In 1993, for the first time since 1977, Major League Baseball expanded to add two more teams — the Colorado Rockies and the Florida Marlins. The Rockies took their name from a former National Hockey League franchise, which existed from 1976 to 1982. The hockey team had little success, but the National League’s Rockies have fared slightly better with their schedule. The club made the playoffs in 1995, just its third season of operation, and won the National League Pennant in 2007. That year, the club earned the distinction of being named Baseball America’s organization of the year.
Ballpark / Stadium – Coors Field
The Rockies play their home games at Coors Field, which continuously makes news for its reputation as a park friendly to hitters. Its high altitude and thin air have traditionally meant that Coors Field is home run heaven for players. Continuous efforts to reduce the number of home runs in the park, including storing game balls in a humidor, have lowered the home run totals to be consistent with the rest of baseball. The Coors Field address is 2001 Blake St., Denver, CO, 80205. Read more about Coors Field.
Colorado Rockies Roster
Two players on the all-time Rockies roster, Todd Helton and Larry Waker, are members of the Baseball Hall of Fame. The team has had its share of other stars over the years too. The list of the team’s all-time greats includes Vinny Castilla, Andrés Galarraga, Troy Tulowitzki, Nolan Arenado, Trevor Story, Matt Holliday, D.J. LeMahieu, and Carlos Gonzalez.
Spring Training
The Colorado Rockies Spring Training facility is Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, located in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community outside of Scottsdale, AZ. The team shares this ballpark, which opened in 2011 and has an official capacity of 11,000, with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Rockies Minor League Baseball affiliates are the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox, Double-A Tulsa Drillers, Advanced-A Modesto Nuts, Class-A Asheville Tourists, Short-Season A Tri-City Dust Devils and rookie league Grand Junction Rockies and Dominican Summer League Rockies.
Colorado Rockies FAQ
When were the Colorado Rockies founded?
The Colorado Rockies joined the National League as part of MLB’s 1993 expansion. The Florida (now Miami) Marlins were the other 1993 expansion team.
How did the Colorado Rockies get their name?
The Colorado Rockies got their name because of Denver’s proximity to the Rocky Mountains, which run through Colorado.
Are any Colorado Rockies in the Hall of Fame?
Outfielder Larry Walker is the lone member of the Colorado Rockies who is enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Why do the Colorado Rockies wear purple?
The Rockies are the lone MLB team that uses purple as a primary color, and do so as a tribute to the “purple mountain majesties” in the song, “America the Beautiful.”