It has been a long time since Steve Ehrhart’s name was connected to the Colorado Rockies or appeared on the letterhead of the franchise’s official stationery as the organization’s chief operating officer.
The Rockies have played 16 seasons since beginning as an expansion team in 1993.
However, there was a time during the bidding process to bring major-league baseball to Denver that it seemed questionable whether a major-league “play ball” was in the immediate future.
In August 1990, one month before a key presentation to the National League’s expansion committee, John Dikeou, who had kept baseball alive in Denver with the Triple-A Denver Zephyrs, had to withdraw as the chief ownership potential for a big-league team.
Then-Colorado Gov. Roy Romer hastily called a meeting of business leaders to assemble a new ownership potential. Steve Ehrhart, who grew up in Lakewood and had been prominent in several national sports ventures, including the United States Football League, was selected by the governor’s committee to be the first general partner.
His task was to put together a new ownership group that could meet the $95 million expansion fee to join the National League. Ehrhart was joined by Denver attorney Paul Jacobs, who had represented Ehrhart.
Jacobs became the point man in lining up an ownership group.
“Our goal was to reach $100 million of operating money,” Jacobs said. “The application alone was a huge undertaking. It was a $100 million longshot that got done.”
Ehrhart quickly brought in Mike Nicklaus, an East Coast businessman and part owner of the minor- league baseball Memphis Chicks, to join the ownership. Jerry McMorris, Charlie Monfort and Coors were among the first to join the group.
“I remember being in total shock when it was announced that the expansion fee would be $95 million,” Ehrhart said. “I know I once personally had to sign a note for $40 million. Overall, that was a great effort to get everything put together. I’ll never forget how hard it was and how much work it took to get it done.”
Besides his high school days in Lakewood, Ehrhart’s Colorado connection continued at Colorado College, the University of Colorado Law School and CU’s football program as an administrator and coach.
He left CU in 1975 and was instrumental in the formation of the USFL, becoming the league’s legal counsel and later executive director. After his time in the league office, Ehrhart became the president and general manager of the Memphis Showboats of the USFL.
Ehrhart’s place in Rockies history was vital, but brief. The proposal by Ehrhart and Jacobs beat out voiced interest from John Henry, current owner of the Boston Red Sox, and a group consisting of Denver businessman Cary Teraji and former big-league player Doug DeCinces. Teraji eventually joined the Ehrhart-Jacobs ownership group.
After Nicklaus joined the ownership as a quick fix for the approaching expansion meeting, Ehrhart beefed up the general partnership by adding Mickey Monus and John Antonucci. Monus and Antonucci eventually were eliminated because of the Phar-Mor Drug Co. scandal, and their demise took Ehrhart out with them.
Today, Ehrhart is back in Memphis as executive director of the Liberty Bowl. His office is adorned with trophies and sports memorabilia. He keeps a check in his desk drawer for $3.67 from the NFL. The $3.67 represents court-awarded damages from the NFL to the USFL over a lawsuit claiming the NFL had violated antitrust laws in blocking television coverage of the league’s games.
Ehrhart also has his memories.
“I wish it could have turned out differently in Denver,” Ehrhart said. “I was disappointed that at times it was such an unsettled situation. I’ve always liked the spirit of competition, fighting the good fight and being a pioneer. I’m most proud of getting people to work together to create something new.”
Ehrhart bio
Born: Aug. 8, 1947, in Denver
High school: Lakewood High School
Colleges: Colorado College, University of Colorado
Family: Wife Mary, sons Ryan and Brandon
Hobbies: Racquetball, golf
Ambition: Looking for the next big project.
