The All-Time, Dead Or Alive Home Run Derby Contest
Baseball, Lists, The Cheap Seats — By Matt Whitener on July 9, 2012 at 12:17 pm
Major League Baseball’s All-Star week is upon us again, and with it comes the greatest skill exhibition in pro sports as well, the Home Run Derby. The annual gathering of each league’s best at attacking the boundaries set by outfield walls displays some of the most awe-inspiring moments of the season. In a few hours, Robinson Cano will look to keep Matt Kemp, Jose Bautista and Price Fielder, among others, off his heels as he looks to defend his title from last summer. While that’s no group to sneeze at, it could get a whole deeper if a few more contestants were made available.
Now it may take a trip that only a DeLorean and Michael J. Fox can deliver to make it happen, but consider what a Home Run Derby would look like with EVERYBODY that ever made the long ball his business? Who would you want to see take their hacks against each other? More than that, who would be the last man standing? Today, we’re taking our hacks at settling at least half of that debate by proposing a few of the many candidates that would make the Ultimate, All-Time Home Run Derby an event to remember.
So what we did here today is got the debate started early, with some picks from myself, followed by the rest of the good folks here at TSFJ. Take a look at the case for each, and cast a vote on who’s got the best chance of taking the all-time crown below. And if you don’t see the best horse for the race, submit your own candidate for the crown. There’s no shortage of candidates qualified for the title.
Tags: Baseball, Home Run Derby, Lists, MLB, MLB All-Star Game
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12 Comments
OK, I’m gonna be the first one to point out that is an absolute crime that no one took Babe Ruth, myself included. I went with Stargell because I thought it would be a different choice, and I was certain someone was going to include Ruth.
Let’s face it, the Babe has to be on this list. He just has to. The man was hitting more home runs than entire franchises in the dead ball era. Maybe he didn’t play against the best of the best before Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier, but still. The guy would probably be the favorite to win it.
Good list otherwise, but man, that is an egregious omission.
How is that even possible… the whole time through I was like oh they must be saving the babe for last. But nope…yall cray
OK, I’m thinking a few others were going against the grain with their picks as opposed to actual HR hitters. Maybe Babe was too obvious. Ted Williams I thought was a stretch (this isn’t hit 0.400 derby). But Cal Ripken….cmon man. You mentally scrolled the annals of baseball slugging lore and not only did Cal Ripken’s name pop up, you actually chose it? My screen was minimized so I only saw him & ARod at first so i thought “yea A-Rod could do some damage….wait a minute.” [if it was added just to be different or for the Sega anecdote, I'm good with that]
Other ommissions: Jose Canseco, Frank Robinson, Sammy Sosa. If I had to pick one I’d go Barry Bonds but after strong consideration for Josh Hamilton
I’m with you 100 percent on Cal. Don’t think he’d be a guy I’d wanna see in the Derby. But Ted Williams? Dude hit well over 500 home runs & missed 3 seasons in his prime. Yeah, he was a home run hitter on top of being a great batting average hitter.
Okay, the reason why Cal makes this list is because of his actual performance in the Home Run Derby. Yes, the man did hit 431 HRs and yes the man is a folk hero type legend for his Ironman streak, but when he was actually in the HR Derby, dude was a hoss at a time when others weren’t doing it like him. That’s why he’s on this list.
Besides, you all should be happy I didn’t stroke my own ego and put Gary Sheffield or David Justice on here. LOL
-Ed.
Ted Williams gets credit as an overall hitter, so the more impressive part of his resume (hitting .400) gets more run. But as it’s broken down in the article, he’s easily one of the most prolific power hitters of all time. He hit 521 despite missing his seasons at ages 24-26.
Rev, you know, I agree completely. Babe is the most momentous (by comparison) home run hitter of all-time. He’s the rare pioneer who’s output is still completely relevant nearly 100 years after the impact was made.
I didn’t select Babe because there were other guys I wanted to fill in the space between with that may not get mentioned otherwise or hit in a style that would make the Derby interesting. Babe seemed obvious, but he’s clearly the best to not be singled out and could win such a tournament easily.
I stand completely corrected as it pertains to Teddy Ballgame. Please strike my comments from the record. I consider myself a baseball guy and to have undervalued the guy’s power the way I did is embarrassing
Howeva (Stephen A voice) I’m not letting ETSF get away with Cal Ripken, the 1 performance and his 431 HR notwithstanding. He clearly had power but if I’m looking for a guy to hit one over the wall, I’d legitimately take you up on David Justice/ Gary Sheffield
LET ME LIVE RYAN DAMN! LOL
In my Ken Griffey post, I failed to mention that he’s won the doggone Derby three times. He’s the only player to do that.
JAG
Griff with the backwards hat at Camden Yards is an iconic sports moment.