July 14, 2008. It may seem like a rather insignificant date in history, but if you are baseball fan of any magnitude, then you should know it well. The site was a sold out Yankee Stadium and the stage was set for the greatest sluggers of that year to display their power in the annual Home Run Derby. Typically, the Derby is moderately entertaining at best. Fans have always loved to see their favorite home-run hitters crush big-flys to an almost inhuman distance, but with 21st century of course being the steroid era, the Derby had lost its appeal.
Enter Josh Hamilton. At the time, almost everyone had heard of Hamilton’s unbelievable backstory: the big signing bonus with Tampa Bay following his draft day; his addiction to drugs that nearly cost him his career in baseball; his resurrection not only as a person, but as a professional baseball player. The story was so special that it simply could have ended with an exclamation point on the fact that Hamilton was simply invited to come play in the All-Star game and participate in the Derby. But as we all know, it didn’t end their. In an instant, Hamilton’s record-breaking 28 home runs in the first round captivated the baseball world and transformed him into an instant legend. Although Hamilton ended up losing that year’s Home Run Derby to Minnesota Twin Justin Mornearu, he was unequivocally the man of the evening.
With all of that being said, baseball fans couldn’t help but bite their tongues in disappointment when Hamilton, who is now currently third among American League outfielders in the All-Star voting, declared on ESPN radio that he not be participating in this year’s Derby.
“I ain’t going to mess with it this year if I get voted in,” Hamilton said. “I feel like, ‘Why mess up a good thing?’ I’ve got nothing to prove. It’s fun. I would like to do it, but you’ve got to think about the whole season and the club.”
Unfortunately, Josh is right. Texas is playing excellent baseball right now, and Hamilton, who has eight homers, 26 RBIs and is hitting .476 in the month of June, is a huge part of their early success.
photo credit: Rich Anderson
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