The Home Run Derby is one of the marquee events of the MLB season and certainly the highlight of the All-Star break. There have been amazing showings over the years, including surprise winners and favorites putting on a show. Here, we chronicle every Home Run Derby winner since its inception in 1985.
In front of his hometown fans at Nationals Park, Bryce Harper staged an epic comeback in the Home Run Derby to catch and pass Kyle Schwarber, taking home the title. With his father pitching to him — and doing so somewhat controversially — Harper gave Nationals fans a reason to cheer in a potential walk year for the 2015 NL MVP that has not gone according to plan thus far for the team or Harper himself.
The fans in Miami were hoping for a repeat from Mike Stanton or at least a showdown in the finals with rookie phenom Aaron Judge. Only Judge held up his end of the bargain, blasting 23 homers in the first round and never looking back, while Stanton was knocked out in the opening round. The Yankees slugger launched bombs all over the field and awed the crowd, easily taking home the Home Run Derby title and continuing his remarkable rookie season.
Todd Frazier made it three straight trips to the finals, but he could not make it a repeat victory performance. This time, he was bested by Giancarlo Stanton, who launched 20 home runs in the finals to beat Frazier at Petco Park in San Diego.
Frazier made it back to the finals but won this time, edging rookie Joc Pederson 15-14. He won at his home stadium, Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.
Cespedes won back-to-back contests, beating out Reds slugger Todd Frazier in the finals. Of course, Cespedes barely got out of Round 1, battling in a swing-off with teammate Josh Donaldson at Target Field.
Cespedes launched 17 home runs in Round 1 and beat young Bryce Harper 9-8 in the finals to win his first Home Run Derby. He came up big at his future home of Citi Field.
Fielder won his second Home Run Derby, this time with the Tigers. He beat out Jose Bautista in the finals at Kauffman Stadium.
Cano just edged out Adrian Gonzalez in the finals 12-11, and the pair had an even total of 20 home runs going into the last round at Chase Field.
Big Papi was clutch in the finals vs. Hanley Ramirez at Angel Stadium, beating Hanley 11-5. He had 32 home runs for the entire contest.
Fielder edged out Nelson Cruz at Busch Stadium, winning 6-5 in the finals. He had 23 home runs for the Home Run Derby.
Despite Josh Hamilton's 35 home runs for the entire contest, Morneau beat out a worn-down Hamilton in the finals at Yankee Stadium. Hamilton hit 28 home runs in Round 1, a single-round record.
Vlad beat Alex Rios in the finals at AT&T Park to win the Derby. He had 17 home runs in three rounds.
Howard made it two Phillies winners in a row, edging David Wright in the finals 5-4 at PNC Park.
Abreu set a record with 41 home runs, launching an incredible 24 long balls in Round 1 at Comerica Park. He easily topped Detroit catcher Ivan Rodriguez in the finals.
Tejada parlayed 15 home runs in the semis into a head-to-head battle vs. hometown favorite Lance Berkman in the finals at Minute Maid Park. Tejada won 5-4 in the finals.
Anderson caught fire in the finals at U.S. Cellular Field, beating Albert Pujols by one home run. Pujols had more home runs for the contest with 14 in the semis.
Giambi apparently learned to pace himself after wearing down after Round 1 in 2001. He easily beat Sammy Sosa in the finals at Miller Park.
Jason Giambi hit an incredible 14 home runs in Round 1 but failed to make it to the finals. Gonzalez beat Sammy Sosa in the finals at Safeco Field in Seattle.
Sosa dominated in the new three-round format, hitting a total of 26 home runs. His competitor in the finals, Ken Griffey Jr., hit only 11 for the entire contest at Turner Field.
Griffey Jr. made it back-to-back Home Run Derby wins, hitting a total of 16 home runs at Fenway Park. Mark McGwire's mammoth shots are a lasting memory of the contest, but he failed to win.
Griffey Jr. won his second Home Run Derby with 19 home runs, beating out hometown favorite Vinny Castilla at Coors Field.
Martinez beat out Larry Walker in the finals at Jacobs Field, though Walker hit more homers (19) for the Home Run Derby compared to Martinez's 16.
Bonds edged out Mark McGwire in a home run battle that foreshadowed the pair's record-breaking futures. Bonds hit 17 home runs for the contest, while McGwire hit 15 at Veterans Stadium in Philly.
The Big Hurt hit 15 homers for the Home Run Derby at Arlington. While Albert Belle actually had more homers with 16, Thomas won in the finals against Belle as the contest evolved into multiple rounds.
After losing in the head-to-head playoff in 1993, Griffey Jr. won his first Home Run Derby in 1994 at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh with seven home runs. Fred McGriff finished second.
Gonzalez and Ken Griffey Jr. tied with seven home runs, necessitating a head-to-head playoff at hitter-friendly Camden Yards. Juan Gone claimed victory in the playoff.
Big Mac claimed his first Home Run Derby victory, hitting mammoth shots at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego. He launched 12 homers, while Ken Griffey Jr. came in second place with seven.
Ripken dominated the field with a record-breaking 12 home runs at the SkyDome in Toronto. Paul O'Neill finished in second place with five homers.
Sandberg hit three home runs at Wrigley Field to win the contest on his home turf. He beat out fellow future manager Matt Williams and future Padres bench coach Mark McGwire.
After the 1988 Home Run Derby was rained out, Davis won the contest at Anaheim Stadium with three home runs. The field was back up to four participants per league after participation decreased the prior two years.
With only three opponents, Dawson won the Home Run Derby in 1987 with four home runs. He beat out George Bell, Mark McGwire and Ozzie Virgil Jr.
Seth Trachtman is a fantasy sports expert and diehard Kansas City Chiefs fan. He doesn't often Tweet, but when he does, you can find him on Twitter @sethroto.
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