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OFFICE OF GOV. BILL RITTER, JR.
WWW.COLORADO.GOV/GOVERNOR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THURSDAY, OCT. 1, 2009

CONTACT:
Holly Shrewsbury, 303.866.6386
Evan Dreyer, 720.350.8370

GOV. RITTER PROCLAIMS 'ROCKTOBER!'

Gov. Bill Ritter today proclaimed the month of October 2009 as "Rocktober" in honor of the Colorado Rockies' remarkable run to the Major League Baseball post-season.

"The Colorado Rockies have energized people around the state with their remarkable U-turn this season, and have proven once again to the people of Colorado that anything is possible," said Gov. Ritter. "On behalf of baseball fans all around Colorado, I hereby declare October as 'Rocktober' in honor of our Colorado Rockies baseball club. I wish them continued success, and I know that regardless of the ballpark or situation, the Rockies won't back down."

This will be the Colorado Rockies' second appearance in the play-offs in the last three seasons, after their incredible run in 2007.

Here is the complete text of Gov. Ritter's proclamation:

WHEREAS, the Colorado Rockies are the centerpiece of Colorado's baseball community, a franchise making its third playoff appearance since its inception in 1993; and

WHEREAS, the Colorado Rockies have made one of sports' greatest comebacks, languishing 12 games below .500 on June 3, and now standing at 23 games over having gone 70-36 during the past four months; and

WHEREAS, with the winningest pitcher in franchise history - Aaron Cook -- leading the way, the Rockies have tied a franchise record of 91 wins; and

WHEREAS, all five Rockies starters have reached double figures in wins, an achievement no team in baseball has accomplished since 2005; and

WHEREAS, Rockies manager Jim Tracy is the first manager in history to take charge of a team that had plummeted to 10 games under .500 and guide it to a record 23 games over .500; and

WHEREAS, with this achievement, Jim Tracy ties the modern-day record for most wins by a manager in a team's first 60 games after a midseason managerial change, and becomes only the third manager since 1900 to win 64 of his first 100 games after becoming the manager midseason; and

WHEREAS, the Rockies have eight players with ten or more home runs -- led by Troy Tulowitzki, who leads all shortstops with 32; and

Whereas Todd Helton not only had his 2,000 career hit this season, but became only the 5th player in major league history to hit at least 500 doubles, 320 home runs and a .325 career batting average;

Therefore, I, Bill Ritter, Jr., Governor of the State of Colorado, do hereby proclaim October 2009,

ROCKTOBER!

in the State of Colorado.

GIVEN under my hand and the Executive Seal of the State of Colorado, this first day of October, 2009

Bill Ritter, Jr.

Governor