The late legend Ignites Homerun derby with a strong victory

Forty years ago Dave Parker got on the plate in the metrodomas in Minneapolis and began to bring balls to the stands. The only witnesses were the cheering crowds who took part in the first Homerun derby – The event would only be broadcast live on television in 1998. Nevertheless, Parker left an unforgettable and indelible brand in Baseball story in his second season with his hometown Cincinnati Reds when he claimed the first derby crown.

Ten batteries, five from each league, faced 1985 competition. Everyone received two rounds of five outs to meet as many homes as possible. Parker's left -handed swing seemed tailor -made for the stadium, the right field wall of which was only 327 feet from the home plate. (Ironically, Parker never hit a Homerun in the stadium during the regulatory game.)

Eddie Murray, a Switch hitter that beaten better from the left, was perhaps the other left dough in competition. Although the Al Sluggers largely exceeded the NL, Parker ruled outstandingly with six explosions.

Rot's story: Dave Parker added his inheritance in Hall of Fame with the first Homerun derby crown

Until 1985, Parker was already on the best way to the legend status after being selected five times as a all-star and won an MVP prize with Pittsburgh in 1978. The long balls came in Cincinnati during his time. With the Pittsburgh pirates, he achieved an average of 15 Homer per season, but in his four years with the Reds he achieved 27 Homer per season. So it is fitting that he put on a Reds jersey during his Homerun derby win.

The Derby victory probably had little influence on its longer Hall of Fame campaign. Only seven other champions are in Cooperstown. (PED suspicion has held out a handful of others.) But the award has expanded another pride of a career with performance.

Parker's death at the end of June is twice tragic. The most important thing is that it robbed him of being praised publicly and properly at the in -Cooperstown induction at the end of July, but a connection was also broken off between the 40th anniversary and the original iteration of the event. This year could and should have been a round of victory for “The Cobra”. Instead, we have good memories of his famous career.

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