Home Run Derby (1990-1999)

Prior to the 1985 All-Star Game being played, a new tradition was born when Major League Baseball adopted an official format for a Home Run Derby. Though these types of contests had taken place before, this was the first time it was going to be acknowledged by the League.

From 1985 through 1990, the Home Run Derby was structured as a two-inning event with each participant getting five outs per inning. Since 1991, eight to ten players, were chosen to participate in a three round contest to determine the Home Run Derby Champion. Each player received ten outs per round as they attempted to hit as many home runs as they could.

The top four, regardless of their league affiliation, have advanced to the second round. If a tie existed among players for advancement into Round 2, the player with the most regular season home runs at the All-Star break advanced. The second tie breaker, if necessary, is distance of longest home run in Round One.

The 2005 Derby was the first "we are the world" long ball contest. It featured eight sluggers from eight different countries, paying homage to the 2006 World Baseball Classic — the first international baseball tournament which will include Major League players from the twenty-five man rosters of each Major League team.

Baseball Almanac is pleased to present a complete breakdown of every Home Run Derby played between 1990 and 1999. Though the criteria, rules, and results have changed the event is still a fan favorite and we hope this page is informative.

Baseball Almanac Top Quote

"I remember in 1999 sitting there watching Mark McGwire hit balls five-hundred ninety (590) feet. I just hope mine go three-hundred thirty (330) feet and go over the wall. I don't hit tape measure shots. I hit line drives and squeakers that just clear the wall. As long as it goes over the fence, that's all that counts." - Luis Gonzalez in the 2000 Home Run Derby (ESPN)

1999 Home Run Derby

1999 Home Run Derby Logo

1999 Home Run Derby Official Logo

Fenway Park / Boston, Massachusetts

1st Ken Griffey, Jr. Seattle 3 10 3 16
2nd Jeromy Burnitz Milwaukee 6 6 2 14
3rd Mark McGwire St. Louis 13 3 n/a 16
4th Jeff Bagwell Houston 5 1 n/a 6
5th Larry Walker Colorado 2 n/a n/a 2
NomarGarciaparra Boston 2 n/a n/a 2
B.J. Surhoff Baltimore 2 n/a n/a 2
Shawn Green Toronto 2 n/a n/a 2
9th Sammy Sosa Chicago 1 n/a n/a 1
John Jaha Oakland 1 n/a n/a 1
1999 Home Run Derby
1985-1989 Home Run Derby | 2000-Current Home Run Derby

1998 Home Run Derby

1998 Home Run Derby Logo

1998 Home Run Derby Official Logo

Coors Field / Denver, Colorado

1st Ken Griffey, Jr. Seattle 8 8 3 19
2nd Jim Thome Cleveland 7 8 2 17
3rd Vinny Castilla Colorado 7 5 n/a 12
4th RafaelPalmeiro Baltimore 7 3 n/a 10
5th Moises Alou Houston 7 n/a n/a 7
6th Javy Lopez Atlanta 5 n/a n/a 5
Alex Rodriguez Seattle 5 n/a n/a 5
8th Mark McGwire St. Louis 4 n/a n/a 4
9th Damion Easley Detroit 2 n/a n/a 2
10th Chipper Jones Atlanta 1 n/a n/a 1
1998 Home Run Derby
1985-1989 Home Run Derby | 2000-Current Home Run Derby

1997 Home Run Derby

Jacobs Field / Cleveland, Ohio

1st Tino Martinez NewYork 5 8 3 16
2nd Larry Walker Colorado 9 9 1 19
3rd Mark McGwire Oakland 5 2 n/a 7
4th Jeff Bagwell Houston 4 1 n/a 5
5th Brady Anderson Baltimore 4 n/a n/a 4
6th Ken Griffey, Jr. Seattle 3 n/a n/a 3
Chipper Jones Atlanta 3 n/a n/a 3
8th Ray Lankford St. Louis 2 n/a n/a 2
9th NomarGarciaparra Boston 0 n/a n/a 0
Jim Thome Cleveland 0 n/a n/a 0
1997 Home Run Derby
1985-1989 Home Run Derby | 2000-Current Home Run Derby

1996 Home Run Derby

Veterans Stadium / Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

1st Barry Bonds SanFrancisco 4 10 3 17 451'
2nd Mark McGwire Oakland 4 9 2 15 460'
3rd Brady Anderson Baltimore 5 6 n/a 11 433'
4th Jay Buhner Seattle 6 2 n/a 8 426'
5th HenryRodriguez Montreal 3 n/a n/a 3 437'
6th Jeff Bagwell Houston 2 n/a n/a 2 460'
Joe Carter Toronto 2 n/a n/a 2 433'
8th Ellis Burks Colorado 1 n/a n/a 1 405'
9th Gary Sheffield Florida 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a
Greg Vaughn Milwaukee 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a
1996 Home Run Derby
1985-1989 Home Run Derby | 2000-Current Home Run Derby

1995 Home Run Derby

The Ballpark in Arlington / Arlington, Texas

1st Frank Thomas Chicago 8 4 3 15
2nd Albert Belle Cleveland 7 7 2 16
3rd Mo Vaughn Boston 3 3 n/a 6
Ron Gant Cincinnati 3 3 n/a 6
5th Manny Ramirez Cleveland 3 n/a n/a 3
6th Sammy Sosa Chicago 2 n/a n/a 2
ReggieSanders Cincinnati 2 n/a n/a 2
Raul Mondesi LosAngeles 2 n/a n/a 2
1995 Home Run Derby
1985-1989 Home Run Derby | 2000-Current Home Run Derby

1994 Home Run Derby

Three Rivers Stadium / Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

1st KenGriffey,Jr. Seattle uk uk uk 7
2nd Fred McGriff Atlanta uk uk uk 5
3rd Ruben Sierra Oakland uk uk n/a 4
Frank Thomas Chicago uk uk n/a 4
5th Jeff Bagwell Houston 3 n/a n/a 3
DanteBichette Colorado 3 n/a n/a 3
7th Albert Belle Cleveland 2 n/a n/a 2
8th Mike Piazza LosAngeles 0 n/a n/a 0
1994 Home Run Derby
1985-1989 Home Run Derby | 2000-Current Home Run Derby

1993 Home Run Derby

Oriole Park at Camden Yards / Baltimore, Maryland

1st JuanGonzalez Texas uk uk 4 1 7
2nd KenGriffey,Jr. Seattle uk uk 4 0 7
3rd Barry Bonds SanFrancisco uk uk n/a n/a 5
Bobby Bonilla New York uk uk n/a n/a 5
5th Cecil Fielder Detroit 4 n/a n/a n/a 4
6th Albert Belle Cleveland 3 n/a n/a n/a 3
7th David Justice Atlanta 2 n/a n/a n/a 2
8th Mike Piazza Los Angeles 0 n/a n/a n/a 0
1993 Home Run Derby
1985-1989 Home Run Derby | 2000-Current Home Run Derby

1992 Home Run Derby

Jack Murphy Stadium / San Diego, California

1st Mark McGwire Oakland uk uk uk 12
2nd KenGriffey,Jr. Seattle uk uk uk 7
3rd Joe Carter Toronto uk uk n/a 4
Cal Ripken, Jr. Baltimore uk uk n/a 4
Gary Sheffield SanDiego uk uk n/a 4
Larry Walker Montreal uk uk n/a 4
7th Fred McGriff SanDiego 3 n/a n/a 3
8th Barry Bonds Pittsburgh 2 n/a n/a 2
1992 Home Run Derby
1985-1989 Home Run Derby | 2000-Current Home Run Derby

1991 Home Run Derby

The Skydome / Toronto, Canada

1st Cal Ripken, Jr. Baltimore uk uk uk 12
2nd Paul O'Neill Cincinnati uk uk uk 5
3rd Cecil Fielder Detroit uk uk n/a 4
4th George Bell Chicago uk uk n/a 2
Joe Carter Toronto uk uk n/a 2
Danny Tartabull KansasCity uk uk n/a 2
7th HowardJohnson New York 0 n/a n/a 0
Chris Sabo Cincinnati 0 n/a n/a 0
1991 Home Run Derby
1985-1989 Home Run Derby | 2000-Current Home Run Derby

1990 Home Run Derby

Wrigley Field / Chicago, Illinois

1st Ryne Sandberg Chicago uk uk 3
2nd Mark McGwire Oakland uk uk 1
Matt Williams SanFrancisco uk uk 1
4th Bobby Bonilla Pittsburgh 0 0 0
Jose Canseco Oakland 0 0 0
Cecil Fielder Detroit 0 0 0
Ken Griffey, Jr. Seattle 0 0 0
DarrylStrawberry New York 0 0 0
1990 Home Run Derby
1985-1989 Home Run Derby | 2000-Current Home Run Derby
baseball almanac flat baseball

baseball almanac fast facts

In 1996 the All-Star "people" who hosted the Home Run Derby began reporting home run distances and a new tradition was born.

Did you know that we have the historical results from the 2000-Today Home Run Derby contests and 1985-1989 Home Run Derby contests archived on different pages to keep the size/speed of this page manageble?

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