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Colorado Rockies: The 5 best free agent signings in franchise history

By Kevin Henry

16 Apr 1998: Outfielders Ellis Burks and Larry Walker of the Colorado Rockies in action during a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado. The Dodgers won the game, 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bahr /Allsport
16 Apr 1998: Outfielders Ellis Burks and Larry Walker of the Colorado Rockies in action during a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado. The Dodgers won the game, 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bahr /Allsport /
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8 Jul 1996: First baseman Andres Galarraga of the Colorado Rockies sits in the dugout during a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. The Rockies won the game 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Jed Jacobsohn /Allsport
8 Jul 1996: First baseman Andres Galarraga of the Colorado Rockies sits in the dugout during a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. The Rockies won the game 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Jed Jacobsohn /Allsport /

Andres Galarraga
Signed in 1993

“The Big Cat” was one of the first free agents signed by the Rockies. He was also a player who would become one of the best to ever wear the purple pinstripes.

Signed after a ho-hum season in St. Louis where he played in just 95 games, Galarraga rejuvenated his career in Denver. In Colorado’s inaugural season, Galarraga helped put the Rockies on the map and set a high bar for all Colorado players who would come behind him. He hit a league-high .370 and posted a 1.005 OPS as he earned an All-Star Game berth and finished 10thin the Most Valuable Player voting.

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Galarraga would play five seasons in Colorado, hitting 172 homers and driving in 579 runs, both personal high numbers for any of the seven franchises for which he played during his 19-year career. He left the Rockies in 1998 for the Atlanta Braves. Ironically, with the Braves, he was involved in a huge brawl in 2000 with Colorado players.

For what he did in a Rockies uniform, during this past season, Galarraga was named as one of the Top 25 players to ever suit up for the Rockies.

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