2011 MLB Home Run Derby: The 10 Worst Derby Competitors of All Time

The MLB Home Run Derby began in 1985 as an extra event for baseball fans during the All-Star break. 

During the first competition, the 10-man field combined to hit 33 home runs. A mere 25-years later in 2010, an eight-man field combined to hit 94.

Times sure have changed, which made it all the more difficult to decipher the good, the bad and the ugly in terms of Home Run Derby competitors.

On 18 different occasions there has been a contestant who didn't hit a single home run. A list made up of those names would be no fun, and quite frankly, it would make no sense.

Guys like Gary Gaetti, Brandon Inge and Chris Sabo had no business being part of a Home Run Derby in the first place, so I didn't bother including them on this list.

This list represents 10 players who came into a derby with at least some expectation to succeed—while they all ended up failing miserably.

Here are the 10 Worst Derby Competitors of All Time. 

10. Joe Carter (1991, 1992, 1996): 8 Total Home Runs

Joe Carter hit one of the greatest home runs in MLB history during the 1993 World Series, but in three Home Run Derby appearances he was never able to get the job done.

Carter hit two, four and two home runs in his three derby appearances, while the winner hit twelve or more on each occasion.

With two World Series rings and a Hall of Fame worthy career, I doubt Carter cares in the least bit.

9. Bobby Bonilla (1990, 1993): 5 Total Home Runs

A slew of injuries kept Bobby Bonilla from having a more productive career, but the retirement package the Mets' organization set up for him will help cover any medical expenses necessary through 2035.

Bonilla choked in his first Home Run Derby appearance at Wrigley Field while representing the Pirates, although he did bounce back in 1993 to hit a whopping five home runs for the Mets' faithful.

Mets' fans can sleep well at night knowing that over the next 25 years, the Mets' organization will be paying Bonilla about six-million dollars for each of those derby home runs.

8. Chipper Jones (1997, 1998, 2000): 6 Total Home Runs

Chipper Jones is a surefire Hall of Famer and one of the greatest third baseman in MLB history, but he was atrocious when it came to the Home Run Derby.

Jones hit three, one and two home run's in his derby appearances—with the latter being in front of his home crowd at Turner Field.

During those three Home Run Derby's, the other contestants combined to knock out 198 home runs. Chipper was clearly a step behind.

7. Howard Johnson (1989, 1991): 2 Total Home Runs

Who remembers Howard Johnson averaging almost 32 homers per season from 1987-91? His home run prowess led to two Home Run Derby appearances —and Johnson failed to deliver in both.

Johnson hit two shots during the 1989 derby in Anaheim before coming back to lay an egg during the 1991 derby that saw Cal Ripken, Jr. hit twelve home runs.

The switch-hitting third baseman must have been batting right-handed. 

6. Nomar Garciaparra (1997, 1999): 2 Total Home Runs

Nomar Garciaparra had great power for a shortstop—hitting 113 long-balls during his first four seasons in MLB.

Unfortunately, during that same span he participated in two Home Run Derby's and fell well short of expectations on both occasions. 

Nomar didn't hit any at Jacob's Field in 1997 before connecting on two at Fenway during the 1999 competition.

5. Bret Boone (2001, 2003): 3 Total Home Runs

How does a player go from hitting around .250 with 15-20 homers per season over an eight-year period, to hitting .331 with 37 homers in a season? Simply ask Bret Boone.

The latter stats' are Boone's from 2001—his first time participating in the Home Run Derby. Apparently Boone didn't drink his orange "juice" before stepping up to the plate, as he hit only three long-balls at his home ballpark during that derby.

Boone didn't hit any homers in the 2003 derby, while three of his competitors hit 22-plus. Clearly, he did not belong on the big stage. 

4. Jose Canseco (1986, 1990): 1 Total Home Run

Jose Canseco participated in two Home Run Derby's while a member of the "Bash Brothers" in Oakland, yet he never found success in the friendly competition.

Canseco managed one long-ball at the Astrodome in 1986—the second year of the contests existence—before being skunked at Wrigley Field in 1990.

In his defense, teammate Mark McGwire led the AL with one homer during the 1990 derby.

3. Jason Bay (2005): 0 Home Runs

Back in 2005, just before the first World Baseball Classic, MLB decided to pit eight contestants representing eight different countries against one another in the Home Run Derby.

Jason Bay, of course, represented our friendly neighbors to the north—albeit he didn't represent them well.

Bay laid a goose egg in his first and only Derby appearance—one which saw even Hee-Seop Choi hit five balls out of Comerica Park. 

The field combined for a Home Run Derby record of 108 long-balls—led by Bobby Abreu's 41.

2. Troy Glaus (2001, 2006): 1 Total Home Run

Two Home Run Derby's and two last place finishes for Troy Glaus—who embarrassed the Angels in 2001 and the Blue Jays in 2006.

The 2001 derby was right in the midst of a two-year span that saw Glaus slam 88 home runs. His power-stroke never showed up during All-Star week.

To put Glaus' one total home run into perspective, there were 66 homers hit at the derby in 2001 while an astronomical 86 were hit at the 2006 event.

1. Mike Piazza (1993, 1994): 0 Total Home Runs

Mike Piazza is the only player in Home Run Derby history to hit zero home runs on two separate occasions—a feat he accomplished back-to-back in 1993-94.

Piazza was a rookie in 1993, so maybe his nerves got the best of him considering he was a 24-year-old, first time All-Star. But then to come back the following season and lay up another doughnut?

It's no wonder Piazza was never invited back to the Home Run Derby over the last 13 years of his career.