What Made the 2007 Colorado Rockies Special?

Written By Patrick McKernan

It has been 16 years since the Boston Red Sox swept the Colorado Rockies in the 2007 World Series. Since then, the Rockies have neither been to another World Series nor have they won another National League pennant.

Colorado Rockies celebrating 2007 NLCS sweep over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Photo via Vols Wire

On the way to the Fall Classic in the 2007 postseason, the Rockies came in as a wild card team after beating a divisional rival, the San Diego Padres, in a wild card tie-breaker game. They then coasted through a three-game sweep against Chase Utley and the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS before also sweeping the division-champion Arizona Diamondbacks in the NLCS. 

The Rockies may have gotten a taste of their own medicine after losing to the Red Sox in four games, but the Rockies had something working at all levels. Who did they have on that 2007 squad that made them so good that they have not tasted the same success since?

Todd Helton

Former first baseman for the Colorado Rockies, Todd Helton is a legend in the purple and black who is one of two men outside of Jackie Robinson to have their number retired by the team. Helton’s No. 17 rests in the stands of Coors Field and the 2007 season/postseason is a great showing of attributes that landed him the honor. 

Former Colorado Rockies First Baseman Todd Helton. Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld (Getty Images)

During the regular season, Helton was in his 11th year in the majors and had spent his whole career in Colorado. He batted a .320 average, tied for second-best on the team, and had an OPS of .928. Along the way, he racked up his 1,000th career hit in June and his 300th career home run in September. The 2007 postseason was Helton’s first year playing October baseball after already being a 5x All-Star, 3x Gold Glove winner, 4x Silver Slugger, and batting champion.  

Helton had five hits in the 2007 World Series including a pair of doubles and a run batted in.

Troy Tulowitzki

In 2007, Tulowitzki had an impressive year during the regular season with 24 home runs and a team-leading 6.8 WAR. He set an MLB single-season record for most RBIs by a rookie and was a close second for NL Rookie of the Year behind Milwaukee Brewers third baseman, Ryan Braun.

Tulowitzki’s young fire carried into the postseason for the Rockies, and he was a leading factor in getting Colorado to the NLDS. He went 4-7 hitting in the wild card tie-breaker game, including a pair of doubles and a triple. 

The Rockies would not get so lucky with another rookie infielder until they got their Gold Glove stud third baseman, Nolan Arenado, in 2013.

Former Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki. Photo via Off the Bench

Matt Holliday

Aside from the veteran experience that the Rockies had in players like Helton, and the young talent they had in Tulowitzki, there was one distinct player who carried the offense and that was Matt Holliday. Holliday was the left fielder for Colorado who absolutely dominated in the batter’s box. 

Former Colorado Rockies left fielder Matt Holliday. Photo by Brian Bahr (Getty Images)

In 2007, he was batting a league-high .340 average on the way to his first postseason appearance. He also led the National League in hits, doubles, and RBIs to become the 2007 NL batting champion. In the postseason, Holliday was the Rockies’ most productive hitter; hitting two home runs in the NLDS sweep over Philadelphia and hitting two more behind four RBIs in the NLCS sweep over Arizona. A performance that earned him MVP.

Holliday’s efforts may have fallen short of the ultimate goal in 2007 with the Rockies, but he did eventually get his ring in 2011 with the St. Louis Cardinals. 

The Future?

Ownership for the Colorado Rockies has been a crucial factor in the lack of success seen from the team for nearly two decades. The Monfort brothers have shown the organization cannot properly rebuild, and they willingly dealt away players like Holliday and Tulowitzki with no plan of filling those holes. It has been seen more recently letting names like Arenado and Trevor Story move on.

The Rockies’ future does not see a trip to the World Series coming anytime soon. Looking back at the 2007 postseason run every year seems more and more like a Cinderella story that was not meant for a happy ending.

Patrick McKernan
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