If you recall, back in October, I wrote about how the 2024 Rockies helped provide an escape for my dad as he began a battle against liver cancer in May of that year. That article was difficult for me to write, and I fear this one is no easier, as my dad, David Timmins, passed away on June 9, 2025.

First and foremost, I express my deepest gratitude to the kind words shared on that original article as well as the accommodations of the Purple Row family for covering things for me last week while we dealt with everything following his passing.

Secondly, I wanted to take a moment this week to tell you about my dad, the Rockies fan.

Baseball has always held a special place in my dad’s heart. Each week he would gather with his dad to watch the MLB “Game of the Week.” It was a moment of reprieve for a young boy to rest and relax from the toils of daily farm life in the late 60s into the 70s. He grew to idolize the Cincinnati Reds, especially Johnny Bench as part of the Big Red Machine. He also developed an affinity for the Oakland Athletics from time to time. Though the teams weren’t close, he loved watching and following the game, hoping to one day have a team to call his own.

He never played an organized version of the game growing up, but he loved playing around the house with his brothers. To help his little brother, my dad built what they called a “catcher” to practice throwing the ball at. The extent of his actual baseball playing days, however, was in church softball leagues.

Still, he cherished the game, and when the Colorado Rockies were announced as an expansion team in 1992, he was a diehard from day one.

Every chance he got, he would watch games on TV as available, but it was a guarantee that he’d be listening to the Rockies on the radio while in the car. Some of my fondest memories are listening to the radio while we drove to town, fighting to get the clearest signal. I can still hear the static changing of a clear signal when driving in one cardinal direction compared to the mind-numbing buzz when going in another direction.

While he has enjoyed the Denver Broncos, the Denver Nuggets and the Colorado Avalanche and their successes in his lifetime, nothing compares to the love he had for the Rockies. It surprised me to find the past week a ticket stub from one of the first Rockies games he ever attended in 1993 at Mile High Stadium. It was a rain check for August 20 against the New York Mets that was played as part of a doubleheader the next day, a game the Rockies won 8-6.

Ticket stub for rained out Rockies game in 1993

Attending a game with Dad became a rite of passage of sorts. As you got old enough, he decided you’d be able to handle sitting and watching a baseball game. If I recall correctly, my first Rockies game was on September 25, 2005, for Fan Appreciation Day in a game where Colorado lost 6-2 against the San Francisco Giants.

His goal was to attend a game at least once a year, if possible. Typically, it would be the cheapest seats we could find without having to sit in the nosebleeds, and we’d always try to center it on a promotional giveaway like a bobblehead. One year, he got a pair of tickets from work with seats behind the third base dugout. Naturally, he took my mom to the game. Three of us boys also tagged along and baked on the Rockpile while they enjoyed popsicles and the like in the shade.

The hype of 2007 was one of his greatest life experiences. He specifically got cable again, so he could watch the final month of the season as the Rockies started to heat up. He came within seconds of getting playoff tickets before the website timed him out because of the slow computer at work.

One of my fondest memories was in 2018 when my parents and I attended a game before I headed back out to college. It was a crucial series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, and and Jon Gray was on the mound. He labored through four innings, giving up four runs on four hits, including two home runs, while contributing a double. Amazingly, the bullpen delivered five perfect innings as the Rockies chipped away, and D.J. LeMahieu (who happens to be one of his absolute favorite Rockies ever) capped things off with a two-run walk-off home run. It was the most excitement I’ve ever seen my dad show.

I’m glad that he was able to witness the first two Rockies inducted into the Hall of Fame. We attended the number retirement celebration of Larry Walker in 2021, where my dad had tears welling in his eyes. We also made sure to watch Todd Helton’s Hall of Fame speech on television last summer. The last game he was able to attend was the final home game of 2022, as we didn’t have a chance to go in 2023 or 2024 (nor did he really want to in those seasons).

He cherished having a Rockies hat to wear or random memorabilia through promotions. When I got him the green City Connect hat for Christmas a couple of years ago, he hardly left home without it, especially during the trips to the doctor over the last year. We made sure he had his Rockies hat with him when we laid him to rest.

Though the Rockies have typically been bad during his lifetime, especially in 2025, he never gave up on them. Even a couple of days before he passed, he was watching the games on TV. He would listen to me rant about the team, we’d discuss news and moves, and I’d tell him all about what I was seeing on social media. He always made sure he read what I wrote on Purple Row each week.

He was a dedicated fan who bled purple. He always acknowledged when the team was terrible and made fun of them from time to time, but he stuck with them through thick and thin.

I’m going to miss talking baseball with my dad and agonizing over strikeout problems and bullpen implosions, or rejoicing at the big home runs and crucial plays that win ball games. I couldn’t help but get emotional when the Rockies rallied with two home runs in the ninth in their win against the Washington Nationals on Monday, the day we laid him to rest.

How I wish he could have experienced better times following the Rockies, but at the end of the day, he loved nothing more than getting a hot dog and a Coke and watching a baseball game. There was always an optimistic hope that they would find the magic, and his dedication would be worthwhile because of how much he loved the Rockies and the game itself.

He was a true fan and one that I hope to continue to emulate in his honor.

★ ★ ★

On the Farm

Triple-A: Tacoma Rainiers 6, Albuquerque Isotopes 1

Aaron Schunk led the way offensively for the Isotopes with two of Albuquerque’s five hits on the night. Unfortunately, they weren’t able to string anything together to get more than one run in the second inning. Bradley Blalock started the game and allowed four runs on five hits over four innings, suffering the loss.

Double-A: Reading Fightin Phils 7, Hartford Yard Goats 4

Cole Carrigg clubbed a three-run home run for Hartford in the top of the ninth as part of a two-hit affair, but the team didn’t get much else as they fell to Reading. Connor Staine suffered the loss after struggling in his start, allowing five runs on four hits in 3 2⁄3 innings with four walks. The bullpen fared better, giving up just two runs the rest of the game.

High-A: Everett AquaSox 5, Spokane Indians 1

Despite a quality start from Michael Prosecky who allowed just three runs over six innings with six strikeouts, the Spokane Indians had just six hits and went 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position. Aidan Longwell provided the lone run for the Indians, swatting his ninth home run of the season. Braylen Wimmer led the way with two hits on the night.

Low-A: Visalia Rawhide 4, Fresno Grizzlies 0

The Grizzlies tallied just two hits, a single by Blake Wright and a double by Jacob Hinderleider, while striking out 11 times against just two walks. Marcos Herrera battled through 5 2⁄3 innings striking out six while allowing four runs on seven hits.

★ ★ ★

With renewed confidence, Toglia rejoins Rockies after Triple-A stint | MLB.com

Michael Toglia’s demotion has already paid some dividends since his return from Triple-A. Jordan Pacheco, Toglia, and others talk about the decision to send him down and what will help him in his return.

Colorado Rockies sign Bryson Van Sickle to Minor League Contract | Utah Utes

The Rockies made a move to sign pitcher Bryson Van Sickle, who was playing professionally with the Ogden Raptors of the independent Pioneer League.

★ ★ ★

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