From the Vault: Sports figures talking on comically large cellphones

Remember when every phone was a Zack Morris phone?

Remember the days when cellphones were the size of footballs and you had to actually make calls to communicate with other people? These throwback photos from the SI Vault are proof that the Big Phone Era not only existed, but that it wasn't that long ago. (Be sure to check back in 10 years, when we'll be making fun of those big, stupid internet watches everyone used to wear.)

Ken Griffey Jr. on a car phone (1998)

(V.J. Lovero/Sports Illustrated)

Cal Ripken (1993)

Chuck Solomon/For Sports Illustrated

Drew and Jason Rosenhaus (1993)

Bill Frakes/Sports Illustrated

Drew Rosenhaus (1993)

Bill Frakes/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images

Paul Molitor (1994)

Mitchell Layton/Getty Images

Karl Malone (1996)

(Sue Ogrocki/Reuters)

Dennis Rodman (1996)

AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps

Dickey Simpkins, Michael Jordan, Ron Harper and Scottie Pippen (1998)

Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated

Cornelius Bennett (1999)

(AP Photo/John Bazemore)