Bronx, NY (WGR 550) -- The home-run derby last night wasn’t going as exciting as I thought it would be until Josh Hamilton stepped into the batter’s box. Wow. What a showman. He said he had dreamed about hitting home runs in Yankee Stadium and he did just that. 28 in round one!
I asked Reggie Jackson about two hours before the derby if anyone could hit one out of the Stadium and his response was probably not, but he’d like to see it. Hamilton hinted at it earlier in the day that he thought about it. The Rangers slugger, who leads all of MLB with 95 RBI, said this, “I think there’s a few of us who could hit it out of this place. You know that little opening in right where you can see the subway? Watch out!” He came close. Gotta love that comment though. It was another memorable moment in Yankee Stadium lore and it just makes the anticipation for tonight’s game even better for me.
If you don’t know the Josh Hamilton story by now, here’s a quick look. He fought back from drug abuse, he weighted 180 pounds at one point, 50 less than he does now. Hamilton now gets tested regularly for drugs, saying he’s checked three times a week. He says its part of his routine now, just like hitting home runs apparently. It’s unfortunate he couldn’t finish it off and win the derby last night, but he’ll always be the star of this derby. Hamilton was drafted No. 1 overall by Tampa Bay in 1999, with some veteran scouts calling him the best prospect they'd ever seen. He finally reached the majors last year with Cincinnati, then was traded in the offseason for All-Star pitcher Edinson Volquez in a deal that has paid off immensely for both teams. As sports fans, we all benefited last night.
Alex Rodriquez continues to take heat from fans here in New York about why he didn’t participate in the HR derby. He says he’s not good at these types of contests and that he’s afraid it might mess up his swing. In my mind, he’s got to be in it. He’s the big hitting star of the league from the team that hosting the game in the greatest stadium of all. It’s weak on his part. He’s also getting front page headlines surrounding his “off the field” issues with his personal life. He still can’t escape the comparisons to Derek Jeter. He showed signs of his displeasure with that yesterday after talking with reporters during batting practice. “Jeter was a Yankee fan, I was a Met fan, that’s why everyone hates me. I’ve only been here five years and I don’t have any championships. When you look at the perfect career, I would have to say Derek Jeter is right there.” Glad to see there isn’t any self-anxiety problems with A-Rod. It’s amazing that someone who gets paid more than anyone else on the planet to play baseball still seems jealous of others.
Cool story about the first ever All-Star game in Chicago in 1933… the city of Chicago was struggling to get out of the depression and its mayor, Ed Kelly, approached his friend, Bertie McCormick, publisher of the Chicago Tribune, about arranging a sports event to coincide with the World’s Fair in 1933 to help bring more people to the city. McCormick was worried that no one would show up. Tribune Sports Editor Arch Ward guaranteed the mayor that if there was some sort of baseball sports event, they could fill a stadium. He bet his salary on it. Six months later, the first ever All-Star game was played, billed as the “Game of the Century.” Comiskey Park was chosen over Wrigley Field in a coin toss. It was a success as 47,595 showed up to the game. Players showed up and played thinking it would be the first and only game of its type. After the game, Commissioner Judge Landis immediately called the game a success and declared that it become an annual event.
All photos courtesy of AP
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