What Ever Happened to the T-Mobile Bullpen Phone?

A bullpen cop at Fenway Park became an instant sensation last night. Veteran Boston policeman Steve Horgan was standing in the frame when a game-tying home run ball off the bat of David Ortiz flew over the bullpen fence, followed closely by Tigers outfielder Torii Hunter. Horgan raised his arms in joy as Hunter toppled head over heals, making for an image you can probably already buy in souvenir shops on Yawkey Way.

The stills of Horgan and Hunter are deliciously old fashioned. There is a Nikon ad hanging on the fence in the foreground, but otherwise precious little advertising or other indication of what decade we are in. Along the bullpen wall behind Horgan sags a set of wires. Looking at them, I was reminded of T-Mobile’s announcement in January that it had partnered with the MLB to replace traditional bullpen land-line phones with wireless Samsung Electronics handsets, at least in ballparks that wanted them. Wouldn’t T-Mobile have loved to be a part of this moment? Read more...