Home Run Derby was a short-lived quasi-Game Show from 1960, where each week, two of Major League Baseball's leading home run hitters of the time competed in a contest to see who could hit the most homers. The rules were simple: any pitch that was not hit as a homer was an out (this included ground balls, pop flies, fouls, and even those that didn't quite clear the fence). Also, if a batter took a pitch, and the ump ruled it a strike, or if the batter swung and missed, those also were outs (a pitch that was taken outside the strike zone did not count against the batter). Each player got three outs per half-inning, as in real baseball, and the game also lasted 9 innings (like real ball); extra innings were played in case of ties until the tie was broken. A batter who hit 3 homers in a row got a $500 bonus; a fourth one got another $500, and every one after that got a $1000 bonus.
The batter who won each week's contest got $2000 (and all bonuses accumulated, if any), and came back for the next week's contest; the runner-up got $1000, and any and all bonuses as well (these prizes were substantial income boosters to the players of the time, because players of the time weren't paid all that much during the season). Also, the hurler who served up the most gopher balls got an unstated bonus.
Filming took place at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles, not to be confused with the same-named diamond in Chicago.
The show was a Short-Runner, lasting only 26 broadcasts, because its host, Mark Scott, passed on of a heart attack at the young age of 45, and rather than find someone else, the show was cancelled. The Derby was revived in 1985 as an annual event during MLB's All-Star Game festivities, and has been run almost every year since.
This show contains the following tropes:
- All or Nothing: Per Mark Scott, "It's a home run or nothing here on Home Run Derby."
- Opening Narration: Although the original run didn't have one, rebroadcasts in the 2010s were narrated by former Los Angeles Dodgers announcer Ross Porter:"From the wonderful world of sports, we bring you...Home Run Derby...where each week, the leading home run hitters of the Major Leagues will compete in a home run hitting contest. You'll meet such stars as Duke Snider, Eddie Mathews, Rocky Colavito, Ernie Banks, Mickey Mantle, Henry Aaron, Harmon Killebrew, Willie Mays and many others."
- Rules Spiel: From host Mark Scott: "Now, fellows, today you're going for the big money. The winner will receive $2000; the loser, $1000. As an additional bonus, any time either one of you hits three consecutive home runs, you'll receive a bonus of $500. The fourth home run in a row is worth another $500, and each consecutive home run after that is worth $1000. Now you'll play 9 innings, and you'll each have 3 outs per inning. Any ball not hit out of the ballpark in fair territory is an out. You don't have to swing at every pitch, but if the ball is in the strike zone and you don't swing at it, that also constitutes an out. Head umpire Art Passarella will call the strikes. Now, do you have any questions?"
