When we look back at the 2008 season, Josh Hamilton’s incredible career turnaround will be considered more than a fairy tale. His exploits will be re-told and exaggerated, his feats will become super human, and his every hit will be dripping with dramatics.

Hamilton is becoming a real-life, modern-day Bill Brasky. One day, we’ll be gathered with our buddies at the bar telling hard-to-fathom stories about Hamilton the same way that Will Ferrell and company did about Brasky.

In five years, Hamilton’s 518-foot bomb in the first round of Monday night’s Home Run Derby will be re-told as having traveled 925 feet and spontaneously combusted in mid-air. His tattooed forearms will be as big as Sequoias, and his 71-year old batting practice pitcher will be 100 and on life support.

That first round of the derby was something to behold, with jaw-dropping moment after jaw-dropping moment after jaw-dropping moment. He set a new single-round record with his 28 homers in the first round, and he pumped more souvenirs into the upper deck than a Yankee Stadium vendor.

If Hamilton wasn’t a mainstream sensation going into Monday night, he certainly became one with that performance. Two generations from now, grandchildren everywhere are going to be told of a 7-foot, 675-pound Hamilton swinging one-handed against a pitcher in a wheelchair throwing out of an oxygen tent.

The fact he lost the competition to Minnesota’s Justin Morneau is of little consequence. The Home Run Derby is all about the show, and Hamilton put on an unforgettable performance. The stage was set for him - the last of eight on the derby lineup card, in the last exhibition contest at the old Yankee Stadium - and he came through.

Of course, the fact Hamilton was out of baseball for three full seasons batting drug addiction is an incredible story. But, this is a guy with Herculean strength and a way to make the game look so simple.

If that’s the truth now, just wait until we inevitably stretch it and make Hamilton a folk hero legend.

To Josh Hamilton!

Dustin Hockensmith is editor of ImaginaryDiamond.com. He can be contacted at dhockensmith[at]fantasysports101.net.