The Montreal Expos had earned a reputation for scouting and signing Latin American talent, and one of the best examples of that was Venezuelan First Baseman, Andres Galarraga.

Slow and steady wins the race?

Ok, maybe we are trying to justify the slow pace of getting our Top 50 players of each franchise up, but we do have another one, and yes it is a return to the diamond.

As we are doing all of the franchises by random, the Colorado Rockies are up next, because…why…well, why not?

An expansion team in 1993, the Rockies have only made the playoffs three times, going as far as representing the National League in the World Series in 2007, though they were systematically destroyed in a four game sweep by the Boston Red Sox.

Casual fans still think the ball launches out of Coors Field (humidors have taken care of that) but that was the case in the 90’s and offense was a premium for the Rockies. 

Perhaps this is why so many of those on this list are from the 90’s!

The entire list can be found here, but as per tradition we always unveil the top five in our news item which are as follows:

1. Todd Helton
2. Larry Walker
3. Troy Tulowitzki
4. Carlos Gonzalez
5. Nolan Aranedo

As always, we look forward to your feedback and look for us to unveil a new top 50 soon.

Galarraga’s path to Colorado was forged by a daring vision from Rockies manager Don Baylor, who had worked with him in St. Louis. Believing that Galarraga’s recent struggles were an anomaly caused by injury rather than a decline in skill, Baylor pushed the expansion franchise to sign the free agent for their inaugural 1993 season. It proved to be a masterstroke of talent evaluation; Galarraga matured instantly into the premier offensive threat for the young club. He authored a breathtaking debut where his average skyrocketed from .243 the previous year to a league-leading .370, making him the first Venezuelan player to capture a Major League Batting Title and setting the tone for the most explosive offense in the game.

The most impressive aspect of his tenure was the sheer volume of runs he produced during the mid-90s. Galarraga was a master of the middle of the order, launching 30 or more home runs in four of his five seasons with the Rockies. He reached an incredible peak in 1996 when he swept the National League power titles, leading the circuit with 47 home runs and 150 RBIs. While he frequently contended with a high strikeout rate, his ability to produce in high-leverage moments was undeniable; he finished in the top ten of the MVP voting four times during his five-year stay, serving as the tactical anchor for the 1995 squad that secured the franchise’s first-ever postseason berth.

His presence was defined by a charismatic, wide-grinned joy and a physical style of play that earned him his famous nickname. Despite the challenges of maintaining high defensive efficiency at his size, "The Big Cat" patrolled first base with surprising agility, making him a central figure in the city's sporting culture. Whether he was lacing a line drive into the gap or clearing the bleachers at Coors Field, he competed with a professional intensity that made him a local immortal. He proved that a player could become the face of a new franchise through a rare combination of historic hitting and a magnetic personality.

After the 1997 season, he moved on to Atlanta as a free agent, but he left the organization as a key figure in Colorado’s formative years. He departed Colorado with 172 home runs, 575 RBIs, and 757 hits with an epic .316/.367/.598 slash line.

Like Larry Walker, Andres Galarraga would find himself a major star with the Colorado Rockies, but it as a Montreal Expo where he first proved he was a better than average Major League Baseball player.  “The Big Cat” was an All-Star in 1988 and would lead the NL in Hits (184) and Doubles (42) that year.  Throw in a Silver Slugger and two Gold Gloves, and it is easy to see why the Expos fans were upset to lose another budding star, when they knew would not be able to afford him.  Galarraga had 906 Hits, 115 Home Runs and batted .269 for Montreal.