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Coors Field Historical Analysis
Hand laid bricks, clock towers, artful steel beams and an outfield "mountain-garden" complete with fountains make Coors Field one of the most nostalgic new parks of the modern era. What sets it apart from ANY ballpark ever built in Major League history is a single row of purple seats that reside in the Upper Deck and wrap all the way around the playing field marking the one mile above sea level line. Debates rage on about virtually every aspect of the game here at Coors Field (the altitude, the pitchers, the fitness needed to perform, the humidor, etcetera), but the park itself has statistically proven to be a hitter's paradise that is nothing short of pristine.
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"Another important effect of altitude on baseball is the influence thinner air has on pitching. In general, curve balls will be a little less snappy, and fastballs will get about an extra six inches of giddy-up due to the decrease in resistance the thinner air provides. So, fasten your shoulder harnesses, keep both hands on the bar in front you at all times, and enjoy the ride." - Coors Field history by MLB.com
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| Data |
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First Game
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04-26-1995
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Last Game
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Current / Active
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| Data |
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Capacity Changes
(Yearly
Attendance)
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1995
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50,200
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1999
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50,318
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| Data |
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Backstop
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1995
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56'
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Left Field
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1995
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347'
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Left-Center Field
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1995
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390'
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Center Field
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1995
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415'
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Right-Center Field
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1995
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375'
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Right Field
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1995
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350'
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| Data |
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Owned By
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Denver Metropolitan Baseball Stadium District
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Field Surfaces
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1995
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Four Bluegrass Strains
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Two Ryegrass Strains
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Architect
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HOK Sport (Kansas City, MO)
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Construction
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Mortenson and Barton Malow (Southfield, MI)
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Coors Field
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The Colorado Rockies began their National League tenure playing in Mile High Stadium (1993-1994). Two seasons later the LoDo (Denver's lower downtown area) doors opened at Coors Field and a new set of ballpark firsts took place:
Batter: Brett Butler
Complete Game: Tom Glavine (June 16, 1995, vs. Atlanta)
Extra-Base Hit: Larry Walker ( first-inning double)
First Game: April 26, 1995 (Colorado 11, New York Mets 9)
Grand Slam: Todd Hundley ( fourth inning, April 26, 1995)
Hit: Brett Butler (infield single)
Home Run: Rico Brogna (fourth inning, off Bill Swift, April 26, 1995)
National Anthem: Colorado Children's Chorale
Pinch-Base Hit: Jim Tatum (April 26, 1995 vs. New York)
Pitch: 5:38 p.m., Bill Swift to Brett Butler
Run: Walt Weiss (first inning, April 26, 1995 vs. New York)
Run Batted In: Larry Walker ( first-inning double)
Shutout: Tom Glavine ( June 16, 1995, vs. Atlanta)
Stolen Base: Eric Young and Walt Weiss (double steal, April 27, 1995 vs. New York)
The easiest to understand view of the effects altitude have on a ball hit in Coors Field came from Major League Baseball, "The ball still travels 9% farther at 5,280 feet than at sea level. It is estimated that a home run hit 400 feet in sea-level Yankee Stadium would travel about 408 feet in Atlanta and as far as 440 feet in the Mile High City."
Did you know that the small "garden" in the Colorado Rockies dugout, which is alongside the right field fence, was planted by the home team pitchers?
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