The history of the Colorado Rockies effectively began with a single swing from Eric Young. As an original member of the 1993 expansion squad, "E.Y." provided the first iconic moment in franchise history by launching a leadoff home run in the club's inaugural home opener at Mile High Stadium.
Young’s stay in Colorado was defined by an elite, high-frequency approach to baserunning that remains the gold standard for the organization. He reached a personal best in steals during the 1996 campaign, a summer in which he led the National League with 53 stolen bases and earned both an All-Star selection and a Silver Slugger award. This followed a remarkable 1995 season where he paced the circuit with nine triples while batting a career-high .317. He was a model of specialized efficiency, utilizing the vast gaps of Coors Field to turn routine singles into extra-base hits and providing the table-setting patience required to ignite a lineup of power hitters.
On June 30, 1996. In a single game against the Dodgers, Young tied a modern major league record by swiping six bases—including a spectacular sequence where he stole second, third, and home in the same inning. He possessed a professional resilience that saw him transition between second base and the outfield to keep his high-leverage speed in the lineup, eventually amassing a franchise-record 180 stolen bases.
In 1997, he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers, thus ending his run in Mile High. With the Rockies, Young compiled 626 hits and 180 stolen bases while securing the 1996 NL Stolen Base title and a Silver Slugger.
The organization provided the final punctuation on his legacy by inviting him back as a coach and honoring his status as an original "Blake Street" icon.
Comments powered by CComment