The 100 Greatest Colorado Rockies: 56 Darryl Kile

We continue our look at the top 100 Colorado Rockies of all time in this article. Here, we look at No. 56 on our list, Darryl Kile.

For a long time in the outfield there were only two players honored before Todd Helton‘s number was retired in 2014. There was Jackie Robinson‘s immortal number 42 and there will always be, in the Rockies bullpen, number 57 honoring Darryl Kile.

Darryl Kile passed tragically in his hotel room in June 2002 from a heart attack. Kile played for the Astros, Rockies and Cardinals. No team has passed out the number 57 since his passing. Neither should they. But not only to honor his memory, but Kile was a great pitcher.

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Kile’s best years came with the Astros and Cardinals. The year before he came to Denver he went 19-7 with a 2.57 ERA. In 1998, his first with the Rockies he went 13-17 accumulating the most losses in his career. His ERA was 5.20 but he did pitch 230.1 innings which is an accomplishment in itself at Coors Field. Passing the 200+ innings mark puts you in rarefied air in Rockies history.

The 1999 season Kile didn’t fair much better. He went 8 -13 with his highest ERA of his career at 6.61. Kile had lost control and was sent to St. Louis in a trade the Cardinals completely won. He was traded essentially for starter Jose Jimenez who threw a no-hitter for the Cardinals but he never pitched effectively in Denver. Kile went 20-9 in 2000.

To Kile’s credit, in a story posted by the Los Angeles Times, he said he liked it in Denver and said he “wasn’t excited to be leaving [Denver]. ” For all of his struggles that meant a lot to Rockies fans. It felt different that a pitcher wanted to work in Colorado and that went a long way with fans.

Despite Kile’s struggles with Colorado, his output of innings put him considerably high on the list of all-time WAR amongst Rockies pitchers of 4.1. Having a high profile pitcher come to Denver was a treat in itself. Having a high-character pitcher was more than anything the Rockies and baseball could ever ask for.

Next: Injury News: Chris Rusin Said To Be In Doubt for Opening Day

On the 10th anniversary of Kile’s passing, MLB Network made a documentary to honor his legacy. Start remembering the great Darryl Kile here.