 13, 2013
Using telerobotic pitching machine, 13-year-old Nick LeGrande throws 1st pitch before @athletics game - from KC: twitter.com/MLB/status/345…
- MLB (@MLB) June 13, 2013
At home Nick activated an app that controlled a pitching machine in Oakland. The app tracked Nick's movements and allowed him not only to throw the pitch but track its movement. Ryan Cook of the Oakland A's has been instrumental in bringing the child and team together, so it was fitting that he caught the pitch.
This was a memorable moment for Nick, Ryan and everyone watching at home and on television. Very cool.
Here's more background info on the story: