Rockies Highlight Reel Mostly HBPs

The Rockies’ media and video production staff was recently tasked with putting together a team highlight reel, stretching all the way back to 1993, when they joined as an expansion team. The results were surprising–and astounding–but all appeared to have one thing in common. 

Speaking from his AV “lair” in the basement of Coors Field, Rox’ video editor Mark Garcia said he’d uncovered a windfall of Rockies players getting hit by pitches. “Yeah, we scoured the archives and, you’d be surprised how many HBPs we had to choose from!” said Garcia, 37, who has worked for the organization since 2017. He mentioned that, while he was unable to find any standard baseball highlights like home runs, strikeouts, or walk-offs, he was able to find over 40 hours of “gripping and extremely consistent” HBP footage.

Topping the list? “Oh, man,” said Garcia. “Where do I start?” He mentioned the day in Houston when Todd Helton got beaned in the elbow and, simultaneously, his bat exploded. “Probably why he’s in the Hall of Fame.” The Rockies would end up losing 7–2. 

Another was Troy Tulowitzki’s bases-clearing HBP, where the ball got lodged in his shoulder and Phillies’ catcher Carlos Ruiz couldn’t remove it in time. Every baserunner (also HBPs) scored, and the Rox lost 18–3. 

And who could forget the day Larry Walker got hit by a pitch during an exhibition game to raise money for cancer? Some say Walker was leaning intentionally; some say the nine-year-old battling leukemia went for his head. Either way, the benches cleared, and the rest is history. (Colorado lost to the sick kids, 11–5.) 

Garcia came above ground that afternoon to film a game against the Marlins from behind Section 330. We at Sports Riot wanted to ask him why the “Black Street Bombers” didn’t have many “bombs” in their video archive, but Garcia was busy filming shortstop Ezequiel Tovar taking a fastball to the helmet.