Angry because the Rockies have yet to win a division title? Rocktober beginning to feel like a distant memory? Well, sure; we all want to root, root, root for the home team, especially when they win.
But records and pennants aside, a quick stroll down Memory Lane reveals that Coors Field has been the home of one fantastic experience after another. As sports fans, that’s all we can ever ask.
Here are the greatest 20 moments – as voted on by the staff at Mile High Sports – in 20 great years of Coors Field.
No. 20
April 4, 2014 – Perfect Charlie
Starting centerfielder Charlie Blackmon, who was enjoying his first opening day start at Coors Field, treated Rockies fans with a performance for the ages. On the day, Blackmon went 6-for-6 in the leadoff spot, belting one home run, three doubles and driving in five runs.
No. 19
Aug. 10, 2009 – Tulo Hits for the Cycle
Against the Cubs, a team that tends to draw plenty of wayward fans out of the woodwork, Troy Tulowitzki hit for the fifth cycle in Rockies history. His 5-for-5 performance guided Colorado to an 11-5 win, which would later prove key to berth in the postseason.
No. 18
April 16, 2013 – Baseball Rocky Mountain Style
When Colorado was initially awarded a big league franchise, baseball fans around the country wondered if and when snow would come into play. While plenty of games featured cold weather or flurries, this particular one “felt” like baseball in Colorado, as owner Dick Monfort and Mets general manager Sandy Alderson were spotted clearing snow from the playing surface prior to the game. A week later, Coors Field saw its coldest game ever – a 26-degree chiller that cooled the bats of the Rox in a 4-3 loss.
No. 17
July 7, 1998 – The Stars Come Out
Five summers after Coors Field opened its doors, Major League Baseball rewarded one of baseball’s best fan bases with the 48th All-Star Game. The Rockies faithful saw home runs from Alex Rodriguez, Roberto Alomar and Barry Bonds, as the American League prevailed in 13-8 slugfest.
No. 16
Aug. 22, 2000 – The Winning Catcher
It was a bizarre night at Coors Field to be sure. The Braves, who always seemed to have the Rockies’ number, were in town to face the Rox, and like they’d done in 1995 against Atlanta in playoffs, somehow, the Rockies had run out of pitchers. As such, Colorado’s 10th pitcher was actually catcher Brent Mayne. Calmly, in the top of the 12th inning with the game tied at 6-6, Mayne took the ball and faced five batters. He retired three before any runs were scored. In the bottom of the 12th, the Rockies produced the winning run – giving Mayne the win and the Braves’ John Rocker the loss.
No. 15
July 4, 2008 – Twice the Fireworks
Families flock to Coors Field for what’s known regionally as the best fireworks show around. But on this particular Fourth of July, the pyrotechnics would have to wait. Down 13-4 to the Marlins entering the fifth, Colorado appeared to be doomed for a loss. But for the next five frames, the Rockies pieced together the biggest comeback in franchise history, winning 18-17 and providing a “fireworks” precursor to the fireworks.
No. 14
Aug. 31, 1997 – 493 Feet
By 1997, home runs and the Colorado Rockies had become nearly synonymous. After all, the team’s adopted nickname was the Blake Street Bombers. But there was something special about Larry Walker’s round-tripper against the Oakland A’s on the last day of August – it traveled 493 feet, making it the longest home run hit by a Rockie at Coors Field (Editor’s Note: The longest home run at Coors came off the bat of Mike Piazza, a 496-foot bomb belted just a month prior).
No. 13
April 4, 2005 – Meet Clint Barmes
When opening day in 2005 began, few knew much about rookie shortstop Clint Barmes. But by game’s end, he was a household name in Denver. Down two to the Padres heading into the bottom of the ninth, the Rockies manufactured two runs to tie up the ballgame – an unlikely scenario with Trevor Hoffman on the mound. And Hoffman didn’t bother Barmes, either; with two outs, he took the mighty closer deep with a two-run walk off that sealed the Padres’ fate.
No. 12
April 29, 2007 – Unassisted
The beauty of baseball is that on any given, seemingly meaningless game, the unexpected can happen. Such was the case with this early season tilt against the Braves, a game that was ultimately decided by an 11th-inning Brad Hawpe walk-off homer. But it was the top of the seventh that Rockies fans remember most. With runners on first and second, nobody out and the count full, Chipper Jones hit a line drive at rookie shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, who snared the ball in flight, stepped on second to double up Kelly Johnson, and tagged Edgar Renteria between first and second for an unassisted triple play, only the 13th in MLB history.
No. 11
Summer, 2007 – Sweeping New York
Perhaps baseball fanatics in Colorado should have known there was something special about the 2007 season long before Rocktober. LoDo was abuzz on June 19 when the world-famous New York Yankees came to town, and it was on fire on June 21 after the Rockies completed an impressive sweep over the Yanks. Ten days later, the “other” New York team stopped by Coors Field; the Mets were also swept by the mighty Rox.
No. 10
July 31, 2010 – Super Cycle
An otherwise frustrating season was highlighted by what was arguably Carlos Gonzalez’s greatest game as a big leaguer. On the last day of July, facing the Cubs, Cargo hit for the sixth cycle in franchise history – an amazing feat in and of itself. But what made it even more special was the fact that the Rockies outfielder completed the cycle with a walk-off, solo shot that sent the Cubbies to the showers.
No. 9
Sept. 25, 2013 – Out with a Bang
In front of a sellout crowd that was anxious to pay its respects to Todd Helton, who would be playing his final game at Coors Field that day, the man himself repaid the favor. In his first plate appearance that day, Helton took Red Sox pitcher Jake Peavy deep, for his 15th homer of the year, and final round-tripper in purple. Helton finished his career with 369 home runs.
No. 8
Sept. 17, 1996 – The Nomo No-No
Even though it was just in its third season of existence, Coors Field had become known far and wide as a “hitter’s park.” Double-digit run totals and towering home runs were the norm. So even though it was an opposing foe who did it, fans at Coors Field were graciously appreciative of the ballpark’s first and only no-hitter, a gem hurled by the Dodgers pitcher Hideo Nomo.
No. 7
Aug. 25, 2009 – Spilly Walks Off
The number of folks who actually witnessed this one live is minor compared to those who vividly recall it. And who can blame them? After four hours and 57 minutes, even the most faithful Rockies fans had hit the hay. But Ryan Spilborghs was wide awake – just before midnight – when he unknotted a 4-4 tie in the bottom of the 14th with a two-run, walk-off blast that gave Colorado a key victory over the Giants.
No. 6
Sept. 18, 2007 – Double Dodger Sweep
Double-headers are a rarity in modern baseball; back-to-back thrillers are more rare yet. But when people cite the true start of “Rocktober,” this “Let’s play two!” classic often comes to mind. In the first game against the hated Dodgers, Jeff Francis struck out 10 batters – the most since any Rockies pitcher since 2003 – giving the home team a 3-1 win. Then at night, with the Rockies down 8-7 in the bottom of the ninth, Todd Helton hit a dramatic, two-run, walk-off homer, giving the Rox a 9-8 win and the double-header sweep.
No. 5
April 26, 1995 – Christening Coors
The exciting buzz that filled the air in LoDo – an area of Denver that was revitalized with the construction of a new downtown ballpark – was palpable. But the city truly exploded when Dante Bichette hit a walk-off home run in the 14th inning, sealing a Rockies victory in the first-ever game played at Coors Field.
No. 4
Oct. 6, 2007 – A Postseason First
By sweeping the Phillies in the NLDS, Colorado won its first-ever playoff series, earning a trip to the NLCS, where the Rockies would square off against the NL West champion Arizona Diamondbacks.
No. 3
Oct. 1, 1995 – Colorado Claims a Wild Card
With a 10-9 win over the San Francisco Giants, the Rockies became the first franchise in MLB history to reach the postseason prior to its eighth year of existence. They also became the first National League team to enter the postseason as a wild card.
No. 2
Oct. 15, 2007 – Rockies Earn World Series Berth
On the 22nd game of what is now simply known as “21-of-22,” the Rockies beat the Diamondbacks 6-4, the seventh straight postseason victory, and the 20th win in 21 games. Most importantly, however, the victory sealed the franchise’s first and only invite to the Fall Classic.
No. 1
Oct. 1, 2007 – The Play-In Game
It has been called not only the greatest moment in Coors Field history and in Rockies franchise history, but it’s also been referred to as the greatest moment in Colorado sports history. A bang-bang play at the plate in the bottom of the 13th inning gave Colorado a 9-8 over the Padres and a trip to the postseason. And yes, as all good Coloradoans know, Matt Holliday did touch the plate.