Anderson`s Surprising Win of Homerun Derby

The Major League Baseball All-Star Game Eve ceremonies were held yesterday at U.S. Cellular Field, which used to be known as Comiskey Park and is home field for the Chicago White Sox. The much-anticipated “Homerun Derby” was a bit overbilled with Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa both absent. But the competition itself was as heated as in any other year, and victory smiled on the most unlikely player.

It was Garret Anderson of the Anaheim Angles, whose three-run triple won Game 7 of the World Series for the Angles last year. He went to the event by default when superstar Manny Ramirez of the Boston Red Sox couldn’t play. In the first round, with eight players in contention, he hit seven home runs and moved up to the second round, following the defending champion Jason Giambi of the New York Yankees. Then, he beat Jim Edmonds 6-4. In the final round, Anderson edged out St. Louis Cardinal Albert Pujols 9-8 Monday night to win the title for the first time.

Even though Anderson is the biggest slugger among the Angles, he has hit only 186 home runs throughout his career. "I don`t look at myself as a homerun hitter, but I know I`m capable of hitting some balls out of the park, and it`s just another platform to go out and show America what I can do," Anderson said.

Pujols, on the other hand, hit 26 home runs in total yesterday, tying Sammy Sosa’s record. In addition, his 478-foot homerun in the second round was recorded as the longest.

The Homerun Derby is a homer-hitting contest where eight players try to go yard. Anything that is not a homerun (pop fly, grounder, strike, or foul ball) is an out. Each hits until he reaches 10 outs. Then, the four best players move on to the next round. When there is a tie, the advantage is given to the player who hit more homeruns during the regular season. Pujols was tied with Gary Sheffield, but advanced to the final four over Sheffield because he has more regular-season homers, 27-22.

In the All-Star game to be held today, pitcher Jason Schmitt will start for the National League, while Esteban Loaiza will take the mound for the American League.

Hwan-Soo Zang zangpabo@donga.com