Colorado Rockies forgotten players: Craig Counsell

The Colorado Rockies have hundred of players throughout their franchise history. Lately, we’ve been going through some of the forgotten ones but today’s forgotten Colorado Rockie had nearly 5,500 plate appearances in the majors. Only two of those came with the Colorado Rockies.

In the past few days, we have recounted the Colorado Rockies career of some players that have not been known for their career as Rockies. That would be a severe understatement for Craig Counsell.

Counsell only had two career plate appearances (four games played) with the Colorado Rockies before he was traded to the eventual World Series Champion Florida Marlins for pitcher Mark Hutton in 1997. He actually scored the winning run as the Marlins walked off the Cleveland Indians in extra innings in Game 7.

Counsell was actually one of the Rockies’ first draft picks as he was drafted in the 11th round of the 1992 Amateur Draft by the Rockies, a year before they were set to play MLB games. By bWAR, Counsell was, far and away, the most successful MLB player that the Rockies drafted in that draft as Roger Bailey (5.2 bWAR) came in second to Counsell (22.4 bWAR).

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Counsell would be best known for scoring that World Series-winning run in 1997 for the newest franchise to win a World Series and later, for being a part of another World Series team four years later that replaced the Marlins as the fastest expansion team to win a World Series. The D’Backs also won in Game 7…on a walk-off win…at home…with Counsell on base.

He bounced between the D’Backs and Brewers (two tenures between each team) between 2000 and 2011, which was his final season in the majors. His best season was 2005 with a 5.5 bWAR largely due to his phenomenal defense.

Between 2005 and 2006, he combined for FIFTY-THREE Defensive Runs Saved. For comparison, the most Nolan Arenado has had in a span of two consecutive years is 35 (2015 and 2016).

Counsell was also known for his very unique batting stance and, now, he is the most tenured manager in the National League (amazing, I know). He was hired by Milwaukee to replace Ron Roenicke in May 2015.

Counsell definitely not be most remembered as a Rockie in his playing career and with only two plate appearances, he is, perhaps, one of the most forgotten Rockies of all-time.