Home Run Derby
 | This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. |
The Home Run Derby is an event played prior to the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. It is a contest among the top home run hitters in Major League Baseball to determine who can hit the most home runs.
Overview
Eight players are selected for the Home Run Derby and compete in a traditional playoff system where the players with the most home runs advance to the next round. Each player gets ten "outs" per round, where an out is defined as any swing that is not a home run in this case. Should a tie exist between players at the end of any round, the number of regular-season home runs by the All-Star break is the first tiebreaker and the distance of the longest home run in the first round is the second tiebreaker. Until 2006, the home run count was reset after each round. However, a rule change was made for the 2006 Home Run Derby which causes the home run count for the 4 players advancing to the 2nd round to carry over. The home run count for the final round is still reset to zero.
Prior to 1991, the Home Run Derby was structured as a two-inning event with each player receiving five outs per inning which allowed for the possibility of ties.
Until 2004, the Home Run Derby consisted of four American League players and four National League players. However, in 2005, Major League Baseball chose to change the look of the contest, still having eight players, but with the players representing their home countries rather than their respective leagues. This is commonly looked upon as a lead-in to the World Baseball Classic to be played in 2006. Bobby Abreu, representing Venezuela, won the First International Derby with a record 41 home runs, including a record 24 in the first round.
| This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. |
The Home Run Derby will take place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania this summer on the banks of the Allegheny for its 21st installment. Celebrities may participate for the first time in the derby's history.
Home Run Derby winners
|
Year |
Player |
Team |
Number of home runs |
|---|---|---|---|
|
41 | |||
|
27 | |||
|
22 | |||
|
24 | |||
|
16 | |||
|
26 | |||
|
16 | |||
|
19 | |||
|
16 | |||
|
17 | |||
|
15 | |||
|
7 | |||
|
7 | |||
|
12 | |||
|
12 | |||
|
3 | |||
|
3 | |||
|
Canceled due to rain | |||
|
4 | |||
|
4 | |||
|
6 | |||
The 1980s
| The Metrodome, Minneapolis -- A.L. 17, N.L. 16 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Player | Team | Home Runs |
| American League | ||
| Jim Rice | Boston | 4 |
| Eddie Murray | Baltimore | 4 |
| Carlton Fisk | Chicago | 4 |
| Tom Brunansky | Minnesota | 4 |
| Cal Ripken Jr. | Baltimore | 1 |
| National League | ||
| Dave Parker | Cincinnati | 6 |
| Dale Murphy | Atlanta | 4 |
| Steve Garvey | Los Angeles | 2 |
| Ryne Sandberg | Chicago | 2 |
| Jack Clark | St. Louis | 2 |
| The Astrodome, Houston -- N.L. 8, A.L. 7 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Player | Team | Home Runs |
| American League | ||
| Wally Joyner | California | 4 |
| Jesse Barfield | Toronto | 2 |
| Jose Canseco | Oakland | 1 |
| National League | ||
| Darryl Strawberry | New York | 4 |
| Dave Parker | Cincinnati | 3 |
| Hubie Brooks | Montreal | 1 |
| The Coliseum, Oakland -- N.L. 6, A.L. 2 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Player | Team | Home Runs |
| American League | ||
| George Bell | Toronto | 1 |
| Mark McGwire | Oakland | 1 |
| National League | ||
| Andre Dawson | Chicago | 4 |
| Ozzie Virgil | Atlanta | 2 |
CANCELED DUE TO RAIN
| Anaheim Stadium, Anaheim -- N.L. 9, A.L. 5 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Player | Team | Home Runs |
| American League | ||
| Ruben Sierra | Texas | 3 |
| Mickey Tettleton | Detroit | 1 |
| Bo Jackson | Kansas City | 1 |
| Gary Gaetti | Minnesota | 0 |
| National League | ||
| Eric Davis | Cincinnati | 3 |
| Glenn Davis | Houston | 2 |
| Howard Johnson | New York | 2 |
| Kevin Mitchell | San Francisco | 2 |
The 1990s
| Wrigley Field, Chicago -- N.L. 4, A.L. 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Player | Team | Home Runs |
| American League | ||
| Mark McGwire | Oakland | 1 |
| Ken Griffey Jr. | Seattle | 0 |
| Jose Canseco | Oakland | 0 |
| Cecil Fielder | Detroit | 0 |
| National League | ||
| Ryne Sandberg | Chicago | 3 |
| Matt Williams | San Francisco | 1 |
| Bobby Bonilla | Pittsburgh | 0 |
| Darryl Strawberry | New York | 0 |
| SkyDome, Toronto -- A.L. 20, N.L. 7 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Player | Team | Home Runs |
| American League | ||
| Cal Ripken Jr. | Baltimore | 12 |
| Cecil Fielder | Detroit | 4 |
| Joe Carter | Toronto | 2 |
| Danny Tartabull | Kansas City | 2 |
| National League | ||
| Paul O'Neill | Cincinnati | 5 |
| George Bell | Chicago | 2 |
| Chris Sabo | Cincinnati | 0 |
| Howard Johnson | New York | 0 |
| Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego -- A.L. 27, N.L. 13 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Player | Team | Home Runs |
| American League | ||
| Mark McGwire | Oakland | 12 |
| Ken Griffey Jr. | Seattle | 7 |
| Joe Carter | Toronto | 4 |
| Cal Ripken Jr. | Baltimore | 4 |
| National League | ||
| Larry Walker | Montreal | 4 |
| Gary Sheffield | San Diego | 4 |
| Fred McGriff | San Diego | 3 |
| Barry Bonds | Pittsburgh | 2 |
| Camden Yards, Baltimore -- A.L. 20, N.L. 12 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Player | Team | Home Runs |
| American League | ||
| Juan Gonzalez | Texas | 7 |
| Ken Griffey, Jr. | Seattle | 7 (lost in playoff to Gonzalez) |
| Cecil Fielder | Detroit | 4 |
| Albert Belle | Cleveland | 3 |
| National League | ||
| Barry Bonds | Pittsburgh | 5 |
| Bobby Bonilla | New York | 5 |
| David Justice | Atlanta | 2 |
| Mike Piazza | Los Angeles | 0 |
| Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh -- A.L. 17, N.L. 11 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Player | Team | Home Runs |
| American League | ||
| Ken Griffey, Jr. | Seattle | 7 |
| Ruben Sierra | Oakland | 4 |
| Frank Thomas | Chicago | 4 |
| Albert Belle | Cleveland | 2 |
| National League | ||
| Fred McGriff | Atlanta | 5 |
| Jeff Bagwell | Houston | 3 |
| Dante Bichette | Colorado | 3 |
| Mike Piazza | Los Angeles | 0 |
| The Ballpark in Arlington, Arlington -- A.L. 40, N.L. 12 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Player | Team | Home Runs |
| American League | ||
| Frank Thomas | Chicago | 15 (Beat Belle in finals) |
| Albert Belle | Cleveland | 16 |
| Mo Vaughn | Boston | 6 |
| Manny Ramirez | Cleveland | 3 |
| National League | ||
| Ron Gant | Cincinnati | 6 |
| Sammy Sosa | Chicago | 2 |
| Reggie Sanders | Cincinnati | 2 |
| Raul Mondesi | Los Angeles | 2 |
| Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia -- A.L. 36, N.L. 23 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Player | Team | Home Runs |
| American League | ||
| Mark McGwire | Oakland | 15 |
| Brady Anderson | Baltimore | 11 |
| Jay Buhner | Seattle | 8 |
| Joe Carter | Toronto | 2 |
| Greg Vaughn | Milwaukee | 0 |
| National League | ||
| Barry Bonds | San Francisco | 17 |
| Henry Rodriguez | Montreal | 3 |
| Jeff Bagwell | Houston | 2 |
| Ellis Burks | Colorado | 1 |
| Gary Sheffield | Florida | 0 |
| Jacobs Field, Cleveland -- A.L. 32, N.L. 29 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Player | Team | Home Runs |
| American League | ||
| Tino Martinez | New York | 16 (Beat Walker in finals) |
| Mark McGwire | Oakland | 7 |
| Brady Anderson | Baltimore | 4 |
| Ken Griffey, Jr. | Seattle | 3 |
| Nomar Garciaparra | Boston | 0 |
| Jim Thome | Cleveland | 0 |
| National League | ||
| Larry Walker | Colorado | 19 |
| Jeff Bagwell | Houston | 5 |
| Chipper Jones | Atlanta | 3 |
| Ray Lankford | St. Louis | 2 |
| Coors Field, Denver -- A.L. 53, N.L. 29 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Player | Team | Home Runs |
| American League | ||
| Ken Griffey, Jr. | Seattle | 19 |
| Jim Thome | Cleveland | 7 |
| Rafael Palmeiro | Baltimore | 10 |
| Alex Rodriguez | Seattle | 5 |
| Damion Easley | Detroit | 2 |
| National League | ||
| Vinny Castilla | Colorado | 12 |
| Moises Alou | Houston | 7 |
| Javy Lopez | Atlanta | 5 |
| Mark McGwire | St. Louis | 4 |
| Chipper Jones | Atlanta | 1 |
| Fenway Park, Boston -- N.L. 39, A.L. 23 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Player | Team | Home Runs |
| American League | ||
| Ken Griffey, Jr. | Seattle | 16 |
| Nomar Garciaparra | Boston | 2 |
| B.J. Surhoff | Baltimore | 2 |
| Shawn Green | Toronto | 2 |
| John Jaha | Oakland | 1 |
| National League | ||
| Jeromy Burnitz | Milwaukee | 14 |
| Mark McGwire | St. Louis | 16 (lost to Burnitz in round 2) |
| Jeff Bagwell | Houston | 6 |
| Larry Walker | Colorado | 2 |
| Sammy Sosa | Chicago | 1 |
The 2000s
| Turner Field, Atlanta -- N.L. 41, A.L. 21 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Player | Team | Home Runs |
| American League | ||
| Carl Everett | Boston | 12 |
| Carlos Delgado | Toronto | 6 |
| Edgar Martinez | Seattle | 2 |
| Ivan Rodriguez | Texas | 1 |
| National League | ||
| Sammy Sosa | Chicago | 26 |
| Ken Griffey, Jr. | Cincinnati | 11 |
| Chipper Jones | Atlanta | 2 |
| Vladimir Guerrero | Montreal | 2 |
| Safeco Field, Seattle -- N.L. 50, A.L. 25 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Player | Team | Home Runs |
| American League | ||
| Jason Giambi | Oakland | 20 (Lost in 2nd round) |
| Bret Boone | Seattle | 3 |
| Alex Rodriguez | Texas | 2 |
| Troy Glaus | Anaheim | 0 |
| National League | ||
| Luis Gonzalez | Arizona | 16 |
| Sammy Sosa | Chicago | 13 |
| Barry Bonds | San Francisco | 10 |
| Todd Helton | Colorado | 2 |
| Miller Park, Milwaukee -- A.L. 41, N.L. 31 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Player | Team | Home Runs |
| American League | ||
| Jason Giambi | New York | 24 |
| Paul Konerko | Chicago | 12 |
| Torii Hunter | Minnesota | 3 |
| Alex Rodriguez | Texas | 2 |
| National League | ||
| Sammy Sosa | Chicago | 18 |
| Richie Sexson | Milwaukee | 10 |
| Barry Bonds | San Francisco | 2 |
| Lance Berkman | Houston | 1 |
| U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago -- A.L. 47, N.L. 39 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Player | Team | Home Runs |
| American League | ||
| Garret Anderson | Anaheim | 22 (Defeated Pujols in finals) |
| Jason Giambi | New York | 23 |
| Carlos Delgado | Toronto | 2 |
| Bret Boone | Seattle | 0 |
| National League | ||
| Albert Pujols | St. Louis | 26 |
| Jim Edmonds | St. Louis | 10 |
| Gary Sheffield | Atlanta | 4 |
| Richie Sexson | Milwaukee | 1 |
| Minute Maid Park, Houston -- A.L. 47, N.L. 41 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Team | Round 1 | Semis | Finals | Total |
| Miguel Tejada | Baltimore | 7 | 15 | 5 | 27 |
| Lance Berkman | Houston | 7 | 10 | 4 | 21 |
| Rafael Palmeiro | Baltimore | 9 | 5 | – | 14 |
| Barry Bonds | San Francisco | 8 | 3 | – | 11 |
| Sammy Sosa | Chicago | 5 | – | – | 5 |
| Jim Thome | Philadelphia | 4 | – | – | 4 |
| Hank Blalock | Texas | 3 | – | – | 3 |
| David Ortiz | Boston | 3 | – | – | 3 |
| Comerica Park, Detroit -- N.L. 66, A.L. 42 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Team | Round 1 | Semis | Finals | Totals |
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†-Most in one round. ‡-Most in one Home Derby
| PNC Park, Pittsburgh | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Team | Round 1 | Round 2 | Finals | Total |
| David Wright | New York | 16 | 16 | ||
| Miguel Cabrera | Florida | 9 | 9 | ||
| Jermaine Dye | Chicago | 5 | 5 | ||
| Lance Berkman | Houston | 3 | 3 | ||
| Miguel Tejada | Baltimore | 3 | 3 | ||
| David Ortiz | Boston | ||||
| Ryan Howard | Philadelphia | ||||
| Troy Glaus | Toronto | 1 | – | – | 1 |
Homeruns from Round 1 were carried over to Round 2
Television Show
Home Run Derby was also the name of a 1959 television show held at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles pitting sluggers against each other in 9-inning home run contests. The rules were not unlike modern Home Run Derbies; however, the television show also added as an out any called strike. Nine future Hall of Famers would eventually participate in the series.
Participants included:
- Hank Aaron
- Bob Allison
- Ernie Banks
- Ken Boyer
- Rocky Colavito
- Gil Hodges
- Jackie Jensen
- Al Kaline
- Jim Lemon
- Harmon Killebrew
- Mickey Mantle
- Eddie Matthews
- Willie Mays
- Wally Post
- Frank Robinson
- Duke Snider
- Dick Stuart
- Gus Triandos
Batters were given 3 outs per inning, and the player with the most home runs after nine innings wins. If the players were tied after that time, the derby would go into extra innings as per regular baseball. The winner received $2,000 and was invited back for the next week's episode against a new opponent. The loser received $1,000.
There was extra money awarded in certain cases however. If a batter hit three home runs in a row, he would receive a $500 bonus. A fourth home run in a row would be worth another $500 bonus. Any consecutive home runs hit beyond that would each be worth $1,000. It is believed that Jackie Jensen was the only player to hit more than three home runs in a row (he hit 5). He still lost the contest to Mickey Mantle though.
The show was also unique in that the host, Mark Scott, would often chat with each player while his opponent was batting.
Hank Aaron held the record for most money won on Home Run Derby, winning $13,000. His run of 6 consecutive wins was ended by Wally Post, who was defeated in his next outing by Dick Stuart.
Willie Mays, who was a champion later in the run, joked with host Scott during his run that the host should be quiet while he batted and Scott took him up on it, whispering into the mic whenever Mays would step up to the plate.