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Home Run Derby 2015: All-Time Records

By Josh Hill

Jul 14, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; American League outfielder Yoenis Cespedes (52) of the Oakland Athletics at bat in the first round of the 2014 Home Run Derby the day before the MLB All Star Game at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 14, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; American League outfielder Yoenis Cespedes (52) of the Oakland Athletics at bat in the first round of the 2014 Home Run Derby the day before the MLB All Star Game at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Home Run Derby is tonight, and we are all going to be watching to see if any records can be broken — both good and bad. 

Each year, the Home Run Derby runs its course to show us who the best sluggers in baseball are. Of course, it’s not a comprehensive assessment of the best hitters in the game in a given year, as often times the best hitters don’t participate.

For instance, Jose Bautista and Giancarlo Stanton will not be participating this year despite their prowess as the best sluggers in the game. That doesn’t mean the Home Run Derby won’t be interesting, as if anything has been proven over the years it’s that the Derby is always full of surprises.

Sometimes, those surprises come in the form of record breaking performances.

Before you dig into the records that are impressive for positive reasons, there are a handful of teams who are in the distinct category of never having an All-Star representative win a Home Run Derby.

Tampa Bay Rays0
Toronto Blue Jays0
Cleveland Indians0
Kansas City Royals0
Houston Astros0
Atlanta Braves0
Miami Marlins0
Washington Nationals0
Pittsburgh Pirates0
St. Louis Cardinals0
Colorado Rockies0
Los Angeles Dodgers0
San Diego Padres0

The Dodgers and Blue Jays have a chance to end that losing streak tonight with Joc Pederson and Josh Donaldson, respectively.

As far as the positive records go, we all remember classic performances by Ken Griffey Jr, Bobby Abreu, Josh Hamilton and the Summer Bash of 1999 at Fenway Park.

Most single-derby home runs

  1. Bobby Abreu (2005) – 41
  2. Josh Hamilton (2008) – 35
  3. David Ortiz (2010), Robinson Canó (2011), Yoenis Céspedes (2013) – 32
  4. Adrian Gonzalez (2011) – 31
  5. Yoenis Céspedes (2014) – 30
  6. Prince Fielder (2012) – 28
  7. Miguel Tejada (2004) – 27
  8. Sammy Sosa (2000), Albert Pujols (2003), Hanley Ramírez (2010) – 26
  9. Jason Giambi (2002), Bryce Harper (2013) – 24
  10. Ryan Howard (2006), Jason Giambi (2003), Prince Fielder (2009) – 23

Most all-time home runs

  1. David Ortiz – 77
  2. Ken Griffey, Jr. – 70
  3. Jason Giambi – 69
  4. Prince Fielder – 68
  5. Sammy Sosa – 65
  6. Yoenis Céspedes – 62
  7. Mark McGwire – 56
  8. Albert Pujols – 50
  9. Barry Bonds – 47
  10. Bobby Abreu – 41

As far as the winners go, Ken Griffey Jr’s crown at the most successful Home Run Derby participant ever could be matched tonight if Prince Fielder wins this year.

Multiple champions

RankChampionWinsYears
1Ken Griffey, Jr.31994, 1998, 1999
2Yoenis Céspedes22013, 2014
Prince Fielder22009, 2012

While Griffey’s reign as the most successful champion ever is in jeopardy tonight, his record for most consecutive titles won’t be surpassed this year as Yoenus Cespedes won’t be competing.

Consecutive years as champion

RankChampionConsecutive WinsYears
1Ken Griffey, Jr.21998, 1999
Yoenis Céspedes22013, 2014

You can tune into the Home Run Derby tonight on ESPN at 8pm ET.

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