Home Run Derby
The Home Run Derby is an annual home run hitting competition in Major League Baseball customarily held the day before the MLB All-Star Game, which places the contest on a Monday in July. Since the inaugural derby in 1985, the event has seen several rule changes, evolving from a short outs-based competition, to multiple rounds, and eventually a bracket-style timed event.
History
There was previously a weekly televised event in the 1960s called the Home Run Derby. This was the inspiration for the iteration that was conceived later. The televised event had baseball legends Hank Aaron, Mickey Mantle, and Willie Mays. The show ran for 26 episodes with the winner receiving $2,000.The event has grown significantly from its roots in the 1980s, when it was not televised. Prior to 1991, the Home Run Derby was structured as a two-inning event with each player receiving five outs per inning, allowing for the possibility of ties. It is now one of the most-watched events broadcast on ESPN.
In 2000, a "match play"-style 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 competition.
The field of players selected currently consists of four American League players and four National League players. The first Derby in 1985 featured five from each league, and the 1986 and 1987 events featured three and two players from each league, respectively. In 1996, the field was again expanded to ten players, with five from each league.
In 2000, the field reverted to the current four-player-per-league format. The only exception was 2005, when Major League Baseball changed the selection criteria so that eight players represented their home countries instead of their respective leagues. The change was believed to be in promotion of the inaugural World Baseball Classic, played in March 2006. In 2006, the selection of four players from each league resumed. In 2011, the format was revised so that team captains selected the individual sides.
Some notable performances in the Derby include Bobby Abreu in 2005, who won the Derby with a then-record 41 homers, including a then-record 24 in the first round. The first-round record was broken in 2019 by Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who hit 29 home runs. He broke that record in the following round, hitting 40 home runs in 2 tiebreakers. The previous overall record was set in 2016 by Giancarlo Stanton, who finished with a total of 61 home runs, defeating Todd Frazier in the final round. The current overall record is held by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at a mark of 91, set in 2019. Only two participants, Yoenis Céspedes and Giancarlo Stanton, have won the Home Run Derby without being selected to the All-Star Game.
Overview
Format
8 players duel in a home run challenge.1985–1990
In the early years of the Home Run Derby, 4-10 players from both the AL and NL were selected to participate. Each player was given 2 "innings" to hit as many home runs as possible before reaching 5 outs. For the derby, an out is defined as any swing that is not a home run. The winner of the contest was the player with the most total home runs in the two innings.1991–2005
Beginning in 1991, the format changed to a 3-round contest. From 1991–2006, 8-10 players were selected and hit as many home runs as possible before reaching 10 outs in each round. The tally reset for each round, with the top four advancing to the second round, and the top two advancing to the final.In honor of the World Baseball Classic, the 2005 contest featured eight players from different countries. The format remained the same.
2006–2013
The format changed slightly in 2006. Instead of the tally resetting for each round, it was only reset before the final round. Therefore, the players with the four highest totals after Round 1 advanced to Round 2, and the players with the two highest sum of Round 1 and 2 advanced to the finals.2014
The Home Run Derby format was changed significantly in 2014, as MLB sought to speed-up the contest and increase the drama. In the new bracket format, five players from each league faced the other players in their league in Round 1, with each players having seven "outs." The player in each league with the highest Round 1 total received a second-round bye, and the players with the second- and third-highest Round 1 totals from each league faced off. The Round 2 winner from each league faced the Round 1 winner, and the Round 3 winner crowned the league winner. The final featured the winner of each league. Each round stands alone, with the score reset for each round. Ties in any round are broken by a 3-swing swing-off. If the players remain tied, the players engage in a sudden-death swing-off until one player homers.2015–Present
The format was changed once again in 2015. The most significant change was the elimination of "outs", which was replaced by a time limit. Eight players are seeded based on their season home run totals and are given five minutes to hit as many home runs as possible. The winner of each head-to-head matchup advances, until a final winner is determined. If a tie occurs in any match-up, two sets of tiebreakers are employed: first, a 1-minute swing-off decides the winner; thereafter, multiple swingoffs of 3 swings until a winner is determined. Further, a player can get "bonus time" in the last minute of each round. During that time, the clock would stop for each home run, and would not restart until a swing does not result in a home run. Additional bonus time could be earned for distance. Players who hit at least two home runs measuring at least are given an extra minute of bonus time. An additional 30 seconds of bonus time is granted if at least one home run measures over.Weather concerns in 2015 lead to a reduction in time from five minutes per round to four minutes. The clock was not stopped in the final minute, and one minute of bonus time was granted only for hitting two home runs of at least.
The four-minute round length was made permanent in 2016, while the minute of bonus time was reduced to 30 seconds and required two home runs of at least. The additional time was removed. Each batter is allowed one time-out during each round, and two in the finals.
For 2017 and 2018, the first tie-breaker was increased from a 1-minute swing off to minutes. However, it was not needed either of these years. The swing off reverted to one minute in 2019, the first year in which it was used.
Gold balls
From 2005–2013, a gold ball has been 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 the charities, equaling fourteen golden ball home runs per year. State Farm continued this in 2007 as they designated $17,000 per home run, to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. In the 2007 event, fifteen golden balls were hit for a donation of $255,000, and ten were hit in the 2008 event. For 2009, State Farm added $5,000 for all non-Gold Ball homers, and $517,000 was collected. For 2010, the non-Gold Ball homer was reduced to $3,000 per home run and a total of $453,000 was collected. Since 2014 any homer hit off a T-Mobile Ball resulted in a $10,000 donation to charity by T-Mobile and MLB, to Team Rubicon.Television and radio coverage
On July 11, 1988, the day before the Major League Baseball All-Star Game from Cincinnati, TBS televised the annual All-Star Gala from the Cincinnati Zoo. Larry King hosted the broadcast with Craig Sager and Pete Van Wieren handling interviews. The broadcast's big draw would have been the Home Run Derby, which TBS intended on taping during the afternoon, and later airing it in prime time during the Gala coverage. Unfortunately, the derby and a skills competition were canceled due to rain.The derby was first nationally televised by ESPN in 1993 on a same-day delayed basis, with the first live telecast in 1998. Although two hours are scheduled in programming listings for the telecast, it has rarely ever been contained to the timeslot and consistently runs three to four hours. Chris Berman has gained notoriety for his annual hosting duties on ESPN, including his catchphrase, "Back back back…Gone!". Berman starts this phrase when the ball is hit, and does not say "Gone!" until the ball lands.
The 2008 Derby was the year's most highly rated basic cable program.
Because of the game's TV popularity, invited players have felt pressure to participate. Notably, Ken Griffey Jr. initially quietly declined to take part in 1998, partly due to ESPN scheduling the Mariners in their late Sunday game the night before. After a discussion with ESPN's Joe Morgan and another with Hall of Famer Frank Robinson, Griffey changed his mind, and then won the Derby at Coors Field.
In Spanish, the event is televised on Spanish language network ESPN Deportes.
ESPN Radio also carries the event annually.
Most watched Home Run Derbys
Winners
| ^ | Indicates multiple winners in the same year |
| Member of the Baseball Hall of Fame |
Records
Most home runs in a single round
Note: these numbers include swingoffs| Rank | Player | Team | Round | Total |
| 1 | Vladimir Guerrero Jr. | Toronto Blue Jays | 2019 Second Round | 40 |
| 2 | Joc Pederson | Los Angeles Dodgers | 2019 Second Round | 39 |
| 3 | Vladimir Guerrero Jr. | Toronto Blue Jays | 2019 First Round | 29 |
| 4 | Josh Hamilton | Texas Rangers | 2008 First Round | 28 |
| 5 | Ronald Acuña Jr. | Atlanta Braves | 2019 First Round | 25 |
Most single-derby home runs
Note: these numbers include swingoffs.| Rank | Player | Team | Year | Total |
| 1 | Vladimir Guerrero Jr. | Toronto Blue Jays | 2019 | 91 |
| 2 | Giancarlo Stanton | Miami Marlins | 2016 | 61 |
| 3 | Joc Pederson | Los Angeles Dodgers | 2019 | 60 |
| 4 | Pete Alonso | New York Mets | 2019 | 57 |
| 5 | Kyle Schwarber | Chicago Cubs | 2018 | 55 |
| 6 | Aaron Judge | New York Yankees | 2017 | 47 |
| 7 | Bryce Harper | Washington Nationals | 2018 | 45 |
| 8 | Ronald Acuña Jr. | Atlanta Braves | 2019 | 44 |
| 9 | Todd Frazier | Chicago White Sox | 2016 | 42 |
| 10 | Bobby Abreu | Philadelphia Phillies | 2005 | 41 |
Most all-time home runs
Note: these numbers include swingoffs.| Rank | Player | Team | Year | Total |
| 1 | Joc Pederson | Los Angeles Dodgers | 2015, 2019 | 99 |
| 2 | Todd Frazier | Cincinnati Reds, Chicago White Sox | 2014, 2015, 2016 | 91 |
| 2 | Vladimir Guerrero Jr. | Toronto Blue Jays | 2019 | 91 |
| 4 | Giancarlo Stanton | Miami Marlins | 2014, 2016, 2017 | 83 |
| 5 | Prince Fielder | Milwaukee Brewers, Detroit Tigers | 2009, 2012 | 81 |
| 6 | David Ortiz | Boston Red Sox | 2004, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2011 | 77 |
| 7 | Albert Pujols | St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Angels | 2007, 2009, 2015 | 71 |
| 8 | Ken Griffey Jr. | Seattle Mariners, Cincinnati Reds | 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 | 70 |
| 9 | Bryce Harper | Washington Nationals | 2013, 2018 | 69 |
| 10 | Jason Giambi | Oakland Athletics, New York Yankees | 2001, 2002, 2003 | 67 |
Wins by team
Complete scoreboard
1980s
1985">1985 in baseball">1985
[1986 [Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1986]]
1987">1987 in baseball">1987
1988">1988 Major League Baseball All-Star Game">1988
Home Run Derby canceled due to rain.1989">1989 Major League Baseball All-Star Game">1989
1990s
1990">1990 Major League Baseball All-Star Game">1990
1991">1991 Major League Baseball All-Star Game">1991
1992">1992 Major League Baseball All-Star Game">1992
1993">1993 Major League Baseball All-Star Game">1993
1994">1994 Major League Baseball All-Star Game">1994
1995">1995 Major League Baseball All-Star Game">1995
1996">1996 Major League Baseball All-Star Game">1996
1997">1997 Major League Baseball All-Star Game">1997
1998">1998 Major League Baseball All-Star Game">1998
1999">1999 Major League Baseball All-Star Game">1999
2000s
2000">2000 Major League Baseball All-Star Game">2000
2001">2001 Major League Baseball All-Star Game">2001
| Player | Team | Round 1 | Semis | Finals | Totals |
| Luis Gonzalez | Diamondbacks | 5 | 5 | 6 | 16 |
| Sammy Sosa | Cubs | 3 | 8 | 2 | 13 |
| Jason Giambi | Athletics | 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 |
2002">2002 Major League Baseball All-Star Game">2002
2003">2003 Major League Baseball All-Star Game">2003
2004">2004 Major League Baseball All-Star Game">2004
2005">2005 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby">2005
- Total rounds record.
2006">2006 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby">2006
2007">2007 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby">2007
Notes:Recorded only seven of ten outs before hitting winning home run.
Italicized numbers denote swing-offs.
2008">2008 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby">2008
Notes:New single round record.
Voluntarily ended round with four outs.
2009">2009 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby">2009
Notes:Italicized numbers denote swing-offs.
2010s
2010">2010 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby">2010
2011">2011 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby">2011
Notes:Italicized numbers denote swing-offs.
2012">2012 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby">2012
Notes:Italicized numbers denote swing-offs.
2013">2013 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby">2013
Note:Recorded only five of ten outs before hitting winning home run.
2014">2014 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby">2014
* designates bye round..