No. 7: Gary Gaetti, Anaheim Stadium, 1989
Gary Gaetti had one of the worst Derby performances in the history of the contest. The Derby rules in 1989 were different than the modern Derby. A participant had two “innings” to hit as many home runs as they could until they recorded five outs. An out was considered a swing that didn’t result in a home run. Whoever hit the most in those two innings was considered the champion.
Gaetti hit no home runs in the contest. Ten swings was all he was able to muster. Gaetti was not a big power threat coming into the Derby. He would only hit a total of 19 home runs in 1989. The winner of the contest was Cincinnati Reds star Eric Davis, who hit a whopping 3 home runs.
Other participants in the contest included Howard Johnson, Ruben Sierra, Kevin Mitchell and Bo Jackson. Yes, those were the best players in the contest that year. With a rough outing topped off with a sub par player pool and mediocre power numbers going in, Gaetti shows up last on this last.
No. 6: Joe Mauer, Busch Stadium, 2009
Joe Mauer may be a perennial All-Star and a guy that can get on base. A power threat, though? Not so much. It showed in the 2009 Home Run Derby in St. Louis. Mauer wouldn’t finish last, hitting five home runs. He finished ahead of Padres slugger Adrian Gonzalez and Tigers hitter Brandon Inge.
Mauer would lose in a swing off to get into the next round. Give Mauer credit. Before the swing off, he was tied with Albert Pujols in the first round. Mauer had a pretty good field slugging against him. The Derby winner was Brewers slugger Prince Fielder, a now two-time champion. Others he went up against included Pujols and Ryan Howard, two of the best power hitters in the game at the time.
Mauer was in the middle of his best power hitting season, a year he hit 28 dingers. He deserved to be there. Unfortunately, he only beat out two guys in the contest. One of those guys was Brandon Inge, so it may be more like one and a half.