The Home Run Derby is a yearly event that captivates the nation like few others. People are naturally attracted to the long ball, and seeing the sluggers duke it out to see who is the game's biggest bopper is a great thrill.
The first incarnation was a television show in the 1960's that showed the best hitters of the day competing for cash prizes by seeing who could hit the most big flies. Hank Aaron was the most successful, winning six straight competitions, and Mickey Mantle also won a few.
Since the most known and current competition started in Minneapolis in 1985, it has grown in popularity to the point where it is close or more important than the actual All-Star Game.
The true explosion in the event's popularity occurred when it began airing in 1993 on ESPN. Since then, it has been a who's who of sluggers that have won the event.
The cloud of the steroid era looms large over the competition because of the list of winners that have been implicated in scandals over the years.
Regardless, these players have left us in awe, admiration, shock, and amazement.
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