The RM SABR Colorado Baseball Almanac committee has developed an all-time team by position. The list includes all MLB players that were either born in Colorado or played high school ball in the state.
Colorado’s contribution to MLB is dominant in pitching over hitting and the all-time team exemplifies this with an outstanding five-man rotation and bullpen. The starting rotation is led by Hall of Famer Roy Halladay and the legendary Smoky Joe Wood, followed by a strong group of Kevin Gausman, Stan Williams and Danny Jackson. The bullpen is led by hall of famer Goose Gossage, joined by Mark Melancon and Brad Lidge.
Although the starting eight position players provide a respectable lineup, only two of the players were named as league all-stars (John Stearns – 4 and Johnny Lindell -1). Starting shortstop Roy Hartzell played before the origination of an all-star game. The majority of the most successful Colorado position players played many years ago, with five of the eight on the all-position team having careers that were over by 1954.
* Ouray’s Smoky Joe Wood is included on the list and was very active as a participant in the Ouray town team but was not a native and moved away a month before his sixteenth birthday.
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