Home Run Derby

On Monday, July 13, the Talley family attended the Home Run Derby at Busch Stadium. We were lucky to get tickets and we sat in the True Manufacturing suite. Ken was given the tickets from his employer and he took me and his parents.

We got our picture taken under one of the fifeteen, ten-foot tall All-Star themed arches found around downtown St. Louis in honor of the All-Star festivities.

What an exciting experience! We got the chance to see Albert Pujols slugging it out with other big hitters at the Home Run Derby the night before the All-Star Game. The Derby has become one of the most popular events of All-Star Week. Eight players compete in the first round. The four with the most home runs advance to the second round, the top two to the third round and then a winner is crowned. The State Farm Home Run Derby is one of the activities associated with the All Star Game. St. Louis hasn't hosted the All Star Game in 40 years so this was a very special event for our baseball city.

We sat in the True box behind home plate.

National League Participants: Albert Pujols (St. Louis Cardinals), Ryan Howard (Philadelphia Phillies), Adrian Gonzalez, (San Diego Padres), Prince Fielder (Milwaukee Brewers)

American League Participants: Nelson Cruz (Texas Rangers), Carlos Peña (Tampa Bay Rays), Joe Mauer (Minnesota Twins), Brandon Inge (Detroit Tigers)

We arrived early and saw the famous Budweiser Clydesdale horses. They were getting hitched so they could parade around the stadium.

Marilyn and Howard pose in front of the Clydesdales.

Ken and Jennifer get their picture taken next to the Clydesdales.

Then we entered Busch Stadium and watched players from the American League and the National League practice. After the practice Nikko Smith, son of Ozzie Smith and Season 4 American Idol finalist, sang the National Anthem. Then we were treated to a concert by David Cook, American Idol winner for Season 8. I guess this was the year I got see entertainers from American Idol!

Nikko Smith perfoms our National Anthem.

David Cook performs a mini concert before the Home Run Derby.




In the opening round, Pujols had only one homer with seven outs and three long balls with nine outs. Pujols didn't make it past the second round but provided plenty of drama for his fans, rallying from near-elimination twice to keep the dream alive. The basic format of the contest is to see how many homers a player can hit before he makes 10 outs. Anything except a homer is an out. We also had special interest in Joe Mauer who plays for the Minnesota Twins because Aunt Dixie was watching from Minneapolis and was cheering for him! In the end it was Brewers slugger Prince Fielder who powered his way to victory in the 2009 State Farm Home Run Derby.

Albert Pujols at bat.

Joe Mauer at bat.

Prince Fielder the champion!