Rodolfo Castro made baseball history last year. Called up to the Major Leagues in April, the 22-year-old eventually recorded his first hit, a home run. But his next four recorded hits were all of them too home runs, which no player has done since 1901.
CBS News reports that this week, finally returning to the Major Leagues, Castro made history again — of a different kind:
Modern technology has made it possible for people to take their phones with them, as well as Internet capabilities, wherever they go. Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Rodolfo Castro walks around the bases against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday night.
Yes, the iPhone made a surprising cameo in the 4th inning, according to the Associated Press:
Castro and third base coach Mike Rabello stood and watched, humiliated.. Even third base umpire Adam Hamari reacted perfectly, pointing to his phone that flew out of Castro’s back pocket during a head-forward slidetrying not to giggle at the absurdity of the situation.
Those who were around the sport shrank with them. “Obviously, that’s not what’s supposed to happen,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said…. This one just happened to happen upon a televised major league game and created a video clip that was viewed by millions.
“I just remember getting dressed, putting my pants on, getting something to eat, using the bathroom,” Castro, 23, said through an interpreter Tuesday night after the Pirates’ 6-4 loss to Arizona. “It never occurred to me that I was still carrying a cell phone…”
This is far from the first time a phone has made a cameo appearance on a professional sports field. One of the most famous examples occurred nearly 20 years ago when New Orleans Saints wide receiver Joe Horn pulled out a flip phone — remember those? — that he hid in the paneling around the goal post and then acted like he was being challenged after scoring a goal.
