St. Louis Cardinals RF Jordan Walker on Monday night hit four consecutive home runs “to not just tie” Phillies DH Kyle Schwarber but “overtake” him to become the first Cardinals player ever to win a Home Run Derby. Walker’s four homers “when he faced elimination on any one of those swings” put him ahead of Schwarber, 12-11. Walker took home the trophy and a $1M prize. Walker hit eight home runs in his first 14 swings “to put himself right on the precipice of elimination and the Citizens Bank Park crowd on the verge of jubilee.” With “every pitch he was booed by the sellout crowd eager to see their slugger win the trophy.” But “that was when Walker settled,” and then he “kept crushing baseballs into the left field seats to win” (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 7/13).
Schwarber and the Citizens Bank Park crowd “sprang to life and stole the show late, making it an incredibly fun night” before Walker “made an unlikely late surge to win it” (CBSSPORTS.com, 7/13). Walker “put on one of the greatest clutch displays ever” in this Derby, and it “salvaged what was a generally underwhelming” event. The format change -- a limited amount of swings instead of batting against a clock -- “had its upside, but also drained the tension from most of the competition.” Had Schwarber and Phillies 1B Bryce Harper “both bowed out in the semifinals ... this would have been a disaster, a finals playing out while most of the 43,000 fans filed out disgruntled” (USA TODAY, 7/13).
Famed ring announcer Michael Buffer “started the show by bellowing his catchphrase -- ‘Let’s get ready to rumble!’ -- and introducing the Derby contestants, who met in a wrestling ring behind second base.” Harper “took it from there,” as he “raised both arms to salute the crowd.” Upon reaching the ring, he “climbed up, shook the ropes, and shouted, ‘Let’s go!’” (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 7/13).
Schwarber and Harper “received roaring ovations” when Buffer introduced them ahead of the competition. As for the other six sluggers in the field, all “were about booed out of the ballpark, with the loudest jeers saved for” Yankees 1B Ben Rice (AP, 7/13). The crowd “provided an all-time Derby environment.” The Philadelphia fans “became part of the show,” and “it was great theater.” The crowd “provided the perfect backdrop.” The crowd “heavily booed” Red Sox 1B Willson Contreras in the semifinals against Schwarber, “cheering only when the batting-practice pitcher slipped a pitch that nearly hit Contreras.” They “erupted when his final swing fell short, allowing Schwarber to advance to the final” against Walker. The boos were then “even louder for Walker, who was jeered before each swing and cheered when he made an out” (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 7/14).
