Who won the last HR derby at Coors Field?

The 2021 MLB All-Star Game and Home Run Derby is back at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado, for the first time in over two decades. The last time the derby was in Denver was back in 1998, and it featured a star-studded field of sluggers in Ken Griffey Jr., Jim Thome, Mark McGwire, Alex Rodriguez, and Chipper Jones.

Griffey Jr., who was in his prime, had a tremendous first half of the 1998 season, hitting .299 with 35 HRs and 79 RBI for the Seattle Mariners. Thome had 23 HRs in the first half, McGwire had 37 HRs, and Rodriguez produced 27 HRs. For both Griffey and McGwire, this was their sixth appearances in the home run derby.

Griffey had won the derby four years prior with seven home runs at Three Rivers Stadium and McGwire last won it in 1992 with 12 home runs at Jack Murphy Stadium. However, it was the Kid, who pulled off another derby win with 19 home runs. Griffey defeated Thome, who had 17 total home runs. Thome and Griffey were tied with 8 home runs in the semifinals, but the final round edge went to Griffey (3-2).