Top 5 players to play for the Colorado Rockies and Los Angeles Angels

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ARLINGTON, TX – MAY 16: Justin Speier of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim pitches during the game against the Texas Rangers at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington in Arlington, Texas on Saturday, May 16, 2009. The Rangers defeated the Angels 5-3. (Photo by John Williamson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

The Colorado Rockies are taking on the Los Angeles Angels this week in Anaheim. The two teams have shared a lot of talented players over the years, and who knows what the future holds. I know I am excited to watch the team play against Shohei Ohtani (who I had really hoped the Rockies would sign back when he was a free agent).

Let’s look back at the shared history of the Colorado Rockies and Los Angeles Angels and rank the very best players they have shared over the years.

Total number of shared players: 49

Exclusively Rockies and Angels players:

Edgar Clemente

Jairo Diaz

Jason Gurka

Ty Van Burkleo

Honorable Mentions:

C.J. Cron

Jhoulys Chacin

LaTroy Hawkins

Steve Finley

Dexter Fowler

Andres Galarraga

Ron Gant

Brad Hawpe

Eric Young Jr.

5. Justin Speier

Justin Speier was a relief pitcher on some terrible Colorado Rockies teams and some very good Los Angeles Angels teams. He spent three seasons with both teams, making him one of the longest-tenured players to play across both teams.

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Speier was special in that he was a player who was successful at Coors Field, particularly in the pre-humidor days. In 2001, Speier managed a sub 4.00 ERA at Coors.

His principal claim to fame, though, came from his time at the end of his career with the Angels. During his first year with the team, Speier posted an impressive 2.88 ERA across 51 appearances in the 2007 season. Angels fans might remember Speier for his awful appearances in the 2007 ALDS, even taking the loss in game two. Speier gave up five earned runs in his two appearances. After this point, Speier’s career took a downturn that would ultimately see the end of his career.

Speier may not have had the most shining moments like other players on this list, but he is among the most tenured. He was skilled enough to earn 12 total seasons in MLB, reason enough to make number five on this list.

DENVER, COLORADO – MAY 28: Chris Iannetta #22 of the Colorado Rockies circles the bases to score after hitting a 2 RBI home run in the seventh inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field on May 28, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

4. Chris Iannetta

Chris Iannetta leads the Colorado Rockies in all-time catcher WAR. Iannetta saw the team in some of the best years, being a part of the 2007, 2009, and 2018 playoff teams. The Rockies drafted Iannetta in 2004 and remained with the club until they traded him to the Los Angeles Angels in 2012 and saw his play become integral to the club.

In 2014, Iannetta posted an OPS+ of 123, the highest of his career, which ranked as third on the club. 2014 will stick out to Angels fans as not only was it the last time that the Angels made the playoffs, but also the only time that Mike Trout has been to the postseason. Angels fans may also remember Iannetta for his home run against the Kansas City Royals to tie the game in game one of that series, though he would end the series 1-10 with a homer and walk.

Iannetta was brought back to Colorado in 2018 to put some life into the catcher offense and a veteran clubhouse presence. He earned the starting job and was the catcher for the Wild Card game and two games of the NLDS. Iannetta was a part of both clubs’ best modern moments, definitely learning at least number four on this list.

ANAHEIM, CA – MAY 12: Pitcher Huston Street #16 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim pitches in the ninth inning during the MLB game against the Colorado Rockies at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on May 12, 2015 in Anaheim, California. The Angels defeated the Rockies 5-2. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images) /

3. Huston Street

Huston Street was a great closer in the late 2000s and the 2010s. Street came with Carlos Gonzalez to the Colorado Rockies in the Matt Holliday trade from the Oakland Athletics. Street was arguably the best pitcher on the Rockies in 2009, helping lead the way to the postseason. It really is a shame how he single-handedly lost the NLDS against the Phillies. Street appeared in three games and accrued two losses and a save. Across the series, Street was the worst overall player when ranked by WPA.

Street remained undeterred though, performing well for the Rockies during his other two seasons with the team. The Rockies traded street to the Padres, where he really came into his own. In 2014, Street was traded to the playoff-hopeful Los Angeles Angels during an All-Star season. Street remained strong and ended the year with an insane 258 ERA+.

Street spent four strong seasons with the Angels, ending his career with the team in 2017.

Huston Street only posted an ERA+ below 100 once in his career, he was elite in his time. The crazy part is, he isn’t even the only closer on this list.

DENVER – MAY 21: Closing pitcher Brian Fuentes #40 of the Colorado Rockies throws against the Toronto Blue Jays in the ninth inning on May 21, 2006 at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado. The Rockies won 5-3. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /

2. Brian Fuentes

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Huston Street was a one-time L.A. All-Star, Brian Fuentes was not only an Angels All-Star but also a three-time Colorado Rockies All-Star. Fuentes was the closer for the 2007 NL pennant-winning Rockies. Fuentes is remarkable as the second-most tenured bullpen player in Colorado Rockies history, appearing in 428 games.

Out of his seven seasons on the team, Fuentes only posted a sub-100 ERA+ once. He was lights-out at Coors, and that skill followed him to the Los Angeles Angels. Fuentes signed with the Angels for the 2009 season and acted as their closer for their ALCS run. He was an All-Star that year and finished with the most saves in the AL. Fuentes was traded to the playoff-bound Twins in the middle of the 2010 season.

He was elite in his season and a half with the Angels and is a Rockies legend. If number 2’s resume is that good, then you know that number one is going to be one of the greats.

25 Jul 1999: Dante Bichette #10 of the Denver Rockies swings at the ball during the game against the St. Louis Cardinals at the Coors Field in Denver, Colorado. The Cardinals defeated the Rockies 10-6. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel /Allsport /

1. Dante Bichette

I mean, if I’m building it up you know it’s going to be one of the Blake Street Bombers. Now, if I was looking at both sides equally, Bichette might not have made it this high on the list, but this is a Rockies-centric list. If it wasn’t for the California Angels, we may not have seen the emergence of Dante Bichette, they are the ones that developed him after all.

The Angels drafted Bichette in 1984 and made his debut in 1988. Bichette didn’t become a starter until 1990, his last year in LA. The Angels traded him to the Brewers in 1991 and then to the Colorado Rockies for Kevin Reimer in 1992. Bichette was a day one Rockie and had yet to be the star he would become. In his years in Colorado, Bichette would make four All-Star Games, win a Silver Slugger, be NL MVP Runner Up, and lead the league in Hits, HRs, RBIs, and SLG.

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He never had an OPS below .850 while in Denver. He was one of the Blake Street Bombers, but if it weren’t for the time and effort put forth by the California Angels staff to develop him, the Rockies may have missed out on one of its legends. Dante Bichette is easily the best player to play for both teams.

Statistics for this article were found using Baseball-Reference

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