A Daly City California couple was in for a surprise when their baby boy was born with twelve fingers and twelve toes. Called polydactyly, cases of extra digits are reported in 2 out of every 1000 children though doctors say they have never seen a case as remarkable as this. Extra digits are not uncommon but digits that are fully formed and functional are a rarity.

The baby in question, Kamani Hubbard, was born at San Francisco's Saint Luke's Hospital three weeks ago and seemed so perfect at birth that no one noticed the extra appendages. "(He) looked so normal they couldn't tell, they told me he was 6 pounds in good health, that was all they said," said Miryoki Gross, Kamani's mother.

The extra digits were noticed by Kris Hubbard, Kamani's father who said the perfectly formed and functional extra toes and fingers went well beyond a general the trait that runs in his family.

"Some family members have had six fingers, not completely developed. But not the toes," said Hubbard, 34, a postal worker who had his sixth fingers non functioning nubs removed as a child.

Usually, polydactylism is seen as an extra piece of non-functional tissue, typically occurring as an extra finger with no bone which are treated at birth by tying a string tightly around the base, which eventually causes it fall off over time. According to doctors Kamani's case is so rare because the extra digits are functional it's not a deformity to be discarded.

"It's merely an interesting and beautiful variation rather than a worrisome thing," said Dr. Michael Treece, a St. Luke's Hospital pediatrician. "I would be tempted to leave those fingers in place. I realize children would tease each other over the slightest things, and having extra digits on each hand is more than slight. But imagine what sort of a pianist a 12-fingered person would be. Imagine what sort of a flamenco guitarist. If nothing else, think of their typing skills."

As the news spread major league baseball scouts were already comparing Kamani to relief pitcher Antonio Alfonseca, who won the 2000 NL Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award and who closed games for the 1997 World Champion Florida Marlins. Alfonseca, born in the Dominican Republic, in 1972, with 6 fingers on each hand, was nicknamed El Pulpo (The Octopus), by his teammates.

As Alfonseca's extra finger was quite small to the rest of his fingers it didn't really touch the ball when he was pitching. Scouts have high hopes on Kamani's sixth finger developing fully so that he could one day pitch a true "six finger sinker."

"I heard nothing before I gave birth, so I'm still in shock, kinda," Kamani's mother Gross said. Hubbard added, "I just want him to see what greatness will be in store for him."