#10: Prince Fielder
Fielder’s performance in the 2012 Home Run Derby lands him at #10 on the list.
The 2012 derby had 8 participants in round one. The top 4 from round one moved to round two. The top two from round two moved to the finals. The totals carried over from the first round to the second round, but they reset in the final round.
Although Fielder barely made it to the second round with only 5 Home Runs in the first round, he hit an incredible 11 Home Runs in the second round. That comeback alone would have earned him a spot on this list, but he outdid himself with his performance in the final round.
Prince Fielder was matched up with Jose Bautista in the 2012 derby finals. Bautista added 7 Home Runs to bring his derby total to 20. Fielder added 12 Home Runs to bring his derby total to 28.
This performance gave Fielder the 2012 Home Run Derby trophy at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City.
Prince Fielder also won the derby in 2009 after defeating Nelson Cruz in the final round.
#9: Cal Ripken
Ripkin’s performance in the 1991 Home Run Derby lands him at #9 on the list.
The format in the ’91 derby involved three rounds. The top 4 from round one moved on to round two. The top 2 from round two moved on to the finals. The Home Run totals reset between each round.
From 1885-1990, the participants only had 5 “outs” to work with in each round. The ’91 derby was the first on that allowed 10 “outs” in each round. Previously, players were only given 5 “outs.”
With the 5 “out” format, the most Home Runs any player had hit in a single derby was 4. With the expanded “outs” available, Ripken was able to hit 12 Home Runs. The seven other derby participants hit a combined 15 Home Runs, so this was quite the performance.
Ripken’s 12 Home Runs earned him the 1991 derby trophy at the SkyDome in Toronto.
#8: Juan Gonzalez
The performance of Gonzalez in the 1993 Home Run Derby lands him at #8 on the list.
The format for this derby was the same as the 1991 derby featured at #9 on the list.
Although this derby featured Mike Piazza, David Justice, Bobby Bonilla, Barry Bonds, Albert Belle, and Cecil Fielder (the father of #10 on our list), it came down to a Juan Gonzalez and Ken Griffey Jr. showdown.
The two sluggers both hit 4 Home Runs a piece in the final round which forced a playoff. Gonzalez won the playoff 1-0.
Choosing the top performer from this derby was tough as Griffey Jr. hit an iconic Home Run that landed 465 feet away from home plate off of the B&O Warehouse. However, I have to give the #8 spot to the winner of the derby, Juan Gonzalez.
Gonzalez won the 1993 Home Run Derby at Camden Yards in Baltimore.
Please enjoy this great early 90’s style recap video of the derby: