Louis Taggart | @LouisWontShutup | March 28, 2024

Another season is here, and with it comes the day we’ve waited for all offseason: Opening Day. This year, the Rockies are in Arizona facing the Diamondbacks, but I wanted to research the history and results of Rockies Opening Day games. The Rockies are one of the more successful teams when playing on opening day. In 31 games, they have a 17-14 record, which is sixth best in baseball with a .548 win percentage. 

They lead baseball with an impressive .802 OPS, the second best is Arizona with a .759 OPS in Opening Day games. 

Last season, the Rockies started the season hot with a 7-2 win in San Diego. This season, they face another divisional opponent in the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Diamondbacks are a familiar foe. In fact, this will be the ninth Opening Day meeting between these two teams, with a 4-4 series split thus far. 

Elite Performances 

Mike Hampton was the most bipolar player on Opening Day. He was given the opening day nod for the 2001 and 2002 seasons. In 2001, he put together the best start any Rockies’ pitcher has had in Opening Day history, being pulled in the ninth inning against the Cardinals without allowing a run. The next season, the Cardinals got their revenge, teeing off Hampton before he was pulled in the fourth inning after allowing six earned runs. 

A close second to the most impressive pitching performance came from an unlikely source. In 2015, the Rockies opened their season against the Brewers and gave newly signed Kyle Kendrick the Opening Day nod. Kendrick went on to pitch seven scoreless innings, the second most for a Rockies’ pitcher on Opening Day. This was a good start, but was ultimately the highlight of Kendricks career with the Rockies. 

The best offensive performance came last season when CJ Cron had a single, double and two home runs. That is a 3.000 OPS in one game, more than a cycle would get you. 

Memorable Games 

In the 1994 season, the Rockies opened their season against the Mets. The game brewed up to be an instant classic, being tied 7-7 after the scheduled nine innings of play. In the 14th inning, Dante Bichette sent the fans home after a near five hour game with a three run walk-off home run, defeating the Mets 11-9. In the next game of the season, future Rockies Manager, Walt Weiss, gave the fans another thrilling finish as he too walked off the Mets. 

In 2005, the Rockies started the season with one of the games of the year. Down two in the bottom of the ninth and facing future Hall of Famer Trevor Hoffman, the game seemed over. A combo of hits by Jeff Baker, Cory Sullivan, and Aaron Miles tied the game at 10. With a runner on, Clint Barmes crushed a walk-off two-run home run to send Coors Field into pandemonium. 

2006 didn’t disappoint, either. Jason Jennings and Brandon Webb found themselves in a good old-fashioned pitching duel. Both went seven innings of one run ball, passing the game to the bullpens. The Rockies’ bullpen of Ray King, Jose Mesa, Brian Fuentes and Mike DeJean didn’t budge, not allowing an earned run the rest of the game. In the 11th inning, it was Brad Hawpe who drove in the game winning run. 

Mr. Opening Day 

The MVP of Opening Day goes to Todd Helton. He not only has the most plate appearances with 77, far clear of anyone else, but he put together a .983 OPS, despite not hitting a home run. He led the team in hits and walks to start the season, which shows the consistency in which Helton did his damage. 

Stat Leaders

Plate Appearances: 1st Todd Helton (77); 2nd Charlie Blackmon (47); 3rd Troy Tulowitzki (43) 

Hits: 1st Todd Helton (24); 2nd Carlos Gonzalez (16); 3rd Troy Tulowitzki/Larry Walker  (13) 

Walks: 1st Todd Helton (11); 2nd Chris Iannetta (6); 3rd Charlie Blackmon (4) 

Home runs: 1st Trevor Story/Troy Tulowitzki/Nolan Arenado/Vinny Castilla/Carlos Gonzalez (3) 

Starts: Kyle Freeland/German Marquez (3)

Innings pitched: 1st German Marquez (15.2); 2nd Darryl Kile (13.2); 3rd Ubaldo Jimenez/Mike Hampton (12.0) 

Strikeouts: 1st Jorge De La Rosa (14); 2nd German Marquez (13); 3rd Jason Jennings/Kyle Freeland/Jon Gray (11) 

Records Against Each Team 

Arizona Diamondbacks: 4-4

Atlanta Braves: 0-1 

Cincinnati Reds: 0-1

Houston Astros: 1-1

Los Angeles Dodgers: 1-1

Miami Marlins: 1-1

Milwaukee Brewers: 3-1

New York Mets: 1-1

Philadelphia Phillies: 1-1

San Diego Padres: 3-0 

St. Louis Cardinals: 2-1 

Texas Rangers: 0-1