Why Special Red Sox Home Run Derby Needs To Happen
The Boston Red Sox have a long list of famous sluggers who’ve played for them over the years. Imagine if they competed against each other in a home run derby?
The Milwaukee Brewers recently hosted an alumni home run competition on July 25 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of American Family Field, and it was a major success. The event featured eight recent Brewers stars, including Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder, and took place after a game against the Miami Marlins.
Braun and Gómez served as captains and drafted their teams. Fans stayed after the game to watch the derby and get autographs. Keon Broxton won the event on a dramatic walk-off homer.
According to MassLive’s Sean McAdam, the Red Sox are reportedly interested in holding their own version of the event next season.
“It’s unknown if the Red Sox were among the teams to reach out, but it is known that the team was enthralled with the idea and have begun discussing the possibility for staging a similar event next season,” McAdam reported on Friday.
From a fan’s perspective, a home run derby between former Red Sox legends at Fenway Park would be incredible, allowing fans to bond and connect over shared memories of previous generations of stars.
While some of the team’s most iconic legends (Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Jimmie Foxx, Carl Yastrzemski) are either too old or no longer around, there are still plenty of more recent stars who could participate, from David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez to Dustin Pedroia and Nomar Garciaparra.
Perhaps Jim Rice, Fred Lynn or Wade Boggs could make an appearance, and maybe former pitchers like Pedro Martinez or Jonathan Papelbon could throw to the batters.
There hasn’t been an official home run derby at Fenway Park since the 1999 MLB All-Star Game, making the idea even more appealing. It would be a fun way to celebrate the club’s history — especially the recent championship teams — and put on a show at one of America’s most cherished ballparks.