Home Run Derby

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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. The event is currently sponsored by State Farm Insurance. Former sponsors have included Century 21 Real Estate and Service Merchandise.

[edit] Overview

Eight players, who are generally on the All-Star Game rosters (though this is not necessitated by rule), 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, there will be a five swing swing-off to determine who will advance. 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 four players advancing to the second 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.

In 2000, a match play format was instituted for the second round. The player with the most home runs in the first round faced the player with the least among the four qualifying players, as did the players with the second and third-most totals. The contestant who won each matchup advanced to the finals. This format was discontinued after the 2003 Derby.

For the most part, the field of players selected consists of four American League players and four National League players. The first Derby in 1985 featured five from each league, and the Derbies in 1986 and 1987 each featured three and two players from each league, respectively. In 1996, the field was again expanded to ten players, five from each league, though in 1997, the American League had six contestants to the NL's four. In 2000, the field reverted back to the four-player-per-league format, which it has remained ever since. The only exception has been in 2005, when 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 was commonly looked upon as a lead-in to the World Baseball Classic which was played in March 2006. Bobby Abreu, representing Venezuela, won the first International Derby with a record 41 home runs, including a then-record 24 in the first round, broken only by Josh Hamilton with 28 home runs in 2008. In 2006, the selection of four players from each league to participate in the Derby was resumed.

The 2008 Home Run Derby, the 23rd installment, took place in The Bronx's Yankee Stadium on July 14. It was the first and last Home Run Derby at the stadium. The 2009 event will be held at Busch Stadium III in St. Louis, Missouri on July 13 of said year, while the 2010 event will be in Anaheim, California at Angel Stadium of Anaheim.

During the 2005, 2006, and 2007 Home Run Derbies, the Golden Ball was used once a player reaches nine outs. If a batter hit a home run using the golden ball, Century 21 Real Estate and Major League Baseball would donate $21,000 per home run to charity. In both 2005 and 2006, $294,000 was raised for charity, equaling 14 golden ball home runs per year. State Farm continued this in 2007 as they designated $17,000 per home run (one dollar for each of State Farm's agencies), a reduction of $4,000, to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. In the 2007 event, fifteen golden balls were hit for a donation of $255,000, $39,000 less than the two previous years even though one more home run was hit.

[edit] Television and radio coverage

The derby was first nationally televised by ESPN in 1993 on a same-day delayed basis. The first live telecast came in 1998. The event begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time. Although two hours are devoted to the telecast, it is not uncommon for the program to run over schedule. The 2006 and 2007 events, for example, lasted nearly three hours.

ESPN Radio also carries the event annually.

[edit] Home Run Derby champions

Year	Player	Team	Home runs	Venue
2008	Justin Morneau	Minnesota Twins	22	Yankee Stadium, New York
2007	Vladimir Guerrero	Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim	17	AT&T Park, San Francisco
2006	Ryan Howard	Philadelphia Phillies	23	PNC Park, Pittsburgh
2005	Bobby Abreu	Philadelphia Phillies	41	Comerica Park, Detroit
2004	Miguel Tejada	Baltimore Orioles	27	Minute Maid Park, Houston
2003	Garret Anderson	Anaheim Angels	22	U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago
2002	Jason Giambi	New York Yankees	24	Miller Park, Milwaukee
2001	Luis Gonzalez	Arizona Diamondbacks	16	Safeco Field, Seattle
2000	Sammy Sosa	Chicago Cubs	26	Turner Field, Atlanta
1999	Ken Griffey, Jr.	Seattle Mariners	16	Fenway Park, Boston
1998	Ken Griffey, Jr.	Seattle Mariners	19	Coors Field, Denver
1997	Tino Martinez	New York Yankees	16	Jacobs Field, Cleveland
1996	Barry Bonds	San Francisco Giants	17	Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia
1995	Frank Thomas	Chicago White Sox	15	The Ballpark in Arlington, Arlington, Texas
1994	Ken Griffey, Jr.	Seattle Mariners	7	Three Rivers Stadium, PittsburghI
1993	Juan González	Texas Rangers	7	Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore
1992	Mark McGwire	Oakland Athletics	12	Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego
1991	Cal Ripken, Jr.	Baltimore Orioles	12	SkyDome, Toronto
1990	Ryne Sandberg	Chicago Cubs	3	Wrigley Field, Chicago
1989	Eric Davis	Cincinnati Reds	3	Anaheim Stadium, Anaheim
1988	Canceled due to rain			Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati
1987	Andre Dawson	Chicago Cubs	4	Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland
1986	Wally Joyner	California Angels	4	Astrodome, Houston
1986	Darryl Strawberry	New York Mets	4	Astrodome, Houston
1985	Dave Parker	Cincinnati Reds	6	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis

[edit] Complete scoreboard

[edit] The 1980s

[edit] 1985

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	San Diego	2
Ryne Sandberg	Chicago	2
Jack Clark	St. Louis	2

[edit] 1986

Astrodome, Houston -- N.L. 8, A.L. 7
Player	Team	Home Runs
American League
Wally Joyner	California	4
Jesse Barfield	Toronto	2
José Canseco	Oakland	1
National League
Darryl Strawberry	New York	4
Dave Parker	Cincinnati	3
Hubie Brooks	Montreal	1

[edit] 1987

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, Jr.	Atlanta	2

[edit] 1988

Canceled due to rain.

[edit] 1989

Anaheim Stadium, Anaheim -- N.L. 9, A.L. 5
Player	Team	Home Runs
American League
Rubén 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

[edit] The 1990s

[edit] 1990

Wrigley Field, Chicago -- N.L. 4, A.L. 1
Player	Team	Home Runs
American League
Mark McGwire	Oakland	1
Ken Griffey, Jr.	Seattle	0
José 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

[edit] 1991

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

[edit] 1992

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

[edit] 1993

Camden Yards, Baltimore -- A.L. 20, N.L. 12
Player	Team	Home Runs
American League
Juan González	Texas	7
Ken Griffey, Jr.	Seattle	7 *
Cecil Fielder	Detroit	4
Albert Belle	Cleveland	3
National League
Barry Bonds	San Francisco	5
Bobby Bonilla	New York	5
David Justice	Atlanta	2
Mike Piazza	Los Angeles	0

* Lost in playoff to Gonzalez

[edit] 1994

Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh -- A.L. 17, N.L. 11
Player	Team	Home Runs
American League
Ken Griffey, Jr.	Seattle	7
Rubén 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

[edit] 1995

The Ballpark in Arlington, Arlington -- A.L. 40, N.L. 12
Player	Team	Home Runs
American League
Frank Thomas	Chicago	15 *
Albert Belle	Cleveland	16
Mo Vaughn	Boston	6
Manny Ramírez	Cleveland	3
National League
Ron Gant	Cincinnati	3
Sammy Sosa	Chicago	2
Reggie Sanders	Cincinnati	2
Raúl Mondesí	Los Angeles	2

* Beat Belle in finals

[edit] 1996

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 Rodríguez	Montreal	3
Jeff Bagwell	Houston	2
Ellis Burks	Colorado	1
Gary Sheffield	Florida	0

[edit] 1997

Jacobs Field, Cleveland -- A.L. 32, N.L. 29
Player	Team	Home Runs
American League
Tino Martinez	New York	16 *
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

* Beat Walker in finals

[edit] 1998

Coors Field, Denver -- A.L. 53, N.L. 29
Player	Team	Home Runs
American League
Ken Griffey, Jr.	Seattle	19
Rafael Palmeiro	Baltimore	10
Jim Thome	Cleveland	17
Alex Rodriguez	Seattle	5
Damion Easley	Detroit	2
National League
Vinny Castilla	Colorado	12
Moisés Alou	Houston	7
Javy López	Atlanta	5
Mark McGwire	St. Louis	4
Chipper Jones	Atlanta	1

[edit] 1999

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 *
Jeff Bagwell	Houston	6
Larry Walker	Colorado	2
Sammy Sosa	Chicago	1

* Lost to Burnitz in round 2

[edit] The 2000s

[edit] 2000

Turner Field, Atlanta -- N.L. 41, A.L. 41
Player	Team	Round 1	Semis	Finals	Total
# Sammy Sosa	Chicago (N)	6	11	9	26
# Ken Griffey, Jr.	Cincinnati	6	3	2	11
# Carl Everett	Boston	6	6	–	12
# Carlos Delgado	Toronto	5	1	–	6
# Edgar Martínez	Seattle	2	–	–	2
# Chipper Jones	Atlanta	2	–	–	2
# Vladimir Guerrero	Montreal	2	–	–	2
# Iván Rodríguez	Texas	1	–	–	1

Semifinals			Finals

1	Ken Griffey, Jr.	3
4	Carlos Delgado	1
			1	Ken Griffey, Jr.	2
			3	Sammy Sosa	9
2	Carl Everett	6
3	Sammy Sosa	11

[edit] 2001

Safeco Field, Seattle -- N.L. 41, A.L. 25
Player	Team	Round 1	Semis	Finals	Totals
# Luis Gonzalez	Diamondbacks	5	5	6	16
# Sammy Sosa	Cubs	3	8	2	13
# Jason Giambi	A's	14	6	–	20
# Barry Bonds	Giants	7	3	–	10
# Bret Boone	Mariners	3	–	–	3
# Todd Helton	Rockies	2	–	–	2
# Alex Rodriguez	Rangers	2	–	–	2
# Troy Glaus	Angels	0	–	–	0

Semifinals			Finals

1	Jason Giambi	6
4	Sammy Sosa	8
			4	Sammy Sosa	2
			3	Luis Gonzalez	6
2	Barry Bonds	3
3	Luis Gonzalez	5

[edit] 2002

Miller Park, Milwaukee -- A.L. 42, N.L. 31
Player	Team	Round 1	Semis	Finals	Totals
# Jason Giambi	Yankees	11	6	7	24
# Sammy Sosa	Cubs	12	5	1	18
# Paul Konerko	White Sox	6	6	–	12
# Richie Sexson	Brewers	6	4	–	10
# Torii Hunter	Twins	3	–	–	3
# Barry Bonds	Giants	2	–	–	2
# Alex Rodriguez	Rangers	2	–	–	2
# Lance Berkman	Astros	1	–	–	1

Semifinals			Finals

1	Sammy Sosa	5
4	Richie Sexson	4
			1	Jason Giambi	7
			2	Sammy Sosa	1
2	Jason Giambi	7
3	Paul Konerko	6

Giambi defeated Konerko in a blast off, similar to penalty shots

[edit] 2003

U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago -- A.L. 47, N.L. 39
Player	Team	Round 1	Semis	Finals	Totals
# Garret Anderson	Angels	7	6	9	22
# Albert Pujols	Cardinals	4	14	8	26
# Jason Giambi	Yankees	12	11	–	23
# Jim Edmonds	Cardinals	4	4	–	8
# Gary Sheffield	Braves	4	–	–	4
# Carlos Delgado	Blue Jays	2	–	–	2
# Richie Sexson	Brewers	1	–	–	1
# Bret Boone	Mariners	0	–	–	0

Semifinals			Finals

1	Jason Giambi	11
4	Albert Pujols	14
			4	Albert Pujols	8
			2	Garret Anderson	9
2	Garret Anderson	6
3	Jim Edmonds	4

[edit] 2004

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 (N)	5	–	–	5
# Jim Thome	Philadelphia	4	–	–	4
# Hank Blalock	Texas	3	–	–	3
# David Ortiz	Boston	3	–	–	3

[edit] 2005

Comerica Park, Detroit -- N.L. 66, A.L. 42
Player	Team	Round 1	Semis	Finals	Totals
# Bobby Abreu	Philadelphia	24	6	11	41
# Iván Rodríguez	Detroit	7	8	5	20
# Carlos Lee	Milwaukee	11	4	–	15
# David Ortiz	Boston	17	3	–	20
# Hee-Seop Choi	Los Angeles (NL)	5	–	–	5
# [[Image:Template:Country flag alias Curaçao\|22x20px]] Andruw Jones	Atlanta	5	–	–	5
# Mark Teixeira	Texas	2	–	–	2
# Jason Bay	Pittsburgh	0	–	–	0

[edit] 2006

PNC Park, Pittsburgh -- N.L. 62, A.L. 24
Player	Team	Round 1	Round 2	Subtotal	Finals	Total
# Ryan Howard	Philadelphia	8	10	18	5	23
# David Wright	New York (NL)	16	2	18	4	22
# Miguel Cabrera	Florida	9	6	15	–	15
# David Ortiz	Boston	10	3	13	–	13
# Jermaine Dye	Chicago (AL)	7	–	–	–	7
# Lance Berkman	Houston	3	–	–	–	3
# Miguel Tejada	Baltimore	3	–	–	–	3
# Troy Glaus	Toronto	1	–	–	–	1

[edit] 2007

AT&T Park, San Francisco -- A.L. 42, N.L. 32
Player	Team	Round 1	Round 2	Subtotal	Finals	Total
# Vladimir Guerrero	Los Angeles (AL)	5	9	14	3 ^a	17
# Alex Ríos	Toronto	5	12	17	2	19
# Matt Holliday	Colorado	5	8	13	–	13
# Albert Pujols	St. Louis	4 ^b	9	13	–	13
# Justin Morneau	Minnesota	4	–	4	–	4
# Prince Fielder	Milwaukee	3	–	3	–	3
# Ryan Howard	Philadelphia	3	–	3	–	3
# Magglio Ordóñez	Detroit	2	–	2	–	2

↑a Recorded only seven of ten outs before hitting winning home run.
↑b Advanced after defeating Morneau 2-1 in a swing-off.

[edit] 2008

Yankee Stadium, New York -- A.L. 66 , N.L. 39
Player	Team	Round 1	Round 2	Subtotal	Finals	Total
# Justin Morneau	Minnesota	8	9	17	5	22
# Josh Hamilton	Texas	28^a	4^b	32	3	35
# Lance Berkman	Houston	8	6	14	–	14
# Ryan Braun	Milwaukee	7	7	14	–	14
# Dan Uggla	Florida	6	–	6	–	6
# Grady Sizemore	Cleveland	6	–	6	–	6
# Chase Utley	Philadelphia	5	–	5	–	5
# Evan Longoria	Tampa Bay	3	–	3	–	3

Notes:
↑a New single round record.
↑b Voluntarily ended round with four outs
10 Home Runs were hit while the Gold Ball (special balls used when the batters have nine outs) was in play, earning $170,000 for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

[edit] Statistics by team

Team	Wins	Participants	Home Runs
Seattle	3	12	77
Chicago (NL)	3	10	76
Los Angeles (AL)	3	4	43
Baltimore	2	11	92
Cincinnati	2	8	36
Philadelphia	2	5	76
New York (AL)	2	3	64
Oakland	1	11	62
Texas	1	8	55
San Francisco	1	7	48
New York (NL)	1	6	33
Chicago (AL)	1	5	42
Minnesota	1	5	33
Arizona	1	1	16
Atlanta	0	10	31
Toronto	0	10	41
Houston	0	10	64
Boston	0	8	60
Colorado	0	7	52
Detroit	0	7	33
St. Louis	0	7	71
Cleveland	0	6	37
Milwaukee	0	7	57
Los Angeles (NL)	0	4	7
Montreal/Washington	0	4	10
Pittsburgh	0	3	2
San Diego	0	3	9
Florida	0	3	21
Kansas City	0	2	3
Tampa Bay	0	1	3

[edit] Most home runs in a single round (of ten outs)

	Player	Year	#
1	Josh Hamilton	2008	28
2	Bobby Abreu	2005	24
3	David Ortiz	2005	17
4	David Wright	2006	16
5	Miguel Tejada	2004	15
6	Jason Giambi	2001	14
6	Albert Pujols	2003	14
8	Mark McGwire	1999	13
9	Cal Ripken Jr.	1991	12
9	Mark McGwire	1992	12
9	Sammy Sosa	2002	12
9	Jason Giambi	2003	12
9	Alex Ríos	2007	12

[edit] Most home runs in the entire tournament (Excluding Swingoff Playoffs)

Bobby Abreu (2005) - 41
Josh Hamilton (2008) - 35
Miguel Tejada (2004) - 27
Sammy Sosa (2000) Albert Pujols (2003) - 26
Jason Giambi (2002) - 24
Ryan Howard (2006), Jason Giambi (2003) - 23
David Wright (2006), Garrett Anderson (2003), Justin Morneau (2008) - 22
Lance Berkman (2004) - 21
David Ortiz (2005), Iván Rodríguez (2005), Jason Giambi (2001) - 20
Ken Griffey, Jr. (1998), Larry Walker (1997), Alex Rios (2007) - 19
Sammy Sosa (2002) - 18
Jim Thome (1998), Barry Bonds (1996), Vladimir Guerrero (2007) - 17
Luis Gonzalez (2001), Ken Griffey, Jr. (1999), Mark McGwire (1999), Tino Martinez (1997), Albert Belle (1995) - 16
Miguel Cabrera(2006), Carlos Lee (2005), Mark McGwire (1996), Frank Thomas (1995) - 15
Rafael Palmeiro (2004), Jeromy Burnitz (1999), Lance Berkman (2008), Ryan Braun (2008) - 14
David Ortiz (2006), Sammy Sosa (2001), Matt Holliday (2007), Albert Pujols (2007) - 13
Paul Konerko (2002), Carl Everett (2000), Vinny Castilla (1998), Mark McGwire (1992), Cal Ripken Jr. (1991) - 12
Barry Bonds (2004), Ken Griffey, Jr. (2000), Brady Anderson (1996) - 11
Rafael Palmeiro (1998), Barry Bonds (2001), Richie Sexson (2002), Jim Edmonds (2003) - 10

[edit] Most home runs all time (Excluding Swingoff Playoffs)

[edit] External links

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