​Philadelphia fans pride themselves on their blue collar nature; on their up by the bootstraps always the underdog, never fully respected position in the sports firmament. And their ardor runs deep; no visitor is safe – not even Santa Clause – from their vitriol.On Monday night in Philly, in the 40th iteration of the Home Run Derby since it was brought back in 1985, those fans showed up to Citizens Bank Park for their hometown players Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber, and showed out for everyone else. The more than 43,000 in attendance lustily booed everyone not wearing Phillies red, with the loudest saved for Ben Rice of the Yankees (a “Yankees suck” chant, usually reserved for Fenway Park, even erupted at one point).AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDuring the introductions, Schwarber and Harper were saved for last, and the crowd erupted as each climbed into the home plate shaped ring erected behind second base. And then it was on.The nearly three-hour event, broadcast for the first time on Netflix, started off with a bang. Boston’s Willson Contreras led things off with 13 home runs – seven in his first ten swings – with four traveling at least 470 feet, and one landing 490 feet from home. Jordan Walker of the Cardinals matched him with 13 of his own. All of that was prologue for what was to come.After eight contestants were reduced to four (Harper, Jac Caglianone of the Royals, Munetaka Murakami of the White Sox, and Ben Rice of those hated Yankees, were gone after the first round), Walker outlasted the Rays Junior Caminero 6-5. And then Schwarber edged out Contreras 9-8, to set up the final.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSchwarber went first and launched six homers in his first eight swings on his way to a final round count of 11. With only 15 swings available*, Walker had his work cut out for him.*Under the new format, if a player hits a home run on his last swing, he can continue going until he fails to leave the yard. This rule tweak will become very important.Walker started slow, and had only six home runs after 12 swings, meaning he needed something just short of a miracle to win the competition. On swing 13 he left the yard for #7; on his 14th he did it again for #8; and on final swing he drove the ball into the left field bleachers to get within two. And because he homered on his last swing, he got another, which he promptly flew over the wall in left for #10. Another swing tied everything at eleven. Walker stepped out of the batter’s box and took a breath while the Netflix camera caught Schwarber looking on incredulously with Harper in the background looking shocked. Walker then stepped back in a lofted his last ball deep into the Philadelphia night to become the 2026 Home Run Derby champion.Jordan Walker wins the 2026 Home Run Derby on his final swing. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)Getty ImagesIt was a heady and impressive performance for a player who just this year is coming into his own and living u