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2:43:00 PM EDT
Hearing Cold War Kids -- 'We Used to Vacation'
Remembering the '93 Home Run Derby, Which Was Epic
Back in the day when I was a teenager, before the Home Run Derby was handicapped, live blogged, Berman-ized, scrutinized and lionized, my dad took my brothers and I to Camden Yards for the 1993 All-Star festivities.
This was when the pastime was pure, pre-strike and ensuing steroid era. A mulleted Phillies team was tearing through the National League. My favorite players of all time -- Will Clark and Cal Ripken -- were still on point. And Barry Bonds was skinny and growing accustomed to new digs in San Francisco.
As for the Home Run Derby itself, I don't recall it being a big deal. It took place during the afternoon, away from the primetime glitz of ESPN. It also wasn't the sprawling, three-round behemoth of an event that it is today. It featured eight sluggers, sure, but they only got one round of 10 "outs" each. Plus, it wasn't solely an individual competition as an AL vs. NL tally was kept.
But before getting to the main event, the celebrity slugfest that preceded it was a spectacle. Among those taking hacks included Michael Jordan in a White Sox uniform. For a guy who hit .202 with three HR for a pro (AA!) team the following summer, he was pathetic. I don't recall him getting one ball out of the infield. In fact, the only celeb who left the yard was Mr. Baseball himself, Tom Selleck. What a swinger.
That year's Derby -- featuring Mike Piazza, David Justice, Bobby Bonilla and Bonds for the NL and Albert Belle, Cecil Fielder, Juan Gonzalez and Ken Griffey Jr. for the AL -- was an embarrassment of riches, and these are the three moments that stand the test of time:
3. Fielder left the Yard. Literally, he hit the ball out of Camden Yards, over the picnic area that's over the home team's bullpen that's over the away team's bullpen. Remember that Big Daddy was larger than life at the time, having hit a combined 130 HR in the three seasons previous.2. Griffey reached the Warehouse. This was what everyone was rooting for, and The Kid barely did it. From our seats in left, we could see the arc of the ball carrying out towards the red brick of the B & O Warehouse. Upon impact, we had no idea if it made it or not ... until the fans on Eutaw St. erupted and a part of Griffey's legend was born.
1. Gonzalez hit it off the upper-upper deck. I've never seen a ball hit this far in my life. It was a line drive-type bomb that seemed to still be carrying upward when it slammed off the facade of the third deck. If I recall correctly, the tape measure read 475, but no one in attendance could've believed that. It was the mammoth blast that fans had come to see and left the ballpark gushing about.
It's worth noting that none of these three feats, to my knowledge, has ever been replicated at an Orioles game before or since. It also warrants mentioning that this was one of my favorite sporting events that I've ever attended and sporting memories that I hold near and dear. Eternal thanks go to my dad for taking me there, and please join me in wishing the old man a happy birthday.
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esipp26, I think it's awesome that you've been on more than one Camden Yards tour.
Chris, OK, so maybe dad didn't buy the tix, but at least he drove and broke the bank at concessions feeding our fat faces. Happy b-day, pops! -
As Jamie's brother, who was there as well, I can also confirm that it was indeed during the actual Derby that Griffey (my childhood idol) hit the warehouse.
And Jamie, don't forget how we got those tickets... it was thru my rich friend Pete, who in hindsight I probably should have stayed in contact with after middle school. -
Well, I've heard it was during BP on more than one Camden Yards tour.
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esipp26, it was definitely in the Derby that Griffey hit the Warehouse:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/allstar/30584_derby09.shtml
That said, I believe Orioles Brady Anderson and Sam Horn have reached the Warehouse in BP. Not sure about that though.
7/10/07 6:55 PM
Unrelated, Pete's mom was a total MILF. No offense, Pete.