1993 Colorado Rockies Inaugural Season Highlights

The 1993 Colorado Rockies inaugural season was a highly anticipated event in the world of baseball. The Rockies, along with the Miami Marlins, were the newest expansion teams to join Major League Baseball (MLB). The excitement was palpable as the team prepared to take the field for the first time in their franchise history. In this article, we will take a look at the highlights of the 1993 Colorado Rockies inaugural season.

The Rockies played their home games at Mile High Stadium, a venue that was originally designed for football and was home to the Denver Broncos. The stadium underwent significant renovations to accommodate baseball, including the installation of a new grass playing surface and the construction of a manual scoreboard. Despite the challenges of playing in a stadium designed for football, the Rockies made the most of their situation and provided their fans with an exciting brand of baseball.

Player Highlights

The 1993 Colorado Rockies roster was filled with talented players, many of whom would go on to have successful careers in the major leagues. One of the standout players from the inaugural season was outfielder Dante Bichette. Bichette, who was acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers in the offseason, hit.310 with 21 home runs and 89 RBIs, earning him a spot on the National League All-Star team.

Another key contributor to the Rockies' success was first baseman Andrés Galarraga. Galarraga, who was signed as a free agent in the offseason, hit.370 with 22 home runs and 98 RBIs, leading the National League in batting average. His impressive performance earned him the National League batting title and a spot on the National League All-Star team.

Pitching Highlights

The Rockies' pitching staff was led by a talented young hurler named David Nied. Nied, who was acquired from the Atlanta Braves in the offseason, went 5-9 with a 5.17 ERA in his rookie season. Despite his modest win-loss record, Nied showed flashes of brilliance, striking out 74 batters in 87 innings pitched.

Another key contributor to the Rockies' pitching staff was reliever Darren Holmes. Holmes, who was signed as a free agent in the offseason, went 3-4 with a 4.43 ERA and 11 saves in his first season with the Rockies. His impressive performance earned him a spot on the National League All-Star team.

Season Highlights

The 1993 Colorado Rockies season was filled with exciting moments, including a 13-12 win over the San Francisco Giants on April 5, which marked the team's first victory in franchise history. The Rockies also swept a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 16-18, which marked the team's first sweep in franchise history.

One of the most memorable moments of the season came on May 14, when the Rockies played in front of a sellout crowd of 56,573 at Mile High Stadium. The Rockies went on to win the game 8-6, marking the team's first sellout in franchise history.

Attendance Highlights

Despite the challenges of playing in a stadium designed for football, the Rockies drew impressive attendance numbers throughout the season. The team averaged 44,065 fans per game, which was the highest average attendance in the National League.

The Rockies' attendance numbers were boosted by a series of promotions and giveaways, including a "T-Shirt Tuesday" promotion, which featured a different Rockies-themed t-shirt each week. The team also hosted a "Fireworks Friday" promotion, which featured a post-game fireworks display.

Conclusion

The 1993 Colorado Rockies inaugural season was a resounding success, both on and off the field. Despite the challenges of playing in a stadium designed for football, the team provided their fans with an exciting brand of baseball, featuring talented players like Dante Bichette and Andrés Galarraga.

The Rockies' attendance numbers were impressive, with the team averaging over 44,000 fans per game. The team's promotions and giveaways, including "T-Shirt Tuesday" and "Fireworks Friday," helped to create a fun and festive atmosphere at Mile High Stadium.

As the Rockies look back on their inaugural season, they can take pride in knowing that they established a strong foundation for the franchise. The team's success on the field and at the box office paved the way for future success, including a National League pennant in 2007 and a World Series appearance in 2007.

If you're a fan of the Colorado Rockies or just a fan of baseball in general, we hope you've enjoyed this look back at the team's inaugural season. We encourage you to share your thoughts and memories of the 1993 season in the comments below.

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