Las Vegas Club offers wagering on home run derby

Friday, July 7, 2000 | 9:39 a.m.

A home run derby has been part of baseball's All-Star game festivities since 1985.

And for the past couple of years, bettors have been able to wager on the derby at the Las Vegas Club hotel-casino downtown.

Although the handle on the home run competition does not exceed the amount wagered on the All-Star game itself, baseball bettors are really having a blast with the derby proposition.

"I think people are attracted to it because it's a unique betting opportunity," said Ryan Dickey, sports book supervisor at the Las Vegas Club. "Being an independent house, we can put up almost whatever we want, and we try to book a lot of different things."

Mark McGwire is listed as an 8-5 favorite to win this year's derby, while last year's champion, Ken Griffey Jr., is a 2-1 second choice.

The home run derby is scheduled for Monday at Atlanta's Turner Field. The All-Star game will take place Tuesday.

"On the day before the All-Star game, 90 percent of the betting here will be on the home run derby and 10 percent will be on the game," Dickey said. "So instead of Monday being a down day, it gets (bettors) in here. And hopefully when they bet on the home run derby, they'll also make their bets on the game itself."

Dickey said while the prop appeals primarily to recreational bettors, some serious gamblers will make bets approaching the $500 limit.

He noted Mike Piazza, who has belted 24 home runs for the Mets this season, could be considered an overlay at 15-1.

Home run king McGwire, meanwhile, might look attractive to chalk players.

"A lot of people will put $5 or $10 on Piazza," Dickey said. "Others might want to put $500 on McGwire, (hoping to) sit back and watch him hit baseballs out of Turner Field all day and make a quick $800."

The Las Vegas Club posted home run derby odds Monday, then adjusted them Wednesday when All-Star rosters were announced.

Originally, odds were posted on 41 players plus a field bet. Those who did not make the roster were subsequently taken off the board.

Las Vegas Club sports book director Jonathan Jester and his staff began working on the prop back in May.

"We took a look at all the players who were among the league leaders in homers, the players who were likely to make the All-Star team, and the players we thought people would bet on, and we came up with a set of numbers for them," Dickey said.

"We weren't trying to figure out who would win the home run derby as much as trying to figure out who people would be most likely to bet on."

Here are the opening odds for other players who remain on the board to win Monday's home run derby (current line may be adjusted):

4-1: Sammy Sosa.

5-1: Barry Bonds.

8-1: Carlos Delgado.

9-1: Gary Sheffield.

10-1: Jason Giambi, Vladimir Guerrero, Edgar Martinez, Alex Rodriguez.

12-1: Troy Glaus, Andruw Jones.

15-1: Jermaine Dye, Jim Edmonds, Carl Everett, Andres Galarraga, Nomar Garciaparra, Chipper Jones, Ivan Rodriguez.

20-1: Todd Helton, Jeff Kent, Bernie Williams.

21-1: Brian Giles.

50-1: Field.