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NEW YORK — Justin Morneau appreciated the value of the Home Run Derby even before winning the major-league version last night.
How could he not? To hear him tell the story, it was at a home run derby in Parksville, B.C., that he first attracted the attention of Minnesota Twins scout Howie Norsetter.
"There was some guy out past the right-field fence, walking off the home runs, trying to figure how far they went," Morneau, a two-time all-star and native of New Westminster, B.C., said yesterday. "I didn't really think anything of it at the time, but I hit a ball and he walked away from the fence to try and see how far it went. I didn't really take notice of it at the time, even though he was the only guy standing out there.
"He said: 'Hey, you hit that ball 400 feet.' I said I really wasn't counting how far they went as long as they went over the fence," he said. "I think it kind of helped me get drafted. I think that was the first time he'd seen me, and I know that he started following me around after that. He was the guy who signed me."
Justin Morneau of the Minnesota Twins holds the trophy for the 2008 MLB All-Star State Farm Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium. (Nick Laham/Getty Images)
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- Chicago Cubs
- Florida Marlins
- Los Angeles Dodgers
- Minnesota Twins
- Texas Rangers
- Ryan Dempster
- Josh Hamilton
- Russell Martin
- Justin Morneau
- Albert Pujols
The Twins' first baseman is one of three Canadian-born players who will be in uniform for tonight's All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium.
Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Russell Martin of Toronto by way of Chelsea, Que., and Ryan Dempster, a native of Gibsons, B.C., and one of eight members of the Chicago Cubs at the game, will suit up for the National League squad.
But Morneau didn't wait until the All-Star Game to fly the flag, beating Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers 5-3 in the final round of the Home Run Derby last night, after Hamilton set an event record with 28 homers in a jaw-dropping first-round assault.
Hamilton, who has resurrected his career after a life-and-death battle with alcohol and drug addiction, hit three homers measured longer than 500 feet — and they're still searching for one of the balls that nicked the facade in right-centre field.
In total, Hamilton hit 35 homers to Morneau's 22, but homers from the first two rounds do not carry over to the final.
"I think he just got tired," Morneau said. "Definitely, he's the story of this year and tonight … he just had everybody in awe. I think more people who were here will remember what he did than the fact I won."
It's the first time this many Canadians have been selected to the All-Star Game. Morneau and Martin were both in last year's game, while Dempster participated in 2000 as a member of the Florida Marlins but did not get into the game.
Like Morneau, Dempster (10-3, 3.13 earned-run average) can remember when he first had contact with a major-league scout.
"I was 15 and playing in a game in Vancouver at Ambleside Park, and I had a bird dog from the Texas Rangers come up to me after the game and hand me his business card," Dempster said. "I don't remember his name. I don't think he was a full-time scout. The card … I think I gave it to my parents."
Martin is hitting .297 for the Dodgers with 10 homers and 45 runs batted in and has cemented his status as a cornerstone with the franchise. He understands the significance of playing at the last All-Star Game in Yankee Stadium, which is being replaced by a new venue next year.
"I'm the kind of person who's all about stories," Martin said.
The home run figures in Martin's personal story, too.
"I remember one game when I was with the Quebec provincial team playing in Toledo [Ohio] and I hit a ball with the wind blowing out, with a metal bat. And my manager, Skip Emond, told me he knew one of the scouts that was at the game and that the guy was standing and clapping when I went around the bases," Martin said with a laugh. "To this day, I still believe that's the best I've hit a ball."
Morneau lost in a five-pitch playoff against Albert Pujols in last year's Home Run Derby in San Francisco, then went on to hit .243 with seven homers in the second half of the year (before the break he hit 24 homers and a .295 average).
Some players avoid the all-star derby because they believe it messes up their swings.
"It was a bit of a concern for me," admitted Morneau, who has 14 homers and 68 RBIs and is hitting .323 this year. "I didn't feel quite the same last year after the derby. But this time, our hitting coach [Joe Vavra] is with me and he'll be throwing to me. He knows my swing better than anyone."
