The New York Yankees are not the most beloved baseball team (outside of New York, of course). But they did something on Wednesday that will make you rethink the whole organization.
The backstory: A 10-year-old girl named Cassidy Slater of Scranton, Pennsylvania, recently posted a heartbreaking video on her Facebook page. In it, a pop song — “Are You Happy Now?” by Megan & Liz — is playing as Cassidy holds up pieces of paper.
“My name is Cassidy. I go to John Adams Elementary School. I am in 4th grade. I started getting bullied in 1st grade,” the notes say.
“One day during recess, a group of kids grabbed my purse off a teacher, and spit on it and me,” one of her signs reads. Other notes say she’s been kicked, had her hair pulled, been called names, and say no one will sit with her at lunch.
It gets worse.
“They threaten to kill me and tell me to kill myself,” she says in another sign.
The video went viral.
On Wednesday, the Yankees posted a video reply to Cassidy. Manager Aaron Boone and 23 players use the same format in a personal message to the little girl.
“My teammates and I wanted you to know that we care about you,” one player’s note says.
“We know sharing your story must have been difficult… but you showed courage,” says another.
First baseman Greg Bird holds up several notes in succession: ‘We may be older than you, we may be taller than you….” Yankees pitcher Dellin Betances finishes the sentence: “… But we want you to know that we look up to you.”
Famed outfielder Aaron Judge holds a not that reads: “You are not alone! Count the New York Yankees among your friends!”
Boone ends the video with a note that says: “See you soon!”
We have a feeling Cassidy is going to be heading to a Yankees game real soon. Watch the video below.