Vlad hit it where others only Dreamed

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim right fielder Vladimir Guerrero won the Home Run Derby on Monday night, hitting 17 homers and beating Toronto's Alex Rios who faded in the final round 3-2 at the All-Star competition. Guerrero, who hit just two homers in his only other derby appearance back in 2000, also fashioned the contest's most awesome blast: a 503-footer to left that fell just short of the gigantic baseball mitt in the left field bleachers — a object that still hasn't been hit during a game in the park's short 8-year history.
Vlad a citizen of the Dominican Republic said through an interpreter, "The first time I came in 2000, I swung at every pitch, so this time I came back with a different philosophy, I was going to take a pitch to rest in between. ... There was nothing in the ballpark that I was aiming for." Some advice passed down from GA that was given to him by Troy Glaus.
The Gold Ball came into play after the ninth out was recorded in any at-bat taken by each hitter. For every home run hit before the 10th and final out, MLB and State Farm combined to donate $17,000. That figure represents the 17,000 State Farm agents working across the U.S. and Canada. Proceeds from the Gold Ball contributions continue to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, MLB's official charity. A total of $254,000 was earned for charity on the evening, $85,000 alone by Rios, who spanked out five Gold Balls before recording his last out of the second round.