Cary resident Clay Counsil, 71, has only been to Yankee Stadium once before Monday. That was for Don Larsen's World Series perfect game.

Now, 52 years later, Counsil is in the middle of one of the most spectacular showings in the history of the stadium.

Raleigh native Josh Hamilton has hit a record 28 homers in the first round of the All-Star Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium.

Hamilton, who asked his friend Counsil, a legionnaire volunteer, to throw to him during Monday's hone run derby, put on a show that the Big Apple will never forget, hitting a record 28 home runs.

The Texas Rangers' slugger, back from drug and alcohol addiction that derailed his career, broke Bobby Abreu's mark for one round with a dazzling display of power Monday night. Abreu hit 24 home
runs in the first round in 2005 at Detroit's Comerica Park.

With his free and easy left-handed swing, Hamilton connected on 13 consecutive cuts before falling short of the fences on his final two. His longest shot was estimated at 512 feet.