Yankees cameraman Pete Stendel hospitalized by throwing error reveals he was also diagnosed with cancer this year
- Pete Stendel was pulled off the field on July 5 during the Orioles-Yankees
- The YES Network cameraman was diagnosed with prostate cancer in January
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The cameraman who was hospitalized after being hit in the head by an errant baseball pitch in July has revealed his recovery was difficult and underwent surgery for cancer just days after the incident.
Pete Stendel, who works for YES Network, had to be pulled off the field during the game between the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium on July 5.
More than a month after the incident, Stendel revealed The athletic that his recovery has been ‘tough’.
He said his vision is still affected and suffers from “little flashes of light” in his left eye when he opens it.
However, according to The Athletic, Stendel also had to endure another medical recovery this year after being diagnosed with prostate cancer in January.
Pete Stendel (left, pictured at work at a Mets game) was hospitalized during a Yankees game in July
The cameraman received medical attention after being hit in the head by a stray pitch
The report adds that the cancer turned aggressive a month later, leading Stendel to choose to have surgery to remove his prostate instead of undergoing radiation or chemotherapy.
The procedure was scheduled for July 24, just 19 days after he arrived at Yankee Stadium. However, despite his eye injury, Stendel said he was able to continue with the surgery.
Despite his misery this year, Stendel believes he’s lucky, telling The Athletic, “I beat cancer. And I haven’t lost my sight.’
A friend has set up a GoFundMe to help Stendel handle rising medical expenses with the goal of raising money. $25,000. As of Monday, the fundraiser had already surpassed that figure, totaling more than $30,000.
The worrying scenes at Yankee Stadium came after the loose throw from O’s shortstop Gunnar Henderson, which sailed over first base – where Ryan O’Hearn tried to catch it – and hit the cameraman in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Stendel, it was later revealed by YES, filled in as cameraman at first base and was not originally scheduled to be there.
He is best known on YES as the outfield cameraman who would run next to a player circling the bases if they hit a home run.
Shortly after he was taken off the field and taken to hospital, the players resumed their positions and the game resumed.
YES Network tweeted after the Yankees game that Stendel, who raised his hand and made a peace sign to wild cheers from the thousands of fans as he was taken off, underwent tests and was released from the hospital the next day.
Stendel – pictured on his own website – works as both an artist and a cinematographer
Stendel was taken to hospital for further check-ups after attention on the field
Stendel, who works for YES Network, held up a peace sign as he was taken off the field
The general stoppage lasted about 15 minutes and Yankees fans chanted “MVP” as the car made its way through the outfield.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said after the game, which the Orioles won 6-3, “Very scary. Be sure to pray for him. It was good to see him cohesive and raise his hand.
“I saw it pretty well right away and it was very scary. I didn’t see how he fell back, but I knew what it was possible to fall back on top of the impact of the speed of the ball hitting him.
“And then see him move initially — tough scene there and just hope he’s okay.”