Jordan Walker of the St. Louis Cardinals poses with the trophy after winning the 2026 Home Run Derby. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
Philadelphia fans pride themselves on their blue collar nature; on their up by the bootstraps always the underdog, never fully respected position in the sports firmament. And their ardor runs deep; no visitor is safe – not even Santa Clause – from their vitriol.
On Monday night in Philly, in the 40th iteration of the Home Run Derby since it was brought back in 1985, those fans showed up to Citizens Bank Park for their hometown players Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber, and showed out for everyone else. The more than 43,000 in attendance ******* ily booed everyone not wearing Phillies red, with the loudest saved for Ben Rice of the Yankees (a “Yankees suck” chant, usually reserved for Fenway Park, even erupted at one point).
During the introductions, Schwarber and Harper were saved for last, and the crowd erupted as each climbed into the home plate shaped ring erected behind second base. And then it was on.
The nearly three-hour event, broadcast for the first time on Netflix, started off with a bang. Boston’s Willson Contreras led things off with 13 home runs – seven in his first ten swings – with four traveling at least 470 feet, and one landing 490 feet from home. Jordan Walker of the Cardinals matched him with 13 of his own. All of that was prologue for what was to come.
Philadelphia fans pride themselves on their blue collar nature; on their up by the bootstraps always the underdog, never fully respected position in the sports firmament. And their ardor runs deep; no visitor is safe – not even Santa Clause – from their vitriol.
On Monday night in Philly, in the 40th iteration of the Home Run Derby since it was brought back in 1985, those fans showed up to Citizens Bank Park for their hometown players Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber, and showed out for everyone else. The more than 43,000 in attendance ******* ily booed everyone not wearing Phillies red, with the loudest saved for Ben Rice of the Yankees (a “Yankees suck” chant, usually reserved for Fenway Park, even erupted at one point).
During the introductions, Schwarber and Harper were saved for last, and the crowd erupted as each climbed into the home plate shaped ring erected behind second base. And then it was on.
The nearly three-hour event, broadcast for the first time on Netflix, started off with a bang. Boston’s Willson Contreras led things off with 13 home runs – seven in his first ten swings – with four traveling at least 470 feet, and one landing 490 feet from home. Jordan Walker of the Cardinals matched him with 13 of his own. All of that was prologue for what was to come.
4 months ago
