Colorado Rockies and Miami Marlins First Game Revisited

On this date in 1993, the Miami Marlins, then known as the Florida Marlins, and the Colorado Rockies played their first games with different results.

It had been 16 years since the last time Major League Baseball had expanded before the Miami Marlins and Colorado Rockies took the field for their first games in 1993. With these franchises, baseball had expanded to regions that previously did not have their own home franchises in the first bout of expansion in the 1990’s.

The Colorado Rockies first game was not the slugfest that has come to be associated with Colorado baseball. Facing off against Dwight Gooden at Shea Stadium, the Rockies were shutout by the Mets ace. Their best chance to put a run on the board came in the top of the third, when they strung a single, a walk and a hit batter together to load the bases. Gooden got out of the jam by striking out Andres Galarraga to end the inning.

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Also contrary to what we have come to know from the Rockies, they actually received a somewhat competent pitching performance. David Neid, who had been ranked as the 23rd best prospect in baseball prior to the 1993 season, allowed two runs over five innings, despite giving up six hits and six walks. That would prove to be one of the better outings of the year for Neid, who struggled in Colorado before being out of baseball at age 27.

The Miami Marlins, on the other hand, won their first game, beating the Dodgers at Joe Robbie Stadium. Charlie Hough won, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks, striking out four. Jeff Conine, arguably the greatest player in Marlins history, began his career with a bang, going 4-4 with two runs scored. Scott Pose and Walt Weiss each drove in two runs for the victors.

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Just four years later, the Marlins would end up winning the World Series, while the Rockies made the postseason in 1995. Considering the teams that they had at the start of 1993, that turnaround was remarkable.