Creepy correlations: The Colorado Rockies and 666 milestones

Let’s look at the 666th home run and strikeout in Colorado Rockies history

Home Run #666

The 666th home run in franchise history came on September 2, 1996, against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Three Rivers Stadium. There are a plethora of batters who you would’ve expected to hit this homer:

Larry Walker, Ellis Burks, Vinny Castilla, Dante Bichette or Andres Galarraga would make fine guesses. You might have even thought that Walt Weiss or EY might have snuck one out.

But no … it was that day’s starting pitcher KEVIN FREAKIN’ RITZ with a solo shot in the top of the third to tie the game at 2 that was the 666th bomb in franchise history. His was actually one of three solo shots that inning (Castilla, Ritz, Weiss), but his was ultimately the spookiest.

Strikeout #666

The 666th strikeout in franchise history was thrown by Marcus Moore in the bottom of the eighth against the Philadelphia Phillies on August 19, 1993. He struck out Phillies icon Mickey Morandini and got him looking to become the Rockies’ 666th strikeout victim in franchise history as the Rockies went on to win 6-5 to send them to a 44-77 record (and coincidentally drop the Phillies to a 77-44 record). Not to mention the alliteration between Marcus Moore and Mickey Morandini is ghastly in itself with that many Ms together and none of them resulting in King Size candy in my pillow case. My ninja costume deserved better.

So there you have it! Six stats/moments from the Colorado Rockies revolving around the number 666. Were you spooked? Or were you OK reading them all because you’re old enough to know that Michael Myers isn’t anywhere near as scary as a Mike Hampton start.