Home Run Derby comes to San Francisco

By Andrew Lippe

The 2007 State Farm Home Run Derby will emanate this year from AT&T Park, the home of the San Francisco Giants, July 9 at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN. The 2007 edition marks the 10th year the Home Run Derby will be broadcasted on ESPN. The Home Run Derby has created some of baseball’s most iconic moments and ESPN has added a multitude of special features to broadcast this year’s event.

For more extensive coverage, ESPN is sending Kenny Mayne to report from McCovey Cove. “Kenny Mayne’s adventures from a kayak in McCovey Cove will be captured using the scuba cam,” said Nate Smeltz, ESPN associate manager. The scuba cam is a waterproof camera that will be used to capture home runs hit into McCovey Cove. McCovey Cove is located behind the right field wall, adjacent to the San Francisco Bay. “The scuba cam was first used by ESPN during the America’s Cup,” said Smeltz.

Each year the Home Run Derby travels to different MLB ballparks and each ballpark has its own identity. AT&T Park is no exception. “The stadium is a visual spectacle, every seat is spectacular,” said Tim Scanlan ESPN senior coordinating producer. “There is not a bad camera spot in the ballpark.”

ESPN will use 21 cameras in total to broadcast the event, four more then last year. Cameras are being supplied by Fletcher robotics. ESPN will also have microphones on all the Home Run Derby participants.

Right now conformed to compete includes last year’s winner Ryan Howard, (Philadelphia Phillies) Prince Fielder, (Milwaukee Brewers) and Justin Morneau (Minnesota Twins). Other superstars are expected to appear.

The ESPN broadcast team includes former Giants manager Dusty Baker as an analyst, along with Chris Berman and Joe Morgan. Peter Gammons will be on hand in San Francisco as well as Erin Andrews who will be ESPN’s on the field reporter.

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