Editing Home Run Derby (section)

==History==
[[File:2008 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby.jpg|thumb|[[2008 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby]]]]
The inspiration for the event was a 1960 TV series called ''[[Home Run Derby (1960 TV series)|Home Run Derby]]''. The televised event included baseball legends [[Hank Aaron]], [[Mickey Mantle]], and [[Willie Mays]]. The show ran for 26 episodes with the winner receiving $2,000.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://seatgeek.com/tba/sports/history-of-the-home-run-derby/|title=History Of The Home Run Derby|date=July 6, 2017|website=Seat Geek}}</ref>

The event has grown significantly from its roots in the 1980s, when it was not televised. Prior to 1991, the Home Run Derby was structured as a two-[[inning]] event with each player receiving five [[out (baseball)|out]]s per inning, allowing for the possibility of ties. It is now one of the most-watched events broadcast on [[ESPN]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Baseball; ESPN rift with MLB a real derby; Dispute heats up over credentials|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/bostonherald/access/42976018.html?dids=42976018:42976018&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jul+07%2C+1999&author=Jim+Baker&pub=Boston+Herald&desc=Baseball%3B+ESPN+rift+with+MLB+a+real+derby%3B+Dispute+heats+up+over+credentials&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130717084525/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/bostonherald/access/42976018.html?dids=42976018:42976018&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jul+07,+1999&author=Jim+Baker&pub=Boston+Herald&desc=Baseball;+ESPN+rift+with+MLB+a+real+derby;+Dispute+heats+up+over+credentials&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 17, 2013|work=[[Boston Herald]]|date=Jul 7, 1999|access-date=July 16, 2013|author=Baker, Jim}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://seattletimes.com/html/entertainment/2008057270_apcablenielsens.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130717084555/http://seattletimes.com/html/entertainment/2008057270_apcablenielsens.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 17, 2013 |title=Home Run Derby on ESPN is No. 1 on cable TV |agency=[[Associated Press]] |work=[[The Seattle Times]] |date=July 23, 2008 |access-date=July 16, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/hiestand-tv/2009-07-07-espn-home-run-derby-graphics_N.htm|title=ESPN adds new graphics for Home Run Derby coverage|work=[[USA Today]]|date=July 7, 2009|access-date=July 16, 2013|author=Hiestand, Michael|quote=Monday's Home Run Derby— often cable TV's highest-rated summer event}}</ref>

In 2000, a "[[match play]]"-style format was instituted for the second round. The player with the most home runs in the first round faced the player with the least among the four qualifying players, as did the players with the second- and third-most totals. The contestant who won each matchup advanced to the finals. This format was discontinued after the 2003 competition.

The field of players selected currently consists of four [[American League]] players and four [[National League (baseball)|National League]] players. The first Derby in 1985 featured five from each league, and the 1986 and 1987 events featured three and two players from each league, respectively. In 1996, the field was again expanded to ten players, with five from each league (though in 1997, the AL had six contestants to the NL's four).

In 2000, the field reverted to the current four-player-per-league format. The only exception was in 2005, when [[Major League Baseball]] changed the selection criteria so that eight players represented their home countries instead of their respective leagues. The change was believed to be in promotion of the inaugural [[World Baseball Classic]], played in March 2006. In 2006, the selection of four players from each league resumed. In 2011, the format was revised so that team captains selected the individual sides.

For the first time in Derby history, [[Shohei Ohtani]] became both the first pitcher and the first Japanese player to participate in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 18, 2021 |title=Angels' Shohei Ohtani first pitcher to compete in Home Run Derby |url=https://theathletic.com/news/angels-shohei-ohtani-first-pitcher-to-compete-in-home-run-derby/rrngZbMcDNRa |access-date=2021-06-23 |website=The Athletic |language=en}}</ref>

Some notable performances in the Derby include [[Bobby Abreu]] in 2005, who won the Derby with a then-record 41 homers, including a then-record 24 in the first round. In 2008, [[Josh Hamilton]] broke the record for most home runs in a single round, with 28. This included 13 consecutive home runs and 7 that traveled over 500 feet.  [[Vladimir Guerrero Jr.]] broke the first-round record in 2019 with 29 home runs. He broke that record in the following round, hitting 40 home runs in 2 tiebreakers. The previous overall record was set in 2016 by [[Giancarlo Stanton]], who finished with a total of 61 home runs, defeating [[Todd Frazier]] in the final round. The current overall record is held by Guerrero Jr. at a mark of 91, set in 2019. Only three participants, [[Yoenis Céspedes]], Stanton, and [[Pete Alonso]], have won the Home Run Derby without being selected to the [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Cespedes beats Harper to claim Derby title|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130715&content_id=53864458&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb|work=MLB.com|last=Castrovince|first=Anthony|date=July 16, 2013}}</ref> Alonso broke Guerrero's first-round record in 2021 with 35 homers on his way to his second straight Derby Title (the first being in 2019 with a final round win over Guerrero).

With his win in 2023, Guerrero Jr. joined his father [[Vladimir Guerrero]] (the 2007 winner) as the first father-son duo to win the Derby.