2007 MLB Home Run Derby

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Jul 10, 2007

2007 MLB Home Run Derby

Ken Griffey Jr.

Many of Tuesday's All-Stars, who were on hand at San Francisco's AT&T Park for batting practice, stuck around to watch the event. Ken Griffey Jr. is a two-time winner of the the contest, taking it in 1998 at Coors Field and 1999 at Fenway Park.

Barry Bonds

Barry Bonds, who won the event in 1996 at Veterans Stadium, opted not to participate this season at his home ballpark. Instead, Bonds put his efforts into co-hosting an All-Star party with rapper Jay-Z.

Justin Morneau

Justin Morneau, who hit 24 home runs during the first half of the season, was the first to take his cuts. The Minnesota Twins first baseman hit four to set the early pace.

Matt Holliday

Matt Holliday, who was a late replacement for the injured Miguel Cabrera, went second. The Colorado Rockies slugger climbed into the lead with five, including a towering, 462-foot shot over the left field foul pole.

Magglio Ordonez

Magglio Ordonez was arguably the American League's first-half MVP, batting .367 with 13 homers and 70 RBI. But the Detroit Tigers right fielder had a difficult time in San Francisco, hitting just two out.

Albert Pujols

Albert Pujols, who had 16 at the break, is the first player in MLB history to hit at least 30 homers in each of his first six seasons. The St. Louis Cardinals first baseman hit four in the first round.

Alex Rios

Alex Rios, who has 17 homers for the Blue Jays, tied Holliday for the lead with a five-spot in the first round.

Prince Fielder

With 29 home runs at the break, trailing only Alex Rodriguez (30) for most in the majors, Prince Fielder was the odds-on favorite. The Milwaukee Brewers left-handed slugger had a disappointing performance, however, managing just three bombs and none into McCovey Cove.

Vladimir Guerrero

After recording four outs without homering, Angels outfielder Vladimir Guerrero accepted a gift bat from Red Sox slugger David Ortiz and went on to hit five to advance to the second round.

Ryan Howard

The reigning Home Run Derby king could not repeat his performance from Pittsburgh. The Phillies slugger was eliminated after hitting just three to close out the first round. Pujols beat Morneau in a swing-off to advance, along with Holliday, Rios and Guerrero.

McCovey Cove

McCovey Cove was homer-free in the first round, with only two foul balls achieving splashdown in the San Francisco Bay. With four right-handed hitters advancing, it would be a disappointing day for the Cove dwellers.

Matt Holliday

Holliday teed off to begin the second round, clubbing eight to give him 13 overall. The top two players, combining the first and second-round totals, advance to the finals.

Alex Rios

Rios, in his fourth season with the Blue Jays, put on a show in the second round, clubbing a contest-high 12. It gave him 17 between the two rounds, putting him in the lead.

Vladimir Guerrero

Guerrero launched the longest home run of the contest, blasting one 503 feet to left-center field. He hit nine in the second round, giving him 14 total.

Albert Pujols

Pujols needed to hit 10 home runs to advance to the finals. He hit nine, with his last out landing on the warning track, sending Rios and Guerrero to the finals.

Alex Rios

With the slate wiped clean in the final round, Rios managed only two home runs, setting the table for his American League teammate.

Vladimir Guerrero

Needing to hit three to win, Guerrero got two and was promptly rushed by fans, who thought the Angels slugger had clinched it. A few outs later, Vlad blasted No. 3 to become the 2007 Home Run Derby Champion.