A Night to Remember at Yankee Stadium

This year's major league home run derby had plenty of different story lines.  From Alex Rodriguez choosing to not participate, to David Ortiz being unable to because of injury.  Of course, everyone knows the story of Josh Hamilton by now.  From cocaine/heroin addict to leading the majors in RBI's at the break, he has been the feel good story of the year.  How were we supposed to know he would add to it on this night.

In a contest void of the usual suspects, the first round of this year's home derby was very competitive.  The first seven competitors, save for Rays third baseman Evan Longoria, who had to be battling a little case of rookie nerves, put up a solid showing of at least five dingers in the first round, paced by a couple of first basemen, the Twins Justin Morneau and the Houston Astros' Lance Berkman's eight.  Then up stepped the player many picked beforehand to be the favorite, Josh Hamilton.  The same Josh Hamilton who was the first pick of the Rays in 1999.  The same Josh Hamilton who almost lost his life, not just his career, as he fell into a black hole of addiction.  Accompanied by his 71 year old ex-legion ball coach, Clay Counsil, Hamilton smashed the previously held first round record of 24 by Bobby Abreau, by hitting 28 long balls.  And I mean long.  Hamilton had the Bronx crowd on the edge of their seats as he launched ball after ball into the night sky, all with a puerile exuberance.  Hamilton failed in his attempt to hit a ball completely out of Yankee Stadium, but did he ever come close.  With the Yankee crowd chanting his name,  three times he hit 500 foot+ balls, perhaps the most impressive was the ball that hit halfway up the Addidas sign in right center, estimated at 504 feet. Not needing to hit in the second round, Hamilton added another four home runs while making four outs.  If you were watching the coverage on the four letter network, you would have thought that Major League Baseball should just go ahead and give Hamilton the trophy, no need for a final.

Apparently, Justin Morneau had a different idea.  After hitting a combined 17 jacks in the first two rounds, the Canadian born lefty hit five homeruns in the finals.  That set the stage for Hamilton to go up to bat and end the night once and for all.  A funny thing happened on the way to the trophy though.  Hamilton seemed to have lost his rhythm in the finals and could only manage 3 homeruns to lose to Morneau.  You could not tell by the look on his face however.  He definitely looked happy to just be there.  He definitely wanted to fulfill the dream he had of coming to Yankee Stadium and winning the home run derby, but you get the feeling that just having the opportunity was enough to make it a night to remember.