The Milwaukee Brewers don’t have much of a history at the home run derby
The 46-40 Milwaukee Brewers are entering the all-star break as a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde-type team. Their offense stinks; their pitching and defense have been pretty good. The team is still in a close second in their division. But in order to stay in first place this team is going to need to score more runs. The home run is certainly a way to do that!
Now that the 2023 home run derby bracket is set (no Brewers are in this year’s derby) what is the Crew’s history at the derby? For this article we will try to go back to 1985 when the more modern-version and more formalized home run derby began. (Note: From 1985-1990 it was a 2-inning contest with each participant only getting 5 outs.)
Let’s look at the long ball and see if the Brewers have ever had a home run derby winner? With the MLB home run derby almost upon us, who has the best home run derby performance? Again this year the club does not have anyone in the derby.
Related: Milwaukee Brewers Offensive Woes Continue
Richie Sexon Hits A Home Run
#4- Richie Sexson 2002
In 2002 the home run derby and all-star game were held here in Milwaukee at Miller Park. Sexson worked out of the first round with six homers and finished with 10 total, but he lost to Sammy Sosa in the semifinals, 5-4. Jason Giambi went on to beat Sosa for the title. Sexson hit his longest shot at 480’.
It was great to see a Brewer perform well at home.
#3- Ryan Braun 2008
Braun went on to take 4th in the 2008 home run derby. He hit 14 total long balls.
He started off well hitting 7 long balls. That year Texas Ranger Josh Hamilton just snapped in round 1, hitting 28 long balls. Wow!
Home Run Derby Factoid:
Did you know that Ken Griffey, Jr. has won the Home Run Derby (1994, 1998 & 1999) more often than any other participant in Home Run Derby history?
Xxx All Star Game S Bbn Co
#2- Jeromy Burnitz 1999
Burnitz won the first round of his derby contest and really “showed out” for the Brewers in 1999.
Burnitz won the National League portion of the Home Run Derby, topping Mark McGwire in the second round. But he fell to Ken Griffey Jr. in the final, with a total homer count of 16 to 14. In that final round Burnitz only lost 3-2.
It was a great to see someone make it that far from the crew.
#1- Prince Fielder 2009 (Winner)
What a moment in Brewers home run history!! The lone Brewers victory in the derby came when Fielder socked a total of 23 homers at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. Fielder socked 11 home runs and matched Nelson Cruz with 11 first-round homers, then worked into the finals with six more in the second for a total of 17. He beat Cruz in the finals, 6-5.
Related: Brewers Revisiting the 2016 ML Draft
Prince Fielder ended up leaving the Brewers after the awesome 2011 season. The team fell just short of a World Series appearance in losing to the rival Cardinals in the NLCS that year. He would go on to sign a 9 year, $214 mil contract with the Detroit Tigers.
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