Colorado Rockies: The 10 best individual statistical seasons in franchise history

Vinny Castilla, 3B, 1998

Stats: .319 AVG, 206 H, 108 R, 28 2B, 46 HR, 144 RBI, .362 OBP, .589 SLG, .951 OPS

Colorado Rockies

Vinny Castilla was another part of the Blake Street Bombers. Looking just at Andres Galarraga and Castilla’s statistical seasons, you get why they have the nickname. Galarraga finished sixth in the NL MVP voting with the Atlanta Braves, while Castilla finished 11th. The stats don’t say Galarraga was better that year. There was most likely the bias against playing at Coors Field and the fact the Braves won 106 games that year.

One of the most impressive parts of Castilla’s 1998 season is that he played all 162 games. He collected his third Sliver Slugger and appeared in his second All-Star Game in 1998. Castilla finished with 46 home runs and 144  runs batted in. Both would end up being career highs. He was top four in both categories in the National League but was overshadowed by both Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa’s seasons.

The 1998 season was the peak of Vinny Castilla’s career. He played one more season with Colorado in 1999 before moving on to pursue other paths. After seven seasons with different clubs (Tampa Bay Rays, Houston Astros, Atlanta Braves, another season with the Rockies in 2004, Washington Nationals, and the San Diego Padres), he returned to Colorado mid-way through the 2006 season so he could retire in the Mile High city.