Pete Crow-Armstrong Weighs Home Run Derby Participation as All-Star Game Returns to Wrigley Field

Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong has indicated he may participate in the Home Run Derby when Major League Baseball returns the All-Star Game to Wrigley Field. The competing players and team officials are acutely aware that wind conditions at the historic North Side ballpark have historically made the event extraordinarily challenging.

Crow-Armstrong's Cautious Interest

Crow-Armstrong, who is making his second consecutive All-Star appearance this season, acknowledged the appeal of competing at home but expressed reservations about the unpredictable weather. "I hope the wind is blowing out, though," he said. "If we get a bad wind day, the Derby will be interesting." His comments underscore the critical role that atmospheric conditions play in determining whether batters can drive balls deep into the Wrigley outfield or beyond its ivy-covered walls.

History of Dismal Derby Performance at Wrigley

The last time baseball's midsummer showcase was held at Wrigley Field occurred 36 years ago, and it remains a cautionary tale for future participants. During that 1990 event, the competition produced merely five home runs across all competitors—a historically barren display. Cubs second baseman Ryne Sandberg claimed the crown with three homers, while future Hall of Famers Ken Griffey Jr., Jose Canseco, and Cecil Fielder, along with Darryl Strawberry and Bobby Bonilla, failed to reach the bleachers with any of their attempts. That day's harsh wind conditions left ballhawks standing empty-handed in the streets beyond the ballpark.

Contemporary observers have drawn a connection between Wrigley's notoriously fickle wind patterns and the venue's installation of lights decades earlier. The stark contrast between that barren Derby and modern competitions—where sluggers routinely clear 40 or more total home runs—highlights just how much Wrigley's weather can affect the outcome.

Schwarber's Sympathetic Perspective

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Kyle Schwarber, who spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons with the Cubs, expressed similar concerns about competing at Wrigley. Schwarber finished as runner-up in this year's Home Run Derby and also came close in 2018 while representing Chicago. When asked about a potential future Derby appearance at the ballpark, he remained noncommittal, noting that the competition is taxing and questioning whether his swing suits the event's demands.