I have always been a huge fan of the Home Run Derby. It's my favorite part of the All-Star break. Whether it's Sammy Sosa taking swings on a batting tee between rounds or Lance Berkman sending balls over the train tracks in front of his hometown fans in Houston, the Derby has certainly produced some unforgettable images.
With the Derby taking place tonight, I figured it would be fun to look back at some of the recent memorable derby performances.Here's how the last 10 years played out.
Fenway Park, 1999 - Ken Griffey Jr. Defeats Jeromy Burnitz
Griffey took home his third Derby title in Boston by hitting three homers to Burnitz's two in the final round, but the most memorable performance of this contest belonged to Mark McGwire.
Just off his historic 70 home run season, McGwire put on a show in the first round. He launched ball after ball over the Green Monster in left field on his way to 13 homers, a single-round record at the time. Unfortunately, all those mighty swings tired him out for the second round. He placed third, but finished with the same home run total (16) as Griffey.
Turner Field, 2000 - Sammy Sosa Defeats Ken Griffey Jr.
After managing only a single homer in the 1999 Derby, Sosa went to Atlanta focused and prepared in 2000. And boy did he put on a show, tallying the most home runs in each of the three rounds of the contest.
Sosa finished with 26 home runs that year, seven more than anybody had ever hit in a single Derby. I can still remember him sending those balls over the row of pennants lining the upper deck. Although this would be Sosa's only Derby victory, this performance would be a sign of big things to come over the next three seasons.
Safeco Field, 2001 - Luis Gonzalez Defeats Sammy Sosa
Gonzalez took home the crown in Seattle with a consistent, but unspectacular performance. He hit five, six, and six homers over the three rounds to claim the title over Sosa.
Like 1999, the most memorable performance of the 2001 Derby came from the third place finisher. Jason Giambi blasted 14 home runs into the right field stands to break the single round record set by McGwire two years earlier. He hit 20 homers over two rounds, more than either Gonzalez (16) or Sosa (13) hit in three.
Miller Park, 2002 - Jason Giambi Defeats Sammy Sosa
Giambi finished with 24 homers and took home the title in Milwaukee. Sosa placed a distant second with 18, but his monster blasts would be the most memorable parts of this Derby.
Bernie Brewer was ducking for cover as Sosa launched several balls up to his perch above slide in deep left field. He topped it off with a 524-foot blast that smacked the scoreboard in dead center, taking a chunk of it with it.
Hometown hero Richie Sexson also sent a few way back back back in this one. He finished fourth.
U.S. Cellular Field, 2003 - Garret Anderson Defeats Albert Pujols
0 Comments
Loading more comments...
This comment and all replies have been deleted This comment has been deleted Undo delete