Colorado Rockies

The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the National League West Division. Their home venue is Coors Field. Their manager is Walt Weiss.

The Colorado Rockies have won one National League championship (2007). They mounted a spirited rally in the last month of the 2007 regular season, winning 21 of their final 22 games, and qualified for the 2007 World Series. However, they lost to the American League champion Boston Red Sox four games to none.

History
Denver had long been a hotbed of minor league baseball and many in the area desired a major league team. Following the Pittsburgh drug trials, an unsuccessful attempt was made to purchase the Pittsburgh Pirates and relocate them. However, in 1991, as part of Major League Baseball's two-team expansion (they also added the Florida (now Miami) Marlins), an ownership group representing Denver led by John Antonucci and Michael I. Monus were granted a franchise; they took the name "Rockies" due to Denver's proximity to the Rocky Mountains, which is reflected in their logo. They began play in 1993, sharing Mile High Stadium with the National Football League's Denver Broncos their first two seasons while Coors Field was constructed. It was completed for the 1995 Major League Baseball season.

In 1993 they started play in the western division of the National League. Since that date, the Rockies have reached the MLB postseason three times, each time as the National League wild card team. Twice (1995 and 2009) they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. In 2007 the Rockies advanced all the way to the World Series, only to be swept by the Boston Red Sox.

The Rockies play their home games at Coors Field. Their newest Spring Training home, Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, opened in March 2011 and is shared with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Quick facts

 * Founded: 1991
 * Began play: 1993 (National League expansion)
 * Uniform colors: Black, Purple, Silver, and White
 * Logo design: Purple mountain with baseball
 * Team mascot: Dinger, a purple anthropomorphized triceratops
 * Playoff appearances (3): 1995, 2007, 2009
 * Owners: Linda G. Alvarado, Pete Coors, Lee Larson, Marne Obernauer, Sr., Marne Obernauer, Jr., Denver Newspaper Agency, Coors Brewing Co., Clear Channel Communications, and Beverage Distributors Corp., Dick and Charlie Monfort


 * Chairman & CEO: Charles Monfort
 * Vice Chairman: Richard Monfort
 * President: Vacant
 * General Manager: Dan O'Dowd
 * Local Television: ROOT Sports
 * Spring Training Facility: Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, Scottsdale, Arizona (2011 – present)

Baseball Hall of Famers
As of the 2011 Baseball Hall of Fame election, no inducted members have played or managed for the Rockies.

Retired numbers
Though not retired, Larry Walker's number 33 has not been issued since he was traded during the 2004 season after 10 years with the Rockies.

Jackie Robinson's number was retired throughout Major League Baseball.

NL MVP

 * 1997 – Larry Walker

NLCS MVP

 * 2007 – Matt Holliday

NL Rookie of the Year

 * 2002 – Jason Jennings
 * 2007 -- Troy Tulowitzki

Silver Slugger Award

 * Dante Bichette (1995)
 * Vinny Castilla (1995, 1997–98)
 * Andrés Galarraga (1996)
 * Eric Young (1996)
 * Ellis Burks (1996)
 * Larry Walker (1997, 1999)
 * Mike Hampton (2001–02)
 * Todd Helton (2000–03)
 * Matt Holliday (2006–08)
 * Carlos González (2010)
 * Troy Tulowitzki (2010–11)

Hank Aaron Award

 * 2000 – Todd Helton

Gold Glove Award

 * Larry Walker (1997–99, 2001–02)
 * Neifi Pérez (2000)
 * Todd Helton (2001–02, 2004)
 * Carlos González (2010, 2012)
 * Troy Tulowitzki (2010–11)

Manager of the Year Award

 * 1995 – Don Baylor
 * 2009 – Jim Tracy

DHL Hometown Heroes (2006)

 * Larry Walker – voted by MLB fans as the most outstanding player in the history of the franchise, based on on-field performance, leadership quality and character value

Team award

 * 2007 – Warren Giles Trophy (National League champion)
 * 2007 – Baseball America Organization of the Year

Championships

 * colspan="3" style="text-align:center;"| National League Champions
 * style="width:30%; text-align:center;"| Preceded by: St. Louis Cardinals
 * style="width:40%; text-align:center;"| 2007
 * style="width:30%; text-align:center;"| Succeeded by: Philadelphia Phillies
 * colspan="3" style="text-align:center;"| National League Wild Card Winners
 * style="width:30%; text-align:center;"| Preceded by: None (First)
 * style="width:40%; text-align:center;"| 1995
 * style="width:30%; text-align:center;"| Succeeded by: Los Angeles Dodgers
 * style="width:30%; text-align:center;"| Preceded by: Los Angeles Dodgers
 * style="width:40%; text-align:center;"| 2007
 * style="width:30%; text-align:center;"| Succeeded by: Milwaukee Brewers
 * style="width:30%; text-align:center;"| Preceded by: Milwaukee Brewers
 * style="width:40%; text-align:center;"| 2009
 * style="width:30%; text-align:center;"| Succeeded by: Atlanta Braves
 * style="width:30%; text-align:center;"| Succeeded by: Milwaukee Brewers
 * style="width:30%; text-align:center;"| Preceded by: Milwaukee Brewers
 * style="width:40%; text-align:center;"| 2009
 * style="width:30%; text-align:center;"| Succeeded by: Atlanta Braves
 * style="width:30%; text-align:center;"| Succeeded by: Atlanta Braves

Radio and television
As of 2010, Rockies' flagship radio station is KOA 850AM, with some late-season games broadcast on KKZN 760 AM due to conflicts with Denver Broncos games. Jerry Schemmel and Jack Corrigan are the radio announcers. The Rockies Radio Network is composed of 38 affiliate stations in eight states.

As of 2011, all games will be produced and televised by Root Sports Rocky Mountain. All 150 games produced by Root Sports Rocky Mountain will be broadcast in HD. Jeff Huson, Drew Goodman and George Frazier form the TV broadcast team with Tom Helmer and Tracy Ringolsby handling the pre-game and post-game shows.