Rapids History By The Numbers: #2

Next up, the number 2.  This is one of five numbers that has been used 16 times in 25 seasons, a record for the team.  Here's the full list:

Felipe Rodriguez (1996)
Peter Vermes (1997)
Matt McKeon (1999)
Keyeno Thomas (2000)
Chris Dawes (2001)
Rick Titus - (2002)
Gary Sullivan (2004)
Ricky Lewis (2005)
Hunter Freeman (2006)
Jordan Harvey (2008-2009)
Danny Earls (2010-2011)
Hunter Freeman (2012)
Nick LaBrocca (2013-2015)
Mike da Fonte (2017)
Edgar Castillo (2018)
Keegan Rosenberry (2019-2020)

Not surprisingly that with 16 different players in 25 years there's no real standout in the group.  The notables are Vermes, McKeon, Freeman, Harvey, LaBrocca, Castillo, and Rosenberry.  Vermes, McKeon, and Castillo can largely be eliminated due to their single season body of work.

None of these players appear in the Rapids record book with any sort of record.  Nick LaBrocca is 10th all time in appearances, but half of those were while he was wearing #22.  None of them won any MLS awards while with the Rapids.  What we have here is really the ultimate journeyman number.

I think, if we look at this list again in 4-5 years we'll see that Rosenberry has claimed the title of best Rapids #2, but he hasn't yet.  A season + 2 games isn't enough for that.  Out of Freeman, Harvey, and LaBrocca I think I have to give it to Nick just for the longevity of actually hanging around for three consecutive seasons, something nobody else who has worn the number has (yet) done.

So not a stirring endorsement, but an endorsement none the less.