The rivalry between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees is one of the oldest and most famous in the sports world. With the Yankee’s recent resurgence, the rivalry has gotten more intense this year, with the Red Sox trying to retain their first place status above the Yankees. To ensure of this, the Red Sox turned to an unlikely tool for assistance: an Apple Watch.
An investigation by Major League Baseball (MLB) revealed that the Red Sox stole opposing catcher’s hand signals by using an Apple Watch.
The Red Sox had a training staff member use the watch to tell the players in the dugout what the signal was. The players then conveyed the message to the batter so that he knew what pitch was coming.
The investigation concluded that the Red Sox had used the technique for weeks prior to the Yankees complaint. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announced that the Red Sox would be fined for the infraction, and that this money would be donated for hurricane relief efforts. Red Sox manager John Farrell claimed that he was unaware that a watch was being used. Farrell knew that no electronic devices are allowed in dugouts, and said, “If I had known an Apple Watch was part of it, I would have shut it down.”
The Red Sox seemed to get off rather lightly, especially compared to the punishment other sports teams, such as the New England Patriots, have received for a similar incident. New York fans won’t struggle to recall the Patriots illegally stealing defensive signals from the Jets in a comparable fashion. However, Manfred announced that future infringements would result in more serious sanctions.
This story provides another example of the growing influence technology has on our lives, and how professional sports have become so competitive that teams are willing to cheat their way to the top. Heading into the final eleven games, the Red Sox have a two and a half game lead over the Red Sox. Only time will tell how decisive this incident is in the playoff hunt.