Hailey Dawson, a 7-year-old baseball fan from Las Vegas, will throw out the first pitch with her prosthetic hand for game four of the World Series tonight.
Dawson was born without a pectoral muscle in her right arm due to a condition known as Poland syndrome. The lack of blood flow due to the missing muscle in her arm led to her right hand not fully forming during development. Dawson is missing three fingers, and her thumb and pinky finger are underdeveloped.
Doctors told Dawson’s parents when she was four that prosthetics would be too expensive for a child who would quickly grow out of them, leaving Dawson unable to ride a bike or swing a baseball bat.
That is when the mechanical engineering department at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, stepped in. Over the course of a year and a half they were able to design a prosthetic hand for Dawson and 3D print it, making it a more cost effective prosthetic for the growing girl.
After being invited to throw out the first pitch at the Baltimore Orioles and then Las Vegas native Bryson Harper’s Washington Nationals, Bleacher Report tweeted a video detailing Dawson’s desire to throw a first pitch at every MLB stadium.
7-year-old Hailey Dawson wants to throw out the first pitch at every MLB ballpark with her 3-D printed hand pic.twitter.com/onStqhEzyB
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 7, 2017
Teams across baseball responded to the call, offering for Dawson to throw out a first pitch at their ballpark.
We are on board! Send her our way!
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) September 7, 2017
Hailey, we'd love to have you at The Big A!@BleacherReport, please DM us with her info so we can make it happen!
— Angels (@Angels) September 8, 2017
This is the best! DM us her info.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 8, 2017
We would love to have Hailey at AT&T Park! Please DM us her info.
— San Francisco Giants (@SFGiants) September 7, 2017
Such an incredible story. Can you DM us her info so we can reach out?
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) September 7, 2017
Sounds great! Can you DM us Hailey's info, so we can reach out?
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) September 7, 2017
We'd LOVE to have Hailey at CBP!
Can you please DM us her information so we can reach out?
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) September 7, 2017
We'd love to make it happen! Please DM us her info.
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) September 7, 2017
Absolutely! Please DM us Hailey's info. so we can get in touch with her.
— New York Mets (@Mets) September 7, 2017
We're in! https://t.co/sDrq9qNiIj
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) September 8, 2017
We would love to have Hailey visit us! Please DM us her info!
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 7, 2017
You're going to look amazing in a Cubs jersey, Hailey! https://t.co/XyxsvKiB60
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) September 7, 2017
We're in! Help us get in touch and we'll take it from there.
— Cleveland Indians (@Indians) September 8, 2017
Can you make it up to Minnesota, Hailey? DM us your info and we will make it happen!
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) September 7, 2017
Looks like we need to get you to Fenway, Hailey!
Just DM us with your info and we're in! ⚾️
— Boston Red Sox (@RedSox) September 8, 2017
Happy to help Hailey out! As others said, please DM us her info and we'll reach out.
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) September 7, 2017
We love this! Can you please DM us Hailey's info so that we can set something up? 👏👏👏
— Oakland Athletics 🌳🐘⚾️ (@Athletics) September 7, 2017
Count us in! Give us a buzz, Hailey! ⚾️ https://t.co/ZAbWSjjxvf
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) September 7, 2017
Hailey – come out and see us! @BleacherReport – please DM her info and we'll reach out!
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) September 7, 2017
We're in! Can you please DM us Hailey's info so we can coordinate? @haileys_hand
— Houston Astros (@astros) September 8, 2017
For sure. We're in! DM us her info and we'll take it from there.
— Pirates (@Pirates) September 7, 2017
👋 We'd love to have you!
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) September 7, 2017
The day after her story spread on social media, MLB’s head office took notice and called Dawson’s mom the Review Journal reports.
“We love to recognize fans who are close to the sport and have a love of the sport who are doing inspirational things,” MLB Vice President of Business Public Relations Matt Bourne told the Review Journal. “This story just spoke to us and spoke to the teams.”
Dawson seems like she is already having a great time at Minute Maid Park before the game, sporting her special World Series hand and getting new shoes from Astros pitcher Justin Verlander.
Hailey Dawson is loving her #WorldSeries-themed, 3D-printed hand. pic.twitter.com/6p7MNrSpHR
— MLB (@MLB) October 28, 2017
From one ace to another! @JustinVerlander gifts Hailey Dawson some sweet kicks before her first pitch tonight! pic.twitter.com/JRmpSdwGD7
— MLB (@MLB) October 28, 2017
The fourth game of the World Series will start at 6:20pm MST on FOX or on MLB TV. The Astros currently lead the Series 2-1.
To see where Dawson’s hand takes her next follow her on Instagram and Twitter at @haileys_hand.
Story By
Haleigh Clemens
sports@suunews.net
