History of the MLB Home Run Derby: A fan's perspective
Major League Baseball decided to showcase the most popular play in baseball, the home run. Roughly copying the format of the old Home Run Derby television show that aired in 1959 and into the 60's, it was determined a home run hitting contest would be held the day before the annual All Star Game.
The first All Star Game derby was held in 1985 and it was a team competition between the American and National Leagues. Names like Dave Parker, Jim Rice, Eddie Murray and Cal Ripken Jr. all were swinging for the fences at the Metrodome.
The Home Run Derby would go through several more changes over the years, but the big change came in 1996 when it became an individual competition rather than a team competition. This is when th popularity of the contest went to another level.
With the likes of Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire going head to head in 1996, the Home Run Derby quickly became appointment television. Bonds took the title after blasting 10 over the wall in the second round.
Each year the players try to out do each other and that usually means there is quite a battle for first place. In 1998 it was lit up the scoreboard with 23 out of the park in the 2009 derby at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.
Look for more fireworks and tape measure shots this year in Phoenix.
Rick Limpert covers sports, technology and politics in and around Atlanta. He'll be watching the 2011 Home Run Derby.
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Sammy Sosa Home - News
Players represented their home countries and swung for the fences. Bobby Abreu(notes) of Venezuela took home the crown. Great performances, there have been a few. How about Sammy Sosa dominating the 2000 contest in Atlanta by hitting 26 out of the park
Baseball has suddenly become dominated by pitching as there are only seven players in the entire league with at least 20 home runs. It's a fascinating statistic when you think just 10 years ago, Alex Rodriguez hit 52, Luis Gonzalez hit 57, Sammy Sosa
It was Thome's fifth home run this season and the 594th of his career, moving him within 16 of Sammy Sosa for seventh all time. The Twins added two more runs in the fifth without the benefit of a hit or RBI. Ben Revere and Alexi Casilla led off with
We've seen this before from superstars who have passed their prime; Sammy Sosa and Rafael Palmiero (the second time) are great examples of that. He signed with the Montreal Expos in 1993 at the age of 17 after leaving the Dodgers camp.
That year, Sammy Sosa launched 20 home runs in June, the most for any month in baseball history. However, he did not have the best offensive month of all time. He was not even the best hitter in June of 1998. Hop in the time machine and follow me back
Joe Posnanski » Posts 14 Crazy Baseball Facts «
First: Nothing that follows is serious. None of it. You know how David Letterman, before Stupid Pet Tricks, would always say: “Please, no wagering.” I want to say “Please, no conclusions.” Because what follows is just a list of 14 baseball facts that shocked the heck out of me … nothing more. I am not saying, suggesting or even hinting that Luis Gonzalez should be compared to Al Kaline or that Dan Quisenberry was better than Mariano Rivera. That’s not the point at all. This is supposed to be pure fun. I hope, at least one, you might read it and think: “Wow, I wouldn’t have guessed that.”
The idea for this list sparked this week when Johnny Damon got the 2,654th hit of his career. This tied him with Ted Williams. And it AMAZES me. It doesn’t amaze me in the larger context. Damon has 1,500 more at-bats than Williams. When I tweeted about, people immediately sniped with the point that Ted Williams went to war twice — a fact that, it is at least possible, I already knew. But that’s what I mean about taking stuff seriously. I’m not suggesting that Johnny Damon is as good a hitter as Ted Williams or half as good or a quarter as good. Johnny Damon’s BEST full offensive season (2000 was no slouch of a year — for Kansas City, he hit .327, scored 136 runs, led the league with 46 stolen bases) was probably not as good as Ted Williams WORST full offensive season (1956, when he hit .345/.479/.605 in 503 plate appearances).
And yes, Ted Williams went to war. Twice.
But that does not change this: Johnny Damon has as many hits as Ted Williams. If you phrase the question right, you could probably win a free beer with the next time you’re at a bar with that one. It’s something fun to talk about.
So, I spent a day just looking around and came up with 14 little baseball facts — maybe they are conversations starters, maybe they will win you a bar bet, maybe they will just give you a fun little buzz. And maybe they will inspire you to write in the comments: “So, wait, are you crazy? Are you really saying that Ron Kittle was better than Lou Gehrig?”
Yes. That’s exactly what I’m saying.
14. Johnny Damon has as many hits as Ted Williams (2,654 hits).
– I am working on a Derek Jeter piece for his 3,000th hit, and it has pushed me to think about what 3,000 hits means. Of course, every player who has ever gotten 3,000 hits was a terrific player. But Babe Ruth didn’t get 3,000 hits. Ted Williams didn’t. Rogers Hornsby, Joe DiMaggio, Barry Bonds, Lou Gehrig … I’d say if you put together the best team you could find of hitters who DID NOT get 3,000 hits would beat the team of players who DID get 3,000 hits.
BARRY BONDS,HANK AARON,BABE RUTH,WILLIE MAYS,KEN GRIFFEY JR,SAMMY SOSA,MARK MCGWIRE AMONG OTHERS ARE THE ALL TIME HOME RUN LEADERS IN MLB
Three times Sammy Sosa broke Roger Maris’ record of 61 home runs. How many of those years did he lead the league in home runs? 
Home Run Heroes: Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa: 
Does anyone know where I can find video of a Sammy Sosa home run with a Spanish b'cast call and the "no no no no noooo" guy?
Saw Air Force One land while waiting to take off from Philly. He gave me the Sammy Sosa home run salute through he window. Sammy Sosa Home - Bookshelf
At the plate with-- Sammy Sosa
Chapter Thirteen: 1999-2003 Sosa Still Strong When the 1999 season started, it became clear to everyone that Sammy Sosa's home run streak in 1998 had been ...Sammy Sosa
Sammy Sosa Today In 1999, Sammy and McGwire began another home-run race. Sammy hit his 60th home run on September 1 8 against the Milwaukee Brewers. ...Sammy Sosa, Home-Run Hitter
Introduces the home run-hitting fielder for the Chicago Cubs, Sammy Sosa.Sammy Sosa, Home Run Hero
Sammy Sosa, Baseball Superstar
Sosa had already hit a home run in the fifth inning. If he smashed another one, he would tie the current home run record of 62 in a single season. ...Guide One Directory
Sammy Sosa
Biography, Statistics and pictures of baseball star Sammy Sosa. ... Sosa is part of a very elite group of baseball players who have hit more than 600 home runs in their major ...
Sammy Sosa - Wikipedia
Background information and biography for the MLB slugger.
Sammy Sosa: Biography from Answers.com
Sammy Sosa (born Nov. 12, 1968, San Pedro de Macoris, Dom.Rep.) Dominican-born U.S. ... Sammy Sosa is the only player in major league history to have hit more than 60 home runs ...
SammySosa
Site highlights the life and career of Sammy Sosa, a Champion Pembroke Welsh Corgi. Includes pedigree, biography, show schedule and puppies.
Sammy Sosa: Road to 600 | texasrangers.com: News
Sammy Sosa acknowledges cheers from the crowd after connecting for his 600th career home ... Sammy Sosa became the fifth member of the 600 Homers Club on June 20, ...
