Will anyone in Monday night’s Home Run Derby measure up (pun intended) to the most memorable performances since the event was established in 1985? Here are five of the best:
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5. Bobby Abreu (2005) » The only reason Abreu was in the event was to represent Venezuela in a specially themed international Derby. But at Comerica Park, Abreu smashed a Derby-record 41 dingers.
4. Sammy Sosa (2000) » His array of moon shots at the 2002 Derby at Miller Park might have been more impressive. But at the peak of the steroid era in 2000 in Atlanta, Sosa hit more than twice as many homers (26) as anyone in the competition.
3. Cal Ripken (1991) » In Toronto, Ripken went deep on the first seven pitches he saw on his way to hitting 12, twice as many as anyone had hit in the seven-year history of the event. That year Ripken would win AL MVP, All-Star Game MVP and a gold glove.
2. Mark McGwire (1999) » Ken Griffey Jr. won the 1999 Derby at Fenway Park, but McGwire — a year removed from his infamous march to the single-season home run record — hit the eight longest shots of the event, all over the Green Monster.
1. Josh Hamilton (2008) » Justin Morneau won the 2008 Derby. But all that anyone remembers is Hamilton’s outrageous power show when he smashed a single-round record 28 homers, many of them to parts unknown in Yankee Stadium.
