Video still of Stevie, a blind German shepherd mix puppy own by Arizona Isotopes pitcher John Ely (© KOB4, http://aka.ms/steviedog)

Blind shelter dog is a hit as baseball team's new mascot

6/28/2012

Sports teams are always doing adopt-a-dog nights to steer traffic to local shelters, but it's rare for players to get so attached to an animal they can't let go — especially in the transient world of minor league baseball. Pitcher John Ely of the Albuquerque Isotopes — yes, the Isotopes — couldn't resist Stevie, a six-month-old German shepherd mix and a victim of abuse so severe that both his eyes had to be removed by veterinarians. So now the dog has the run of the ballpark as the team's new mascot, and though he's supposed to live with Ely in the off-season, that may turn into a battle. "Stevie's way more popular around here than I am," Ely admitted.

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