2011 MLB Home Run Derby: Who Would Win an All-Time, Winner-Takes-All HR Derby?

The Home Run Derby features some of the big names in baseball every year. Fans love home runs, and the Derby provides them with just that.

These big bats are always compared to those who come before them. There are countless debates about whether a modern-day player was as good as a past All-Star. The steroid issue pops up all the time with recent power hitters such as Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds.

Well, it's time to hop into the time machine and help settle that debate (well, at least who would win an all-time Home Run Derby). This derby features four players who retired before 1980 and four players who didn't start playing until after that year.

It is hard to evaluate players who have played in different eras, but there are many statistics that can help. Statistics that will be considered are home runs, HR/at-bat, slugging percentage, ISO and OPS+. Both career numbers as well as each player's best individual statistics will be considered. None of these statistics paint a picture of who would win a home run derby, but when combined, these statistics can help us piece together this outstanding event.

Babe Ruth

Career HR: 714

Best Single-Season HR Total: 60 (1927)

Career AB/HR: 11.76

Best Single-Season AB/HR: 8.48 (1920)

Career SLG%: .690

Best Single-Season SLG%: .847 (1920) 

Career ISO: .348

Best Single-Season ISO: .473 (1920)

Career OPS+: 206

Best Single-Season OPS+: 255 (1920) 

The Sultan of Swat is arguable the best power hitter of all time. Ruth is the career leader in slugging percentage and on-base plus slugging (OPS). The Hall of Famer is also third all-time in home runs. It is shocking to note that Ruth only won one MVP award in his career.

Ruth wowed fans with his power and was part of what was possibly the greatest Yankees team of all time in 1927. There was no home run derby when Ruth was in the majors, so fans missed out on a great opportunity for Ruth to show off his power.

Photo Credit: Baseball Reference

Hank Aaron

Career HR: 755

Best Single-Season HR Total: 47 (1971)

Career AB/HR: 16.38

Best Single-Season AB/HR: 9.8 (1973)

Career SLG%: .555

Best Single-Season SLG%: .669 (1971) 

Career ISO: .250

Best Single-Season ISO: .342 (1973)

Career OPS+: 155

Best Single-Season OPS+: 194 (1971)

There are still many people who consider Aaron to be the all-time home run leader due to Barry Bonds' link to steroids. What is most impressive about Aaron hitting 755 home runs is the fact that he never hit more than 50 in a season.

Aaron was able to consistently hit for power throughout his career. Hammerin' Hank is the MLB career leader in RBI and total bases. Like Ruth, there was never a home run derby for Aaron to display his power in.

Photo Credit: Baseball Reference

Mickey Mantle

Career HR: 536

Best Single-Season HR Total: 54 (1961)

Career AB/HR: 15.11

Best Single-Season AB/HR: 9.52 (1961)

Career SLG%: .557

Best Single-Season SLG%: .705 (1956) 

Career ISO: .259

Best Single-Season ISO: .370 (1920)

Career OPS+: 172

Best Single-Season OPS+: 221 (1957)

Mantle may not have the best power numbers out of all of the players in this home run derby, but there is a good chance that he is the strongest participant. During his playing career, Mantle earned the nickname "Muscles."

In 1963, Mantle hit a ball that was just inches away from leaving the old Yankee Stadium. The ball just missed and hit the facade. It was estimated that the ball would have traveled over 600 feet had it cleared the facade.

Photo Credit: Baseball Reference

Willie Mays

Career HR: 660

Best Single-Season HR Total: 52 (1965)

Career AB/HR: 16.49

Best Single-Season AB/HR: 10.73 (1965)

Career SLG%: .557

Best Single-Season SLG%: .667 (1954)

Career ISO: .256

Best Single-Season ISO: .340 (1955)

Career OPS+: 155

Best Single-Season OPS+: 184 (1966)

Over the years, the San Francisco Giants have had their fair share of home run hitters. Mays was one of the best to ever put on a Giants jersey. "The Say Hey Kid" was not only known for his offensive abilities but also his defensive abilities. He is famous for making one of the best catches in MLB history.

Mays is fourth all-time with 660 career home runs. His career slugging percentage is 20th all-time. The Giants slugger played in 20 All-Star games during his career and won 12 Gold Gloves. Mays was one of the best all-around players the game has ever seen.

Mark McGwire

Career HR: 583

Best Single-Season HR Total: 70 (1998)

Career AB/HR: 10.61

Best Single-Season AB/HR: 7.27 (1998)

Career SLG%: .588

Best Single-Season SLG%: .752 (1998) 

Career ISO: .325

Best Single-Season ISO: .454 (1998)

Career OPS+: 162

Best Single-Season OPS+: 216 (1998) 

McGwire admitted to using steroids during his playing days. However, he still has what is the second-highest single-season home run total of all time. His home run race against Sammy Sosa was one of the most memorable stretches of the past two decades.

The 1998 season was the most memorable year that McGwire had, but he also showed his power in other seasons. The following year, McGwire followed up his then-record-setting campaign with 65 home runs. McGwire competed in the Home Run Derby seven times, the first in 1987 and the last in 1999. He won the event in 1992 and is fifth all-time in Derby history with 56 home runs.

Barry Bonds

Career HR: 762

Best Single-Season HR Total: 73 (2001)

Career AB/HR: 12.92

Best Single-Season AB/HR: 6.52 (2001)

Career SLG%: .607

Best Single-Season SLG%: 1.422 (2004) 

Career ISO: .309

Best Single-Season ISO: .536 (2001)

Career OPS+: 181

Best Single-Season OPS+: 268 (2002)

Bonds is Major League Baseball's all-time home run leader with 762 career home runs. He also has the single-season record with 73 home runs. However, many people do not consider him as the leader in both of these categories because of his steroid use.

During his career, Bonds participated in the Home Run Derby six times. In 2001, when he set the single-season home run record, Bonds placed fourth in the Derby. Bonds did win the Derby in 1996, when he hit 17 home runs. He is seventh on the all-time Home Run Derby list with 47 home runs.

Albert Pujols

Career HR: 425

Best Single-Season HR Total: 49 (2006)

Career AB/HR: 14.15

Best Single-Season AB/HR: 10.92 (2006)

Career SLG%: .619

Best Single-Season SLG%: .671 (2006) 

Career ISO: .290

Best Single-Season ISO: .340 (2006)

Career OPS+: 171

Best Single-Season OPS+: 190 (2008)

Pujols is the only active player who is in the all-time Home Run Derby. He is still in the process of carving out his legacy as well as his place in baseball lore. He has already hit 425 home runs by age 31. This is almost 100 more home runs than Bonds had at the same point in his career and over 25 more than Aaron had.

To this point in his career, Albert Pujols has participated in the Home Run Derby three times. Despite hitting the most home runs in the 2003 Derby, Pujols finished in second place. His 26 home runs that year are the third-highest Derby total. With 50 career Derby home runs, Pujols is sixth on the all-time list.

Ken Griffey Jr.

Career HR: 630

Best Single-Season HR Total: 56 (1997,1998)

Career AB/HR: 15.56

Best Single-Season AB/HR: 10.83 (1994)

Career SLG%: .538

Best Single-Season SLG%: .674 (1994) 

Career ISO: .254

Best Single-Season ISO: .351 (1994)

Career OPS+: 135

Best Single-Season OPS+: 171 (1994)

After his first few seasons in the majors, people began to wonder if Griffey Jr. would be the player who eventually broke Hank Aaron's home run record. Injuries held Griffey back throughout his career, but he still managed to hit 630 home runs, which is good for fifth all-time.

Junior participated in eight Home Run Derbies throughout his career. Griffey is the only player to win the Derby three times. He took the crown in 1994, 1998 and 1999. The 70 home runs hit by Griffey during the All-Star event is the highest total in Home Run Derby history.

Round 1

Home Run Totals

Babe Ruth 16

Hank Aaron 10

Mickey Mantle 10*

Willie Mays 9

Mark McGwire 7

Barry Bonds 14

Albert Pujols 9

Ken Griffey Jr. 13

* Won in Swing-Off

With some of the best power hitters in baseball history, it was expected that there would be an impressive showing of power. Ruth managed to win the first round by belting 16 home runs. McGwire may have come in last, but he hit the longest home run of the round, which was estimated to have traveled 557 feet.

Junior used his sweet swing to knock 13 balls out of the park in the opening round. However, his total was the third-highest because Barry Bonds managed to hit 14 home runs. The final spot in the second round went to Mickey Mantle after he beat Hank Aaron in a swing-off.

Photo Credit: Babe Ruth Facts

Round 2

Home Run Totals

Babe Ruth 9

Mickey Mantle 8

Barry Bonds 8

Ken Griffey Jr. 11

Griffey Jr. had the potential to be one of the top five players in major league history before injury problems impacted his career. However, in the second round of the Home Run Derby, Griffey showed off his sweet swing that made him such a feared hitter. He belted 11 long balls to lead all competitors.

Mantle stepped up to the plate next and knocked eight balls over the fence. With only one out left, Mantle blasted a ball 475 feet down the right field line. Unfortunately for Mantle, the ball landed in foul territory.

Bonds faced more and more boos with every home run he hit. Fans clearly were getting on Bonds for his past steroid use. That did not stop Bonds from putting on a show, as he hit eight home runs.

Ruth stepped up to the plate needing to hit at least nine home runs to move on to the finals. This seemed as if it would be a difficult task for the "Sultan of Swat," as he recorded outs on the first three pitches he saw. Ruth then proceeded to hit four straight home runs and eventually qualified for the finals.

Finals

Home Run Totals

Babe Ruth 15

Ken Griffey Jr. 14

The finals were a dream matchup of two of the greatest home run hitters of all time with Ruth representing baseball's early era and Griffey Jr. representing today's players. Each of these men was expected to put on a show.

Griffey Jr., the three-time Home Run Derby champion, stepped up to the plate first. He hit balls into the upper deck. Junior was hitting homers on a torrid pace, and it appeared as if he would win this historical derby. When the round ended, Griffey Jr. had finished with 14 home runs.

Ruth had a big mountain to climb if he wanted to beat Griffey Jr. Starting off at a steady pace, it appeared as if Ruth would give Junior a run for his money. He then began to hit more and more home runs. With two outs left, Ruth tied Junior. He then popped up the next pitch. Ruth would either win the Home Run Derby or there would be a swing-off. Ruth then pointed to center field and hit the next pitch over the wall to win the Derby.

Photo Credit: Sports Illustrated