Friday Rockpile: Rockies need more Spirit Day vibes throughout the year

Colorado Rockies news and links for Friday, October 18, 2024

Thursday, Oct. 17, marked Spirit Day across the country and around Major League Baseball. Even though the Rockies season ended on Sept. 29, members of the organization’s staff dawned their purple for a reason beyond team spirit: to stand up for LGBTQ youth.

Spirit Day is an annual event started by GLADD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) and “is the world’s most visible anti-bullying movement inspiring LGBTQ youth, especially transgender and nonbinary youth to live their lives in their truth and authenticity.” GLAAD brings in celebrities, sports leagues, influencers, faith groups, tech leaders and more “to go purple and support LGBTQ youth by creating clear possibility models for them to thrive and be represented in the world.”

Spirit Day began in 2010 and takes place annually in October, which is National Bullying Prevention Month. MLB’s support of the movement has increased over the years, especially under former MLB vice president and special assistant to the Commissioner Billy Bean. Bean, who passed away in August after battling leukemia, was one of three openly gay former MLB players who came out after retiring.

This year, MLB chose to honor Bean and Spirit Day by announcing plans to create Billy Bean Terrance at its headquarters in New York City. MLB.com’s Christopher Cornejo wrote, “Billy Bean Terrace will feature a garden and tree that will bloom every spring, as well as a plaque bearing lines from a poem in his honor, written by Bean’s parents.”

MLB released a video honoring Bean and Spirit Day, featuring former Rockie and current MLB Commissioner’s Ambassador’s Program member LaTroy Hawkins.

It’s wonderful to see the love of Spirit Day go across baseball. The efforts also extend into community events and schools, trying to send the message that Bean phrased so perfectly in 2018:

“We want every kid that may love baseball, whether they’re LGBTQ youth or not, to feel welcome and safe. [We want to] let them know that they are a part of the baseball family and we’re going to stand up right beside them.”

At the same time, MLB and the Colorado Rockies can and should do more. When a kid sees something like Spirit Day, it could save their life and provide hope in a time when LGBTQ books and history are being suppressed or banned at alarming rates. However, since the day is held when only four teams are still playing and, therefore, lacks optimal impact, more love and acceptance need to be spread to the LGBTQ community throughout the year.

While the Rockies have a Pride night each year, which is more than the Texas Rangers can say, it would be great to add a bit more to the festivities.

For example, the Colorado Avalanche crush Pride Night. Outside of making the A in the logo rainbow-filled and displaying it all night, the Avs give away rainbow T-shirts as part of the Pride Night ticket package and invite the LGBTQ community and allies with the tickets to get on the ice and take slapshots. I did it last year and it was a blast. Part of the NHL’s “Hockey Is For Everyone” initiative, the Avs provided a celebratory and accepting atmosphere.

Some MLB teams go all out, like the Dodgers. Dodger Pride Night includes an LGBTQ-themed jersey, “LGBTQ artists performing on the centerfield stage and an OutLoud kickball game in the outfield.”

The Rockies held “Vizzy Pride Night!” on June 15 when they hosted the Pirates. The Pride Night ticket package included a Rockies-themed Vizzy Pride fanny pack and a donation to The Center on Colfax and One Colorado, both local LGBTQ community and advocacy centers. The donation is an especially nice touch. I have attended one Rockies Pride Night and the limited acknowledgement was disappointing. A bit more visibility and outward acceptance on the field, from the players and throughout the season, would mean a lot.

MLB and the Rockies, thanks to events like Spirit Day, are making positive steps toward acceptance of the LGBTQ community, but there is still a lot more to be done. After all, we are still waiting for an MLB player to feel safe to come out during their career. Until there is more acceptance on the field, in the clubhouse, in front offices, in the stands and beyond, it’s not likely to happen.

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Rockies’ farm system poised for big push in ‘25 | MLB.com

If 2024 was the year of the Rockies rookie relievers, 2025 could be an even more impressive display of MLB debuts for starters, relievers and position players. Thomas Harding points out Chase Dollander and Carson Palmquist as starters to watch out for, third baseman Kyle Karros as a potential standout and reliever Zach Agnos and outfielder Yanquiel Fernandez as possible breakout players.

Now That He’s Retired, Will Charlie Blackmon’s No. 19 Be Retired Next? | Just Baseball

A lot of tributes flooded as Charlie Blackmon played his last games in the Rockies final weekend of the 2024 season. Now after a few weeks to reflect, Patrick Lyons takes and in-depth look into what made Blackmon a special player and how Colorado should honor him, as well as the franchise’s best players.

Three decades after Colorado Silver Bullets’ inception, women’s baseball still working toward its next collective watershed moment | Denver Post ($)

While it’s not the Rockies, the Colorado Silver Bullets played an important role in Colorado’s baseball history. Kyle Newman looks at how they were also monumental in lifting up women in baseball, built off the momentum of “A League of Their Own” movie in the 1990s and made their mark on current USA Baseball Women’s National Team players.

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Arizona Fall League

Salt River Rafters 9, Mesa Solar Sox 5

After six innings, this game was tied at 5-all. The Rafter then took a 6-5 lead in the seventh before Rockies outfield prospect Juan Guerrero hit a two-run double as part of a three-run eighth that helped Salt River pull out the win on Friday. Eight pitchers took part in the game for the Rafters including Rockies prospects, including LHPs Michael Prosecky and Evan Justice, as well as RHP McCade Brown. While Prosecky recorded four strikeouts in 1 ¹⁄₃ innings, he also gave up two runs on three hits with two walks in the second and third innings. Brown pitched the fifth, striking out three, but also giving up one run on one hit with one walk. Evan Justice pitched a 3-up, 3-down ninth inning when he recorded a strikeout, fly out and ground out to maintain a perfect 0.00 ERA in three innings in the AFL season so far.

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