The History of Dumb: A Continually Updated Special Report
A-Rod and the HR Derby: A Glimpse Into A Troubled Soul?
MLB has been holding the Home Run Derby at the All Star Break since 1985. At
first it was a simple affair with only a handful of participants, but it has since been
expanded to include many more players and involves qualifying and playoff rounds.
One thing has always remained the same though, and that is that the Home Run
Derby attracts the best Home Run hitters in both leagues, eager to square off against
each other and prove who is the best. Every year, past, current, and future HR
champions have participated repeatedly, except for one. Alex Rodriguez remains
mysteriously absent from the HR Derby competition. He has appeared in it only 3
times, and not at all since 2002. This is highly unusual for someone who has led the
AL in HRs 5 times the last 7 years.
I decided to compare A-Rod to the other great power hitters of his era - Mark
McGwire, Ken Griffey, Sammy Sosa, & Barry Bonds - to see what their participation in
the HR Derby was like:
Mark McGwire (87-01): 583 Career HRs, 50 HR per 162 Games, HR titles in 87, 96,
98, 99
* He participated in the HR Derby 7 times: 87, 90, 92, 96, 97, 98 and 99. He won it in
92.
Ken Griffey (89-still active): 593 Career HRs, 40 HR per 162 Games, HR titles in 94,
97, 98, 99
* He participated in the HR Derby 8 times: 90, 92, 93, 94, 97, 98, 99, 00. He won it in
94, 98, and 99.
Sammy Sosa (89-07): 609 Career HRs, 42 HR per 162 Games, HR titles in 00, 02
* He participated in the HR Derby 6 times: 95, 99, 00, 01, 02, 04. He won it in 00.
Barry Bonds (86-07): 762 Career HRs, 41 HRs per 162 Games, HR titles in 93, 01
* He participated in the HR Derby 6 times: 92, 93, 96, 01, 02, 04. He won it in 96.
Alex Rodriguez (94-still active): 518 Career HRs, 44 HRs per 162 Games, HR titles in
01, 02, 03, 05, 07
* He participated in the HR Derby 3 times: 98, 00, 02.
The contrast to the others' levels of participation and performance is striking.
After 3 very poor showings in 5 years, Alex Rodriguez has not participated in the HR
for the last 5 years. He has led the AL in home runs four times since then. It is
unprecedented, and almost inexplicable, for such a dominant HR hitter to repeatedly
bow out of the premier HR hitting championship. One can only assume that he
doesn't like the pressure. I believe this phenomenon is inextricably related to his
dismal failures in the postseason, and that A-Rod will not win a championship until he
wins a HR Derby first. Of course, it would be ridiculous to claim that success in the
HR Derby guarantees success in the playoffs; of the four HR Derby Champions above
only one (Mark McGwire) won a World Series ring. My point is that A-Rod has failed
to even show up for these contests that test the one area in which A-Rod is the most
prolific: Home Run hitting. If A-Rod cannot stand up to the pressure of a festive
exhibition Home Run Derby, how can he possibly perform in the postseason?
In comparison, Larry Bird won the NBA's Three Point Shooting Contest in 86, 87
& 88, the first such contests ever held and a point of pride for him. Bird led the
Celtics to the NBA Championship in 1981, 1984, and 1986.
MLB has been holding the Home Run Derby at the All Star Break since 1985. At
first it was a simple affair with only a handful of participants, but it has since been
expanded to include many more players and involves qualifying and playoff rounds.
One thing has always remained the same though, and that is that the Home Run
Derby attracts the best Home Run hitters in both leagues, eager to square off against
each other and prove who is the best. Every year, past, current, and future HR
champions have participated repeatedly, except for one. Alex Rodriguez remains
mysteriously absent from the HR Derby competition. He has appeared in it only 3
times, and not at all since 2002. This is highly unusual for someone who has led the
AL in HRs 5 times the last 7 years.
I decided to compare A-Rod to the other great power hitters of his era - Mark
McGwire, Ken Griffey, Sammy Sosa, & Barry Bonds - to see what their participation in
the HR Derby was like:
Mark McGwire (87-01): 583 Career HRs, 50 HR per 162 Games, HR titles in 87, 96,
98, 99
* He participated in the HR Derby 7 times: 87, 90, 92, 96, 97, 98 and 99. He won it in
92.
Ken Griffey (89-still active): 593 Career HRs, 40 HR per 162 Games, HR titles in 94,
97, 98, 99
* He participated in the HR Derby 8 times: 90, 92, 93, 94, 97, 98, 99, 00. He won it in
94, 98, and 99.
Sammy Sosa (89-07): 609 Career HRs, 42 HR per 162 Games, HR titles in 00, 02
* He participated in the HR Derby 6 times: 95, 99, 00, 01, 02, 04. He won it in 00.
Barry Bonds (86-07): 762 Career HRs, 41 HRs per 162 Games, HR titles in 93, 01
* He participated in the HR Derby 6 times: 92, 93, 96, 01, 02, 04. He won it in 96.
Alex Rodriguez (94-still active): 518 Career HRs, 44 HRs per 162 Games, HR titles in
01, 02, 03, 05, 07
* He participated in the HR Derby 3 times: 98, 00, 02.
The contrast to the others' levels of participation and performance is striking.
After 3 very poor showings in 5 years, Alex Rodriguez has not participated in the HR
for the last 5 years. He has led the AL in home runs four times since then. It is
unprecedented, and almost inexplicable, for such a dominant HR hitter to repeatedly
bow out of the premier HR hitting championship. One can only assume that he
doesn't like the pressure. I believe this phenomenon is inextricably related to his
dismal failures in the postseason, and that A-Rod will not win a championship until he
wins a HR Derby first. Of course, it would be ridiculous to claim that success in the
HR Derby guarantees success in the playoffs; of the four HR Derby Champions above
only one (Mark McGwire) won a World Series ring. My point is that A-Rod has failed
to even show up for these contests that test the one area in which A-Rod is the most
prolific: Home Run hitting. If A-Rod cannot stand up to the pressure of a festive
exhibition Home Run Derby, how can he possibly perform in the postseason?
In comparison, Larry Bird won the NBA's Three Point Shooting Contest in 86, 87
& 88, the first such contests ever held and a point of pride for him. Bird led the
Celtics to the NBA Championship in 1981, 1984, and 1986.
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About the Author:
Avi Brand is based in Alexandria, Virginia. He is the
youngest Pulitzer Prize winner ever to concurrently
hold the Ultimate Fighting Championship Title.
contact Avi at: history@thetruthmagazine.com
Avi Brand is based in Alexandria, Virginia. He is the
youngest Pulitzer Prize winner ever to concurrently
hold the Ultimate Fighting Championship Title.
contact Avi at: history@thetruthmagazine.com