2015 MWBL CHRISTMAS CLASSIC HOME RUN DERBY

Mesa, Arizona – For the second year now the Mid-West Baseball League Christmas Classic history took place in Mesa, Arizona.   Hohokam Park was renovated in 2014 to a state of the art facility in the heart of Mesa. The Christmas Classic tradition continues in 2015, as Hohokam Park opened its gates to a record-breaking crowd of just over 10,000 fans.   Many of the fans came out to see Mid-West Baseball League stars, such as the likes of Andrew McCutchen of the Chicago Mobsters, David Ortiz of the New York Outlaws & two-time winner of the Christmas Classic, Miguel Cabrera of the Hollywood Werewolves.

The weather was a perfect 63 degrees and the winds were warm, but not more than 8 miles an hour.   Humidity was at 66%, which ironically is the magic number for Home Runs in APBA.  Twelve Mid-West Baseball League players, Six (6) from the American League & Six (6) from the National League were participants in the twelfth (12) Annual Christmas Classic Home Run Derby.  Here is how the Classic played out.

The top four Home Run hitters during the 2015 Mid-West Baseball League Season were the four who moved on from Round One to the Semi Finals.   Chris Carter (5), Andrew McCutchen (6), Nelson Cruz (5) & Adrian Gonzalez (5).  One of the highlights of Round One wa the 551 foot Home Run off the bat of Giancarlo Stanton.  But the old Veteran & many time competitor of the Christmas Classic David Ortiz deposited one one foot farther than Stanton.  Ortiz then stopped the show, looked over at Giancarlo & broke out in the big smile of “Big Papi” & shook his index finger back & forth sating too Stanton “Not yet my young one, I am still “Big Papi!”…   Stanton laughed, clapped then stood & bowed to Ortiz, showing much respect & love.

Round Two though Adrian Gonzalez & Chris Carter took over as both of them knocked four over the wall, which was three more than both McCutchen & Nelson Cruz who both finished the Semi’s with one each.

The Finals didn’t provide any dramatic ending & wasn’t exactly even close as Adrian Gonzalez hit Six to Chris Carter’s Two.   Gonzalez did knock one 547 feet & then looked over at both Ortiz & Stanton who were both waving there fingers at Gonzalez as to say “Not even Close”.

All in all it was a great day for the Mid-West Baseball League & the Christmas Classic which is now in it’s 13 year.