Jose Canseco to Play the Part of Ringer by Participating in a Softball Home Run Derby

May 25, 2016, by Michael Cerami Baseball Is Fun

Have you ever been in a local/intramural/pick-up sports league? Most of us have at one point or another, but if you haven’t let me tell you about something that’s true about every league: there’s always that one guy (or girl). The person that has clearly played whatever sport it is you’re playing at some higher level in the past. Someone that makes it less fun for the rest of us and makes everyone look bad. A ringer, if you will.

Isn’t that right, Shawn?

Well, the Frisco Rough Riders and the Springfield Cardinals (Rangers and Cardinals Double-A affiliates), are scheduled to play a game on June 4 and hold a Softball Home Run Derby Challenge for local participants (fans) immediately after.

The only problem is, the derby has itself a ringer; a former MLB slugger by the name of Jose Canseco. In case you forgot who Jose Canseco is or what he can do, let me remind you:

Over his 17 year career, Canseco hit 462 home runs in the Major Leagues, was worth over 40 WAR, and finished with a career .511 SLG. That’s insane. Even at 51 years old, I think he might have a solid shot at winning.

And oh yeah, he holds the world record for the longest softball home run at 622 feet.

And if you don’t believe older former sluggers can still win these events, just ask Giancarlo Stanton what happened when he played in a home run derby in Spring Training with Barry Bonds.

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