Philadelphia Phillies $100 million star Nick Castellanos did what he does best — he homered during a somber occasion.
The former All-Star hit a two-run home run during the Phillies’ 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday, which happened to be Sept. 11. Not only did Castellanos homer on the same day the United States remembered the nearly 3,000 lives lost during the worst terror attack in American history, it also came after Philadelphia music legend Frankie Beverly passed away at the age of 77.
This will shock nobody. Nick Castellanos just homered.
— Ben Verlander (@BenVerlander) September 11, 2024
pic.twitter.com/OvbuU1Mvmr
And this wasn’t the first time Castellanos homered on 9/11 — he also did it in 2021 while he was playing for the Cincinnati Reds against the St. Louis Cardinals.
If you’re not familiar with Casty’s penchant for hitting bombs on days big news stories happen, here’s how it started. In 2020, Castellanos was with the Reds when then-team broadcaster Thom Brennaman was caught saying an anti-gay slur on a hot microphone during the game. While Brennaman was apologizing, Castellanos hit a deep drive to left, birthing a memorable meme.
“I pride myself and think of myself as a man of faith, as there’s a drive into deep left field by Castellanos, it will be a home run. And so that will make it a 4-0 ballgame. I don’t know if I’m gonna be putting on this headset again,” Brennaman said in the moment.
Since then, Castellanos has decided to hit home runs on the most solemn of occasions. Let’s take a dive into it. (H/T The Athletic and Crossing Broad)
July 21, 2024: Castellanos hits a bomb against the Pittsburgh Pirates after President Joe Biden announced he was dropping out of the presidential race.
NICK CASTELLANOS WITH THE THE HOME RUN ON THE DAY JOE BIDEN DROPPED OUT
— Philly Sports Sufferer (@mccrystal_alex) July 21, 2024
THE MOST PREDICTABLE YET RIDICULOUS OUTCOME EVER
NICK CASTELLANOS IS AN ABSOLUTE SAVAGE
CLOCKWORK pic.twitter.com/hAW3ICIVio
July 13, 2024: Castellanos homered shortly after it was announced fitness guru Richard Simmons died. Later that game, minutes after the assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, Casty hit a double.
June 18, 2024: Castellanos hits a walk-off double after Willie Mays, one of the greatest baseball players of all-time, died.
Oct. 23, 2023: During Game 3 of the NLDS, the TBS broadcasting crew was talking about former Phillies manager Charlie Manuel’s stroke recovery when Castellanos hit his second home run of the game against the Atlanta Braves.
Nick Castellanos really did it again pic.twitter.com/7WNdXcux3C
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) October 12, 2023
Related: Philadelphia Phillies fans frustrated at Bryce Harper for ‘inexcusable’ mistake in pivotal at-bat
June 11, 2023: On the day a portion of I-95 collapsed in Philadelphia, Castellanos hit a two-run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
NICK CASTELLANOS HOMERING ON THE DAY I-95 COLLAPSED I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS
— Philly Sports Sufferer (@mccrystal_alex) June 11, 2023
HE HAS DONE IT AGAIN pic.twitter.com/0DzsOBoVt8
May 30, 2022: While the Phillies broadcast team was remembering the fallen veterans on Memorial Day, Castellanos took matters into his own hands and homered against the San Francisco Giants.
A somber moment on Memorial Day is interrupted by, who else, Nick Castellanos. pic.twitter.com/F3cJv6vDTB
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 30, 2022
July 5, 2021: Timing is everything. The Kansas City Royals broadcast team was eulogizing the father of a clubhouse attendant when Casty homered. It came in the very same ballpark where Brennaman apologized for his homophobic slur.
And not to be outdone, Castellanos hit his first professional home run in the minors on May 1, 2011 — the day Osama bin Laden was killed by SEAL Team 6 in Pakistan.
Related: Pirates All-Star Paul Skenes will finally have autographed rookie cards in upcoming Topps product
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