Table of Contents
Colorado Rockies
Mile High Baseball
The Colorado Rockies were an expansion team, joining Major League Baseball in 1993 along with the Florida Marlins, awarded to Denver as part of MLB's expansion efforts. 1)
Highest Home Field
Coors Field, the Rockies' home ballpark, sits at an elevation of 5,280 feet (1,609 meters), making it the highest elevated stadium in Major League Baseball. 2)
The Purple Row
A distinct row of purple seats encircles Coors Field at the exact 5,280-foot elevation mark, serving as a visual reminder of the ballpark's unique altitude. 3)
Altitude Advantage
The thin air at Coors Field is known to benefit hitters, generally leading to higher batting averages and more home runs compared to league averages due to reduced air resistance. 4)
First Winning Season
Colorado achieved its first non-losing season in the strike-shortened 1994 campaign (73-71) and followed it with their first full winning season in 1995 (74-70). 5)
1995 Playoffs
The Rockies made their first postseason appearance in 1995, clinching the National League Wild Card spot just three seasons after their inception. 6)
NLDS Heartbreak
Their inaugural 1995 NL Division Series against the Atlanta Braves ended dramatically in Game 4 on a walk-off home run by the Braves' Marquis Grissom. 7)
The Big Cat
Andres Galarraga, nicknamed “The Big Cat,” had a stellar 1996 season for the Rockies, hitting .305 with 47 home runs and 150 RBIs, earning NL Comeback Player of the Year honors. 8)
Larry Walker MVP
Canadian outfielder Larry Walker captured the 1997 National League MVP award, leading the league with a .366 batting average, 49 home runs, and 130 RBIs. 9)
1998 All-Star Game
Colorado hosted the Major League Baseball All-Star Game for the first time in 1998 at the newly opened Coors Field. 10)
2007 Rocktober
The Rockies captivated the fanbase in late 2007, winning 14 of their final 17 regular-season games to clinch the NL Wild Card, igniting the “Rocktober” celebration. 11)
Unlikely Pennant
The 2007 Rockies completed a remarkable turnaround, going from 18 games under .500 in September to winning the National League pennant by sweeping the Phillies and Diamondbacks in the playoffs. 12)
World Series Sweep
The team's magical 2007 “Rocktober” run ended in the World Series, where they were swept 4 games to 0 by the eventual champion Boston Red Sox. 13)
Helton's Loyalty
Todd Helton spent his entire 17-year MLB playing career (1997-2013) with the Colorado Rockies, establishing himself as the franchise's greatest player. 14)
Helton's Average
Helton retired with a career .316 batting average, the highest average for any player who spent their entire career with the Rockies franchise. 15)
Ubaldo's Gem
Pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez threw the first no-hitter in Rockies franchise history on April 17, 2010, against the Houston Astros. 16)
Gray's No-Hitter
Jon Gray pitched the second no-hitter in franchise history on April 23, 2021, defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers with 10 strikeouts. 17)
Marquez's Gem
Germán Márquez tossed the third no-hitter in Rockies history on September 30, 2022, striking out 11 Cardinals. 18)
Arenado's Arrival
Nolan Arenado, drafted 59th overall by the Rockies in 2009, rapidly developed into one of baseball's elite defensive third basemen. 19)
Eight Gold Gloves
Arenado earned eight consecutive Gold Glove awards from his first full season in 2013 through 2020, showcasing exceptional defense at third base. 20)
Arenado Traded
Despite his immense success, Arenado was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in February 2021 as part of a significant offseason deal. 21)
Holliday's Impact
Matt Holliday won the 2007 National League batting title with a .340 average and finished second in the MVP voting during the team's “Rocktober” run. 22)
Freeland's Hometown
Denver native Kyle Freeland pitched the fourth no-hitter in Rockies franchise history on September 9, 2017, against the Minnesota Twins. 23)
The "Purple Power"
The team's iconic purple home uniforms, adopted in the early 2000s, have become a lasting symbol of the franchise's identity and fan engagement. 24)
Dachshund Races
Coors Field hosts the popular “Mutt Runs” during Sunday home games, featuring entertaining races between canine contestants during the seventh-inning stretch. 25)
Early Team Name
Before settling on the “Rockies,” franchise founders considered names like the Colorado Stars, Pioneers, and Cougars during the selection process. 26)
Davenport's Founding
Jerry Davenport was instrumental in securing the Denver franchise rights in 1991, paving the way for the team's eventual MLB debut. 27)
Monfort Ownership
The ownership group is currently led by Charles and Linda Monfort, who took full control of the team in 2005. 28)
Coors Naming Rights
Coors Brewing Company secured the original ballpark naming rights in 1995, maintaining a long-standing partnership that has kept the stadium named Coors Field. 29)
Attendance Record
The Rockies established an MLB record for attendance for an expansion team's inaugural season, drawing over 4 million fans in 1993. 30)
Vinny Castilla
Vinny Castilla was a beloved early star at third base, representing the Rockies in two All-Star games during his impactful tenure in the late 1990s and early 2000s. 31)
First Manager
Don Baylor served as the inaugural manager for the Colorado Rockies, leading the team from their debut season in 1993 through 1998. 32)
Franchise Four
Larry Walker, Todd Helton, Nolan Arenado, and DJ LeMahieu were honored as the Rockies' “Franchise Four” in a fan vote conducted in 2014. 33)
LeMahieu's Batting Title
DJ LeMahieu won the National League batting title in 2016, posting a .348 batting average for the Rockies. 34)
First Pitcher Wins
The Rockies' first win of the inaugural 1993 season was credited to pitcher Doug Henry, who got the victory in their 10th game of the year. 35)
First Hit
The first hit in Colorado Rockies franchise history belonged to outfielder Alex Cole, who singled on April 5, 1993. 36)
First Home Run
Andres Galarraga hit the first home run in Colorado Rockies franchise history on Opening Day, April 5, 1993. 37)
Famous Trade
The Rockies traded star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, a franchise cornerstone, to the Toronto Blue Jays in July 2015. 38)
Number Retirement
The Rockies have officially retired only one player number in their history: 17, honoring franchise icon Todd Helton. 39)
Pitching Ace
Although known for offense, the Rockies have featured strong pitching seasons, including Ubaldo Jimenez's 2010 Cy Young runner-up campaign. 40)
Career Home Run Leader
Todd Helton holds the franchise record for career home runs with 369, significantly more than any other Rockies player. 41)
Walker's Accolades
Larry Walker, in addition to his MVP, won three batting titles, seven Gold Gloves, and three Silver Slugger awards during his Hall of Fame-caliber career. 42)
Longest Playoff Drought
After their 2007 NL Pennant, the Rockies endured a decade-long playoff drought, not returning to the postseason until 2017. 43)
CarGo's Batting Title
Carlos Gonzalez captured the 2010 National League batting title with a .336 average, becoming the first Rockies player to win the award. 44)
Larry Walker's Home Run Power
Larry Walker hit 163 home runs at Coors Field, significantly benefiting from the altitude and hitter-friendly environment, with many of his career-best power seasons occurring in Colorado. 45)