“This franchise is one of the most successful not just in baseball, but in all of sports. They put 45,000-50,000 people in there (Coors Field) every night. They have a chance to win, and now we’ll find out if we can. I feel like we’ve got a chance.”
Those were the words of an optimistic Jim Leyland after he signed a record $6 million three-year deal to serve as the second manager in Colorado Rockies history in 1998. He ended up lasting just the 1999 season in Colorado, but following the recent announcement that he is headed to the Hall of Fame, it’s worthwhile to take a look back on the oft-forgotten season of his managerial career.