Top 5 players to play for the Colorado Rockies and Pittsburgh Pirates

Colorado Rockies' Denny Neagle pitches in the third inning against the St. Louis Cardinals 09 April 2001 in St. Louis. Neagle pitched six innings giving up four hits, including a two run home run to rookie Albert Pujols. AFP PHOTO/Scott ROVAK (Photo by SCOTT ROVAK / AFP) (Photo credit should read SCOTT ROVAK/AFP via Getty Images)
Colorado Rockies' Denny Neagle pitches in the third inning against the St. Louis Cardinals 09 April 2001 in St. Louis. Neagle pitched six innings giving up four hits, including a two run home run to rookie Albert Pujols. AFP PHOTO/Scott ROVAK (Photo by SCOTT ROVAK / AFP) (Photo credit should read SCOTT ROVAK/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Charlie Hayes of the Colorado Rockies and Pittsburgh Pirates
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – CIRCA 1994: Charlie Hayes #13 of the Colorado Rockies goes down and ready to make a play on the ball against the San Francisco Giants during an Major League Baseball game circa 1994 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California. Hayes played for the Rockies from 1993-94. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

5. Charlie Hayes

We have talked about the accomplishments of Charlie Hayes on a previous list, so we will try to keep this short. Charlie Hayes was one of the first Rockies league leaders, leading the league in doubles during the Rockies’ inaugural season in 1993. Hayes was only on the Pirates for one season and had middling success with the team before being traded to the Yankees just in time for their World Series run in1996.

The other reason Charlie Hayes makes this list is his son is currently playing for the Pirates and is the most exciting player on the club, absolutely lighting up his time with the team in 2020. The future of Ke’Bryan Hayes is one of the few bright spots on an otherwise middling roster.

4. Denny Neagle

Denny Neagle was a good pitcher who was out of his prime by the time he reached the Colorado Rockies. Pitching at Coors Field did not help him return to his Cy Young finalist form. While never fantastic for the Rockies, he was an integral part of the rotation during the rough Rockies teams seen in the early 2000s.

So, if Neagle wasn’t good for the Rockies, then why is he on this list?

Well, he was an All-Star on the Pirates, of course. Neagle saw success in his time in Pittsburgh, especially in 1995 when he was given one of his two All-Star nods and 1996 when finished 8th in Cy Young voting. He may have been on some of the worst rotations in Rockies’ history, but he was part of one of the Pirates’ best.