The Colorado Rockies came up short in various ways in 2010, despite several players remaining strong throughout the season, including shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and outfielder Carlos Gonzalez, a couple of the team’s superstars who were rewarded yesterday with their first Gold Gloves—voted on annually by league managers and coaches for the best defensive players at each position. It marks the first time since 2004 that any Rockies player has won the award, and the first time since 2002 (Todd Helton and Larry Walker) that two Rockies have been honored in the same season, according to MLB.com. Rockies fans rightfully worry about East and West Coast bias when it comes to postseason awards, but anyone who paid attention this season knew Tulo and CarGo were the clear leaders for the Gold Gloves.

Tulo led National League shortstops in fielding percentage (.984), double plays (103), total chances per nine innings (5.15), and putouts per nine innings (1.78). And CarGo was about as versatile as a player can be in the outfield, logging 55 games in center, 51 games in left field, and 34 games in right field, and having assists from each outfield position.

“Growing up, I would see guys like [Ken] Griffey Jr. and Cal Ripken get them,” Tulo tells The Denver Post of the Gold Gloves. “I wanted that to be me someday.”

CarGo, who is from Venezuela, is happy about the award but disappointed that his team missed the playoffs. “We don’t want to feel like this is good enough,” he says. “But we didn’t get what we want, which is to play in the postseason. That’s the way you have to think. You have to try to get better. If you feel comfortable, you get stuck.”