Let's talk America's favorite past time. After all, summer in Denver wouldn’t be complete without its beloved purple and black taking the field. With youth on their side, the Colorado Rockies are building a foundation of hitting, throwing and running fundamentals. Expect long, long drives to center field, diving catches, double plays and scorching fastballs—with quite a few home runs thrown in for good measure.
A Quick Look At The Team Behind the Pinstripes
The Colorado Rockies have been enticing baseball fans since 1993, when Major League Baseball saw the birth of its newest franchise team. Since then, the bats of Todd Helton, Larry Walker and Andres Gallaraga have all graced the stadium. First Baseman Helton is still going strong with the Rockies and plans on continuing to hit for power, with a roster of young talent joining his efforts to earn another national league championship.
Coors Field, Frustrating Pitchers and Delighting Batters Since 1995
Situated a mile above sea level, Coors Field is a park to be reckoned with. Physics certainly plays a role, as the ball travels 9 percent farther at this altitude than it does at sea level. So what? So, that means that a 400-foot home run ball hit in San Francisco’s AT&T Park would travel roughly 440 feet here in Coors Field—for Rockies sluggers like Todd Helton, this makes the job a little easier when playing at home.
In fact, according to Major League Baseball, in 1999 Coors Field became the most offense-friendly Major League ballpark ever built. That year, the ball left the yard 303 times. To keep the balls from leaving the park so easily, the Rockies have engaged in a few home run-hindering activities—including storing the team’s baseballs in humidors. Since the high altitude has a tendency to expand a baseball, leaving it a bit bigger and a lot more hittable, humidors help mediate this high altitude-induced swelling. In addition to controlling the atmosphere surrounding the actual baseball, the Rockies have also taken to controlling the environment around the game—leaving the grass just a bit longer, which will slow a sharp grounder just slightly.
Not to worry, the excitement of the game is still palpable. The relative ease of taking one out of Coors Field will never be stopped, just slightly reined in.
Fun Fact: Look for the purple row of seats in the upper decks, which provide a visual marker for the exact height that is one mile above sea level.
For More Information Contact:
Colorado Rockies Baseball Club
2001 Blake St.
Denver, CO 80205
Phone: 303-292-0200
Toll Free: 800-388-ROCK
updated: 04/05/06