Historical Moments:
1991: On June 10th Fay Vincent announces Denver and South Florida are the NL Expansion
Committee's selections for 1993. Four weeks later Major League owners unanimously
approve the 2 new teams, and the Rockies are born.
1992: On November 17th the Rockies select David Nied from the Atlanta Braves to open the
MLB Expansion Draft in New York City. At the same time, more than 20,000 fans
fill Denver's Currigan Hall to watch the historic event. After the draft, Colorado
trades Kevin Reimer and Jody Reed for Dante Bichette and Rudy Seanez, respectively.
1993: On April 5th the Rockies play their first regular-season game, against the Mets at
New York's Shea Stadium. Dwight Gooden tosses a three-hit shutout as the Rockies
fall 3-0. Four days later the Rocky Mountain Region welcomes big-league baseball,
as the Rockies host the Montreal Expos at Mile High Stadium. Eric Young
homers to lead off the bottom of the first, bringing the record-setting crowd of
80,227 to its feet. Colorado earns their first win 11-4, behind 37-year-old Bryn
Smith, who blanks the Expos over seven innings. The Rockies would go on to
conclude their inaugural season with the 65 wins, the most by an NL expansion club.
First baseman Andres Galarraga wins the batting title, the first won by a
player on expansion team. The Rockies also smash the baseball attendance
record as 4,483,350 fans come through the turnstiles and watch the Rockies in their
first year at Mile High Stadium.
1994: On August 7th the Rockies eclipse one of their own attendance marks, opening turnstiles
for their 3 millionth fan in just the 52nd home date; the Rockies cracked
3 million in 53 dates in their record breaking inaugural year. Attendance won't
go up any further as 5 days later the season would prematurely end thanks to
a player's strike; as the Rockies sat just 6 and half games out of 1st Place with
a 53-64 record.
1995: Just a week after the strike ends on April 1st the Rockies sign prized free agent
Larry Walker to a, multi-year deal. On a frigid April 26th evening, Dante Bichette
christened the Rockies' new park with a dramatic 3-run homer to beat the New
York Mets in the bottom of the 14th. Colorado lost the lead twice in extra frames,
including the final inning, before Bichette's homer catapulted them to victory.
The Mets Rico Brogna hit the first homer in the park's history, and Mets
catcher Todd Hundley followed with the first Coors Field grand slam. With two
out in the ninth and the Rockies down 7-6, new acquisition Larry Walker delivered
an RBI double to send the game into the 10th. The 2 teams combined for 32 hits
off 14 total pitchers, giving the baseball world a glimpse into the future
of the majors' most exciting ballpark. The Rockies would go on to finish with a
77-67 record good enough to win the NL's first Wild Card berth. The Rockies
would go on to face the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS. After losing the first
2 games at Coors Field the Rockies prove to be a pesky out to the eventual World
Champions. The resilient Rockies would win Game 3 in Atlanta in extra Innings
thanks to Vinny Castilla's HR. However the Rockies would fall the next day ending
their magical season. At the end of the season, Manager Don Baylor is named
NL Manager of the Year, and OF Dante Bichette finishes 2nd in MVP voting.
1996: Ellis Burks and Dante Bichette both achieve 30 HR and 30 SB season becoming only
the second pair of teammates to pull off that feat in the same season. The Rockies
also become the first team to post 200 HR and 200 Stolen Bases en-route setting
a modern Major League 658 runs at home. However, the Rockies would only manage
a 3rd Place 83-79 season finishing 7 games out of the Wild Card Spot.
1997: Larry Walker bats .366 while driving in 130 runs and smashing 49 homers en-route
to being name NL MVP. He becomes the first Canadian born player ever to win the
award. However, with the Rockies pitchers still struggling the team an only manage
another 3rd Place 83-79 season. The team was dealt a further blow on September
24th as top Minor League pitcher Doug Million passes away after a severe asthma
attack in Mesa, Arizona, where he was taking part in Instructional League.
1998: Coors Field hosts the 69th annual Major League All-Star festivities, beginning with
All-Star Workout Day. Ken Griffey Jr. beats out Jim Thome to win the long-awaited
home run derby. During the contest's first round, Mark McGwire launches a
ball 510 feet off a billboard in center field. The Game itself is the highest-scoring
All-Star Game in history; the Americans beat the Nationals, 13-8. Roberto
Alomar of the Baltimore Orioles earns the MVP award. As for the season itself
the Rockies would struggle to finish in 4th Place with a 77-85 record. Following
the season Manager Don Baylor is fired, and replaced with Jim Leyland.
1999: On April 4th the Rockies mark their 7th Opening Day with a historic game. The Rockies
and San Diego Padres become the first teams ever to open a Major League schedule
outside of the U.S. or Canada, playing in Monterrey, Mexico. The Rockies
would go on to win 8-2, while Mexico's native son Vinny Castilla led the charge
going 4 for 5 with a HR. One month later the high-powered Rockies become only
the third team in the 20th century to score in every inning of a 9-inning game,
in a 13-6 win over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. However, the Rockies would
struggle again with poor pitching finishing in Last Place with a 70-92 record.
Following the season manager Jim Leyland would retire sighting burnout.
2000: In an August 22nd extra inning game with the Atlanta Braves, the Rockies ran out
of pitchers in the 12th and were forced to use catcher Brent Mayne on the mound.
Mayne ended up not allowing a run in one inning of work, and after the
Rockies scored in the bottom of the 12th Mayne became the first position player
to be a winning pitcher since 1968. The new look Rockies, who dealt away fan favorites
Dante Bichette, and Vinny Castilla, are picked by most to finish in last
place in the NL West by most experts. The Rockies however, surprise those experts
and their fans by finishing the season with an 82-80 record. Larry Walker's
2-year reign as batting champion comes to an end as Todd Helton claims the title
with a .372 average earning him the Hank Aaron Award.
2001: To bolster their pitching staff the Rockies signed high priced Free Agents Mike Hampton,
and Denny Neagle. Hampton would have a terrific 1st half earning a spot
on the All-Star team. However, he would struggle mightily in the 2nd half finishing
the season with a 14-13 record, while posting a disappointing 5.14 ERA. Neagle
would not fair any better posting a9-8 record, with an ERA of 5.38. The Rockies
would never be in the race and would go through a transition dealing away
top-notch players for young prospect. The Rockies would go on to finish in Last
Place with a 73-89, as Larry Walker was healthy again, and recaptured the batting
crown with a .350 average.
2002: The Rockies get off to a terrible 6-16 start as Manager Buddy Bell is fired and replaced
by Clint Hurdle. Under Hurdle the Rockies would show improvement thanks
from stellar pitching from Rockies Jason Jennings who would be named Rookie of
the Year and Denny Stark. However, it was the continued disappointment of high
priced free agent pitchers Mike Hampton and Denny Negale that kept the Rockies
down as the team finished in 4th place with a record of 73-89. Following the season
the Rockies would cut bait and trade away Hampton, who was just the latest
big name pitcher to fail in the Mile High Air of Colorado.
2003: With the acquisition of Preston Wilson the Rockies continued to have a power packed
offense that took advantage of the Mile High Air. In his first year with the
Rockies, Wilson would have a breakout year leading the NL with 141 RBI. However
the Rockies pitching continued to struggle finishing with a NL worst 5.20 team
ERA, as 2002 Rookie of the Year Jason Jennings was bitten by the sophomore jinx
with a disappointing 12-13 record and an ERA of 5.11. Meanwhile injuries would
limit Denny Neagle and Denny Stark to a combined 24 starts. Despite the struggles
the Rockies would hover around .500 most of the season with in reach of the
Wild Card. However as the season wore on the Rockies would fade winning just
14 games after August 8th, finishing in 4th place with a 74-88 record.
2004: Vinny Castilla a hero from the Rockies early days returned to Denver and played like
he never left smashing 35 homers while driving in a league high 131 RBI.
Also powering the Rockies was new comer Jeromy Burnitz who hit 37 homers, and
Todd Helton who smacked 32 while hitting .347. However, just as great as the
Rockies hitters were the Rockies pitching was bad as only Shawn Estes managed
15 wins, as the Rockies posted a putrid team ERA of 5.54. The Rockies pitching
would take them out of many games early and would take them out of the playoff
picture early as they finished in 4th place with a terrible 68-94 record. As the
season wore on the Rockies decided to go for a youth movement and traded away
Larry Walker to the St. Louis Cardinals at the deadline. When the season was over
the changes continued as Castilla's return to Colorado would last just 1 year
as he and Burnitz both were left unsigned, as was Shawn Estes their leading
pitcher. The Rockies would also let go Denny Neagle whose contract was terminated,
and Charles Johnson, leaving behind a roster of unproven players.
2005: The Rockies going with a youth movement started the season with a roster full of
unknown players, who had a memorable opening day as Clint Barmes hit a dramatic
2-run homer off Trevor Hoffman of the San Diego Padres from a 12-10 win. However,
it would be the only moment of joy in an otherwise bleak April as the Rockies
rookies were taking their lumps early and often as they lost 21 of their first
27 games. Clint Barmes was one of the only bright spots early in the season
as he posted a .410 average in April and appeared to be putting numbers for a run
at the Rookie of the Year as he was hitting .329 on June 5th when he was lost
to a freak shoulder injury suffered while carrying up packages of frozen deer
meat up to his apartment. Barmes would miss nearly three months and would struggle
when he returned. The Rockies would find themselves in last place all season
as they had a 31-56 record at the All-Star Break. However, in the second half
there would be signs of improvement as the Rockies were the best team in the
NL West in the 2nd half, as the entire division was below .500, at times. Despite
the more competitive brand of baseball the Rockies would never did escape the
cellar, as they finished with a 67-95 record equaling the worst mark in franchise
history.
2006: After a terrible season the Rockies continued to bank their fortunes on youth as
almost the entire roster was under 30. One of the young stars who had a breakout
season was Left Fielder Matt Holliday who led the team with 34 Home Runs, while
batting .326 with 119 RBI. Another breakout young star was 3B Garrett Atkins,
who batted .329 with 20 homers and a team high 120 RBI and 117 runs scored. While
Holliday and Atkins drove the Rockies to early success in April as they ended
the month in first place with a 15-10 record, concerns surrounded Todd Helton
as a serious intestinal infection landed him in the hospital. Helton would eventually
recover but the lost strength robbed him of some of his power numbers
as he managed just 15 homers with 81 RBI, though still hitting a respectable .302.
The Rockies would stay above .500 and near the top of the NL West much of
the first half as the team posted its best ERA in team history at 4.66. However,
as the second half began the Rockies began to fade as they lost eight straight
and 11 of 12 sandwiched around the All-Star Game to fall below .500. The Rockies
would never make it back over .500 again as disastrous six-game round trip
in mid August finished them as they suffered back-to-back sweeps as the hands of
the New York Mets and Milwaukee Brewers. The Rockies would go on to finish the
season with a 76-86 record that though tied for the worst record in the NL West
still marked a solid nine game improvement.
2007: The Rockies hoped to continue to build off their improved record, and get into the
playoff race as they entered the new season. However, early on it was more of
the same as the Rockies struggled and closed April with a record of 10-16. One
early highlight that would hint of the Rockies magical season was when rookie
Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki pulled off a rare unassisted triple play on April 29th
against the Atlanta Braves. The Rockies would not play much better in May, as
they still sat below .500. June would bring flashes of brilliance as the Rockies
took two of three against the Boston Red Sox, and swept the New York Yankees,
but ended the month on an 8-game losing streak. As the All-Star Game approached
the Rockies started to turn things around sweeping the New York Mets, who had
the best record in the NL at the break, as the Rockies ended the first half at
44-44. As July ended the Rockies were above .500 and on the fringe of the playoff
race, in 4th Place with in shouting distance of the top, but not taken seriously
enough by the rest of baseball. One player getting notice was OF Matt Holliday,
who went from the Rockies best kept secret to certified All-Star as he
led the NL in batting average and RBI, while getting serious MVP consideration.
Still it seemed the Rockies were a solid team that was going nowhere as they lost
two straight games to the Florida Marlins and sat in 4th Place at 77-72 on
September 15th. The following day the Rockies avoided an embarrassing home sweep
with a 13-0 blow out win as they entered a four game series against the Los Angeles
Dodgers, whom the Rockies would sweep to climb into third place keeping
their faint playoff hopes alive. The Rockies would follow it up with a sweep of
the San Diego Padres on the road, and with a seven game winning streak somehow
were staying alive in the chase for the playoffs. Another sweep of the Dodgers
would suddenly catch the attention of baseball as the Rockies were still alive
thanks to an 11-game winning streak entering the final weekend of the season.
The streak would end on September 28th as the Arizona Diamondbacks looked up a
division title with a 4-2 win, as the Rockies found themselves trailing the Padres
by two games with two games to go for the Wild Card. The Rockies would do their
part hammering the D-Backs 11-1, but watched helplessly as the Padres were
one inning away from clinching the Wild Card, with all-time leading save man Trevor
Hoffman on the mound. Hoffman would blow the save against the Milwaukee Brewers
keeping the Rockies hearts beating heading into the final day of the season.
The Rockies would win again closing the regular season with 13 wins in their
last 15 games. Meanwhile, the Brewers helped them out again, as they beat the
Padres to force a tiebreaker playoff for the Wild Card spot as the Rockies and
Padres each posted an 89-73 record. The Rockies streak had caught MLB by surprise
as they had won the right to host the game just a week earlier in a last minute
coin flip. The game would be an instant classic as the Rockies jumped out
early against NL Cy Young winner Jake Peavy, taking a 3-0 lead. However, the Padres
behind Adrian Gonzalez scored five times in the 3rd Inning to take the lead.
Much like they did at the end of the season the Rockies battled back taking
a 6-5 lead after six innings. However, the Padres would tie the game, as the one
game tiebreaker needed extra innings to decide who would play in October and
who would go home. In the 13th Inning the Padres would strike scoring two runs
off an ineffective Jorge Julio, but these Rockies would not give up not after
winning 13 of 14 just to force a tiebreaker. With Trevor Hoffman on the mound the
odds were against the Rockies again, but that only seemed to put things in their
favor as Kaz Matsui led off with a double, he was followed by Tulowitzki who
hit a double of his own, then came Matt Holliday who tied the game again with
a triple. With nobody out the winning run was on 3rd, Todd Helton was intentional
walked, setting up pinch hitter Jamey Carroll for the dramatic finish, as
he flied out to short right field, Holliday decided to chance and slid past the
tag of Michael Barrett at home to give the Rockies a dramatic 9-8 victory, keeping
with the dramatics Holliday seemed to be hurt on the play as teammates rushed
to greet him, but he would get up and the Rockies were in the playoffs with
a 90-73 record.
2007: In the NLDS the Rockies were matched up against the Philadelphia Phillies, who had
their own miracle run to reach the postseason. Still buzzing form their winning
streak the Rockies got off to a fast start winning the opener on the road behind
Jeff Francis 4-2. In Game 2 it would be Josh Fogg, who overcame early shakiness
to settle down, as Kaz Matsui hit a grand slam home run to spark the Rockies
offense in a 10-4 win. As the series shifted to Coors Field, the Phillies seemed
to be running into a buzz saw, as Colorado officially had baseball fever.
With Ubaldo Jimenez allowing just one run on three hits in 6.3 innings, the Rockies
were able to win a pitcher's duel 2-1, as Pinch Hitter Jeff Baker knocked
home Garrett Atkins with the winning run in the 8th Inning to complete the three
game sweep and send the Rockies to a NLCS showdown with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
In Game 1 it would be Jeff Francis again, who outpitched Brandon Webb to
give the Rockies a 5-1 win in Game 1. The next game would go to extra innings,
were the Rockies had more late inning magic, with Willy Taveras taking a bases
loaded run to force home the winning run in the 11th Inning. As the series shifted
to Colorado, not even the rain could spoil the Rockies run as they took a 3-0
series lead powered by a Yorvit Torrealba g three-run homer in the sixth inning
to win 4-1. The Rockies would go on to complete the sweep with a 6-4 win as
NLCS MVP Matt Holliday smashed a three run homer to give the Rockies a commanding
6-1 lead in the 4th Inning. With 21 wins in 22 games the Rockies were the hottest
team in baseball as they found themselves in the World Series against the
Boston Red Sox. However, sweeping through the NLDS and NLCS had a negative side
effect as the Rockies would have a nine day layoff before starting the Fall
Classic in Fenway Park. In Game 1 Jeff Francis took the mound again, but the Rockies
magic seemed to be gone as the Red Sox jumped out early and won easily 13-1.
In Game 2 the Rockies would score in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead, but
would not score again as the Sox took a 2-0 lead to Denver with a 2-1 win. As
the series shifted to Coors Field it was clear the Rockies were overmatched as
the Red Sox scored six runs in the 3rd Inning to take a 6-0 lead, the Rockies
would battle back to get with in one run, but the Sox offense was too much as
they pulled away late for a 10-5 win. The Sox would go on to complete the sweep
with a 4-3 win in Game 4. |
