The Colorado Rockies announced plans to honor their two Hall of Famers, Larry Walker and Todd Helton, with statues outside Coors Field this season. The reveal came during the team's annual Rockies Fest on Saturday, with Walker's statue set for August 23 and Helton's for September 19. Both players, who spent significant careers with the Rockies, expressed excitement over the permanent tribute.
The Colorado Rockies made a significant announcement at their annual Rockies Fest on Saturday, revealing that statues of franchise Hall of Famers Larry Walker and Todd Helton will be unveiled at Coors Field during the 2024 season. Executive vice president Walker Monfort highlighted the team's commitment to preserving history, noting the retired numbers 33 for Walker and 17 for Helton already honor their achievements. "We took it a step further," Monfort said, "so we got together and decided we ought to also commemorate, here at Coors Field, the fact that they are also both members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame."
Walker's statue will be unveiled on August 23 before the Rockies' 1:10 p.m. MT game against the Cleveland Guardians. Helton, absent from the event due to illness, will have his statue revealed on September 19 prior to the 6:10 p.m. matchup with the Seattle Mariners. The sculptures are being crafted by renowned Longmont, Colorado, artists George and Mark Lundeen of Lundeen Sculptures.
Walker, who played for the Rockies from 1995 to 2004, was the first player in franchise history inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020. A four-time All-Star and five-time Gold Glove winner in right field, he captured three batting titles and the 1997 National League MVP award—the only such honor in club history. The Canadian-born outfielder, the only position player from his country in Cooperstown alongside pitcher Ferguson Jenkins, was part of the mid-1990s Blake Street Bombers alongside Dante Bichette, Ellis Burks, Vinny Castilla, and Andres Galarraga. Over 17 major league seasons, Walker posted a .313/.400/.565 slash line with 383 home runs and 230 stolen bases.
Helton spent all 17 of his major league seasons with the Rockies, earning induction in 2024. A five-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove winner at first base, he won the NL batting title with a .372 average in 2000, leading the majors in OPS (1.161), doubles (59), and RBIs (147). Helton's career .316/.414/.539 line included 369 home runs, and he guided the Rockies to the 2007 World Series after a remarkable late-season surge, plus a playoff return in 2009. An iconic moment from that 2007 NL Championship Series—Helton raising his arms after the final out—may inspire his statue's pose, though details remain undisclosed.
Walker, present at the announcement, shared his emotions: "The number being retired, and you walk in the ballpark and I see 33 out there, trust me, it melts my heart. ... And then when that phone call comes and says we’re going to put a statue outside of the ballpark that’s going to be there forever … it’s out of this world."
Monfort emphasized the statues' role in educating future fans: "We’re capturing our history ... And we want to be able to explain our history to future generations and the kids that are running around here that didn’t have a chance to see [Walker and Helton] play. … That’s why it’s so important to us." Over 500 attendees braved the cold in Denver for the news, marking a milestone in Rockies lore.
