Home Run Derby's Greatest Moments

Dave "The Cobra" Parker was the original Home Run Derby champion in 1985, belting six home runs to defeat a field that included Jim Rice and future Hall of Famers Eddie Murray, Carlton Fisk, Cal Ripken Jr. and Ryne Sandberg at the Metrodome. Back then it was an AL vs. NL competition, and the Junior Circuit won 17-16.

Future Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg took home top honors in a 1990 Derby that was decidedly toned down from what it would become in later years. He needed only three home runs ton win it at his home ballpark of Wrigley Field.

Cal Ripken Jr. blew away the field in 1991 with 12 home runs in the Skydome and then homered in the All-Star Game as well to take home MVP honors. He is one of only three players to win the Derby and homer in the Game, with Garret Anderson (2003) and Frank Thomas (1995) being the others.

Ken Griffey Jr. led the American League to a 21-12 win over the NL thanks in part to a home run off the warehouse across the street from Camden Yards in the 1993 Derby.

Future Home Run King Barry Bonds took home his only Derby crown in 1996 at Philadelphia's Veterans Stadium long before any rumors of performance-enhancing drugs surfaced.

Ken Griffey Jr. became the only multi-time winner of the Derby by edging Jim Thome, 19-17, at Coors Field in 1998.

Reigning single-season HR king Mark McGwire lived up to his title by blasting 13 home runs over the Green Monster in Fenway Park to open the 1999 Derby. McGwire would falter in the second round though as Ken Griffey Jr. took his second consecutive crown.

Sammy Sosa electrified the Turner Field crowd in 2000 by crushing the field with a then-record 26 home runs. The next-highest total belonged to Boston's Carl Everett with 12, though it was Ken Griffey Jr. who made it to the final round opposite Sosa.

At Minute Maid Park in Houston for the 2004 Derby, Baltimore's Miguel Tejada topped hometown favorite Lance Berkman in the final round with five home runs and an overall total of 27.

In 2005 at Detroit's Comerica Park, Philly's Bobby Abreu went ballistic in the first round with a record 24 home runs in the first round and belted another 11 in the finals to defeat Pudge Rodriguez. Abreu would hit 41 total for the Derby to set an overall record. Ironically, Abreu would hit only six home runs in the second half of the season.

Ryan Howard's 23rd and final homer eliminates runner-up David Wright (22 HRs) and clinches his first Derby crown in 2006 at Pittsburgh.

The kayaks came out in droves for the 2007 Derby in San Francisco but they went home empty-handed -- zero homers would be counted as "Splash Hits."

While Justin Morneau was the official winner, it was Josh Hamilton who captured the hearts of Yankee Stadium fans, breaking Bobby Abreu's mark for one round by clubbing a Derby-record 28 homers in the first round.