LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The cameraman who was hospitalized in July after being hit in the head by an errant baseball throw at the Yankee Stadium has revealed that his recovery has been difficult, with him undergoing cancer surgery just days after the incident.
Pete Stendel, a YES Network employee, had to be carted off the field during the July 5 game between the New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium.
Pete Stendel has worked with Bruce Springsteen
Stendel works for the Yankees Entertainment and Sports Network as a cameraman. He was born in Long Branch, New Jersey.
Stendel has worked on a variety of notable projects throughout his career, including Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band: Live in New York in 2001.
He also shot the Super Bowl XXXV Halftime Show, which featured Britney Spears, Aerosmith, and NSYNC. Stendel received a Primetime Emmy nomination in 2001 for Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video for a Miniseries, Movie, or Special for these two works, as reported by Sun.
What did Pete Stendel said after the accident?
Stendel revealed to The Athletic more than a month after the incident that his recovery had been 'tough.' He said his vision is still affected, and he suffers 'little flashes of light coming in' to his left eye when he opens it.
However, Stendel has also had to battle another medical recovery this year after he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in January, according to The Athletic. The report also states that a month later, the cancer became aggressive, leading Stendel to decide against radiation or chemotherapy in favor of having his prostate surgically removed.
The procedure took place on July 24, just 19 days after the incident at Yankee Stadium. In spite of his eye injury, Stendel claimed he was still able to have the surgery, as reported by DailyMail.
Stendel told The Athletic that despite his difficulties this year, he is fortunate because "I beat cancer. And I didn't lose my vision." To assist Stendel manage the rising medical expenses, a friend started a GoFundMe with the intention of raising $25,000. The fundraising effort had already surpassed that sum and raised more than $30,000.
Unsettling scenes at Yankee stadium
Following the errant throw by O's shortstop Gunnar Henderson that went over first base, where Ryan O'Hearn attempted to catch it, the ball struck the cameraman in the bottom of the fifth inning, and there were unsettling scenes at Yankee Stadium.
Stendel wasn't supposed to be at first base, as YES later revealed; instead, he was filling in as the cameraman. On YES, he is best known as the cameraman who runs alongside a player rounding the bases after hitting a home run.
The players quickly assumed their positions and the game continued after he was taken off the field and transported to the hospital.
What did YES network say about Pete Stendel?
Following the Yankees game, YES Network tweeted that Stendel was undergoing tests and would be discharged from the hospital the following day. Stendel raised his hand in the air and made a peace sign as he was being carried away to raucous applause from the crowds of spectators
