Colorado Rockies (1993-Preset)

Manager: Buddy Bell 2000-
Stadium: Coors Field 1995-

Address:
2001 Blake Street
Denver, CO 80205-2000
Phone: (800) 388-7625

Web:
http://www.rockies.mlb.com

Nickname:
Named after the Rocky Mountains, which go through Colorado.

Logo:
A Baseball blasting out of Purple Mountains with a white snow capped peak Rockies is written in black with a sliver in the center of the letters underneath. On top of the logo is a black arch with Colorado written in silver.

Colors:
Black, Silver, and Purple

Managerial History:
Don Baylor 1993-1998
Jim Leyland 1999
Buddy Bell 2000-Present

Stadium History:
Mile High Stadium 1993-1994
Coors Field 1995-Present

All Star Games Hosted: (1)
1998

World Champions:
None

World Series:
None

Division Champions:
None

Wild Card: (1)
1995

Retired Numbers: (1)
42 Jackie Robinson (Retired by MLB)

Hall of Famers:
None

All Star Game MVP:
None

Manager of the Year: (1)
1995 Don Baylor

Rookie of the Year:
None

Fireman Award:
None

Hank Aaron Award: (1)
2000 Todd Helton 1B

Cy Young:
None

MVP: (1)
1997 Larry Walker OF

LCS MVP:
None

World Series MVP:
None

Cycle Hitters: (4)
6/10/1998 Dante Bichette
7/25/1998 Neifi Perez
6/19/1999 Todd Helton
6/18/20000 Mike Lansing

No Hitters:
None

Best Season: 1995 (77-67)
Worst Season: 1993 (67-95)

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 earn 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, ad 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.

1995: 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 two 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 Castillia 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 uan 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 Castillia, 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.

Odds and Ends:
Team Mascot: Dinger

On The Air:
Television: KWGN (Channel 2), Fox Sports Rocky Mountain
Radio: KOA 850 AM, KCUV 1150 AM
Broadcasters: Dave Armstrong, and George Frazier-TV Wayne Hagin, and Jeff Kingery-Radio

Spring Training History:
Tuscon, AZ 1993-Present

On The Farm:
AAA: Colorado Springs Sky Sox
AA: Carolina Mudcats
A: Salem Avalanche
A: Tri City Dust Devils
A: Asheville Tourists
Rookie: Casper Rockies