Colorado Rockies: Top 10 all-time best Opening Day lineups

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25 May 1997: Outfielder Larry Walker of the Colorado Rockies against the Houston Astros at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado. (Mandatory Credit: Brian Bahr /Allsport) /

2. 1997: (Overall Batter OPS+ 106)

Eric Young Sr. 2B
Ellis Burks CF
Dante Bichette LF
Larry Walker RF
Andres Galarraga 1B
Vinny Castilla 3B
Kirt Manwaring C
Walt Weiss SS
Kevin Ritz P

As promised, we continue with the best version of the Blake Street Bombers. Unfortunately they were completely wasted by a team ERA of 5.25. If they could have gotten league average pitching we could be talking about one of the best teams of all time. Instead, the only MVP season (Larry Walker) in Rockies history ended without a postseason berth.

There is three 40+ homer and four 30+ homer hitters throughout the heart of this lineup. The leadoff man hit .282 and swiped 32 bags before a midseason trade with the rival Dodgers. Prior to 1995, only the 1977 Los Angeles Dodgers had four hitters with 30+ homers. This was Colorado’s third consecutive year of accomplishing this feat (they again did this in 1999). This still has not been matched. No other has more than one such season (the aforementioned Dodgers, 1977 and 1997).

So how is this not the best? Well, buckle up for a bit of a shocker….

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