Coors Field turned 30 on Saturday and is now the third-oldest ballpark in the National League. The venue has seen snow and fireworks, heroics and heartaches, All-Stars, Hall of Famers and one-hit wonders.
Entering the weekend, 6,319 home runs had been launched at Coors — 3,187 by the Rockies and 3,132 by the visitors — one no-hitter had been thrown, and a few other no-nos nearly came to be. An announced 81,896,843 fans have witnessed countless memories over that time. Here are the 30 most unforgettable:
Colorado Rockies’ Neifi Perez (5) is congratulated by Larry Walker, right, as the rest of the team comes to meet Perez as he crosses home plate after hitting a solo home run to give the Rockies a 9-8 victory over the San Francisco Giants in the ninth inning in Denver’s Coors Field on Sunday, Sept. 27, 1998. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)30. Spoiler alert
Date: Sept. 27, 1998
The Giants needed a win on the final day of the season to clinch a wild-card berth. Neifi Perez had other ideas, hitting a walk-off homer in the ninth off Robb Nen to beat the Giants, 9-8. The Giants were forced to play the Cubs in the wild-card tiebreaker game, which they lost, 5-3, at Wrigley Field.
29. LoDo snow job
Date: April 16, 2013
The Mets and Rockies woke up to 9 inches of snow but managed to play a doubleheader. Rockies owner Dick Monfort and Mets general manager Sandy Alderson were among those who grabbed snow shovels. The Rockies warmed up by sweeping the Mets, 8-4 and 9-8.
Rockies owner Dick Monfort takes a break from shoveling snow on the right field line before a double header against the New York Mets on April 16, 2013, at Coors Field in Denver. (Photo By John Leyba/The Denver Post)28. A 20-spot vs. BoSox
Date: July 24, 2024
There wasn’t a lot to cheer about during a 101-loss season, but Colorado rocked the Red Sox on a 93-degree day, mashing four home runs, including the first grand slam of Brenton Doyle’s career in a 20-7 win. The Rockies’ 20 runs tied a franchise high.
Colorado Rockies’ Brenton Doyle, center, is congratulated as he returns to the dugout after hitting a grand slam off Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Chase Anderson in the sixth inning of a baseball game on July 24, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)27. Catcher pitches a win
Date: Aug. 22, 2000
Catcher Brett Mayne delivered a victory for the Rockies in the 12th inning against the Braves. He became the first position player in 32 years to record a big-league pitching victory. Mayne stranded two runners by retiring Chipper Jones on a check-swing grounder for the final out. Rocky Colavito had been the last position player to win a game from the mound, pitching 2 ⅔ shutout innings as the Yankees defeated Detroit on Aug. 25, 1968, the year Mayne was born.
Colorado Rockies Brent Mayne throws to the plate during the 12th inning against the Atlanta Braves at Coors Field in Denver, Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2000. Mayne, a catcher, was called on for his first major league pitching appearance after the Rockies ran out of relievers. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)26. Avs ice Red Wings
Date: Feb. 26, 2016
A crowd of 43,319 showed up to watch Avalanche alumni beat the Red Wings’ old-timers, 5-2, on the eve of the Stadium Series regular-season game between the rivals. Avs defenseman Ray Bourque had a goal and two assists, and Joe Sakic, the Avalanche’s longtime captain and the team’s general manager, had a goal and an assist. Goaltender Patrick Roy, then the Avs’ 50-year-old coach, stopped 20 of 21 shots in two periods.
Colorado Avalanche and the Detroit Red Wings players acknowledge the crowd during a break in the action on Feb. 26, 2016, at Coors Field in Denver. (Photo by John Leyba/The Denver Post)25. Opener in time of COVID
Date: July 31, 2020
It was 85 degrees at first pitch, and there were no fans in the stands, but they played baseball at Coors for the first time in 2020. A smattering of fans showed up, set up camp chairs on the sidewalk on Blake Street, and peered through the gates. The Padres beat the Rockies 8-7 when closer Wade Davis gave up four runs in the ninth.
Colorado Rockies left fielder Raimel Tapia (15) at bat against the San Diego Padres during their home opener at Coors Field on July 31, 2020, in Denver. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)24. Alonso shells Coors
Date: July 12, 2021
Mets slugger Pete Alonso pronounced himself “the best power hitter on the planet” and then proved it in the Home Run Derby. Alonso successfully defended his 2019 crown — there was no event in 2020 due to the pandemic — by topping Trey Mancini of the Orioles in the final round, joining Ken Griffey Jr. (1998-99) and Yoenis Céspedes (2013-14) as the only back-to-back derby champs.
Pete Alonso (20) of the New York Mets bats during the 2021 T-Mobile Home Run Derby at Coors Field on July 12, 2021 in Denver. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)23. Independence Day Marathon
Date: July 4, 2010
The Giants and Rockies played a 15-inning game that took 5 hours and 24 minutes, making it the longest game in Coors Field history. Colorado won 4-3 when Dexter Fowler led off the 15th with a triple, and Johnny Herrera and Carlos Gonzalez were intentionally walked to load the bases. Todd Helton drove in Fowler with the winning run, hitting a sacrifice fly to left.
22. In-game fireworks
Date: July 4, 2008
Colorado trailed 13-4 coming to bat in the fourth inning but beat the Marlins 18-17, scoring two runs in the ninth for the walk-off win. The Rockies hit six home runs, with Ryan Spilborghs and Matt Holliday each clubbing two. Catcher Chris Iannetta hit a weak groundball past third base to score Holliday for the walk-off victory.
Chris Ianetta (20) celebrated with teammates after he singled in Matt Holliday from third in the bottom of the ninth inning to beat the Florida Marlins 18-17 in the biggest come-back victory in team history on July 4, 2008, at Coors Field in Denver. (Photo by Karl Gehring/The Denver Post)21. Nine-run ninth
Date: July 6, 2010
Colorado erased a six-run deficit in the ninth, scored nine times, and stunned St. Louis, 12-9, on sweet-swinging Seth Smith’s two-out, three-run, walk-off homer. At the time, no team in the modern era had ever scored nine runs in the bottom of the ninth to win a game.
David Zalubowski, The Associated PressColorado Rockies’ Seth Smith, center, is congratulated by teammates after he hit a three-run, walkoff home run against the St. Louis Cardinals in the ninth inning of the Rockies’ 12-9 victory in Denver on July 6, 2010. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)20. Helton belts 2,500th
Date: Sept. 1, 2013
Todd Helton drove a 3-2 pitch the opposite way for a double and the 2,500th hit of his career. He became the 96th player in major league history to reach the milestone.
Yorvit Torrealba (8) congratulates Todd Helton (17) of the Colorado Rockies on his 2,500th career hit after the seventh inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds at Coors Field on Sept. 1, 2013. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)19. Spilly’s walk-off slam
Date: Aug. 24, 2009
Fan favorite Ryan Spilborghs hit a grand slam in the 14th for a come-from-behind, 6-4 victory over the Giants. His walk-off granny was sweet redemption. Spilborghs failed to deliver with men on base in the 10th inning, grounding into a double play with a man on third. In the top of the 14th, he misread the carom off the wall on Edgar Renteria’s triple that started the Giants’ three-run rally.
Colorado Rockies’ Ryan Spilborghs, left, follows the flight of his grand slam along with San Francisco Giants catcher Eli Whiteside in the 14th inning of the Rockies’ 6-4 victory in Denver on Aug. 24, 2009. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)18. Grand larceny
Date: June 30, 1996
Eric Young tied a big-league record with six stolen bases, Quentin McCracken swiped two, and Ellis Burks and Dante Bichette each stole one as the Rockies notched a wild, 16-15 walk-off win over the Dodgers. Colorado’s 10 stolen bases remains a franchise record.
Colorado Rockies’ Mike Lansing watches his two-run home run off Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Armando Reynoso during the second inning at Coors Field in Denver, on June 18, 2000. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)17. Helton’s grand finale
Date: Sept. 25, 2013
In the 1,148th game of his career at Coors, including seven postseason games, Helton went out with a bang. In his first at-bat, on a 1-1 count, Helton blasted an 87-mph cutter from Boston starter Jake Peavy over the right-field scoreboard for the 369th, and last, home run of his career.
16. Lansing’s four-inning cycle
Date: June 18, 2000
There have been a major league-record 19 cycles hit at Coors Field, but Mike Lansing’s was the fastest. He completed it with a single in the fourth inning after ripping a triple in the first, hitting a two-run homer in the second, and a two-run double in the third. Colorado bludgeoned Arizona 19-2 on Father’s Day.
Todd Helton hits a home run off of Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Jake Peavy at the start of action at Coors Field on Sept. 25, 2013, in Denver. The Colorado Rockies hosted the Boston Red Sox and said farewell to longtime first baseman Todd Helton, who had announced his retirement following the 2013 season. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
15. Nomo’s no-no
Date: Sept. 17, 1996
Los Angeles Dodgers legendary broadcaster Vin Scully was on the call on that cold, drizzly night in LoDo: “Hideo Nomo has done what they said could not be done. … Not in the Mile High City. Not at Coors Field in Denver. He has not only shut out the Rockies, he has pitched a no-hitter.” Nomo walked four and struck out eight in the Dodgers’ 9-0 victory.
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Hideo Nomo delivers a pitch to Colorado Rockies batter Ellis Burks on the way to striking him out and notching a no-hit performance in the Dodgers’ 9-0 victory in Denver’s Coors Field on Sept. 17, 1996. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)14. K-Free’s near no-no
Date: July 9, 2017
Rookie left-hander Kyle Freeland came two outs away from pitching the Rockies’ first no-hitter at Coors. Chicago White Sox All-Star outfielder Melky Cabrera broke up the no-no with a single to left. After Cabrera’s single, Freeland, who fanned nine, was relieved by Jordan Lyles, who closed out Colorado’s 10-0 victory.
David Zalubowski, The Associated PressColorado Rockies starting pitcher Kyle Freeland delivers to Chicago White Sox’s Adam Engel in the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 9, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)13. Marquez’s near no-no
Date: June 29, 2021
German Marquez pitched eight hitless innings, but the Pirates’ Ka’ai Tom singled to lead off the ninth. Marquez recovered quickly after Tom’s single, inducing a double play followed by a groundout to end his 8-0, complete-game victory. Marquez struck out five, walked just one, and needed 92 pitches.
Starting pitcher German Marquez (48) of the Colorado Rockies celebrates the final out after throwing a one hitter against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Coors Field on June 29, 2021 in Denver. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)12. One hell of a Story
Date: Sept. 5, 2018
All-Star shortstop Trevor Story mashed three home runs, including a 487-footer, in Colorado’s 5-3 win over the Giants. Story’s three dingers traveled a combined 1,362 feet. All three of Story’s homers came off San Francisco right-hander Andrew Suarez.
Trevor Story (27) of the Colorado Rockies celebrates after a home run in the first inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants on Sept. 5, 2018, at Coors Field in Denver. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)11. Chuck Nasty’s grand opening
Date: April 4, 2014
Charlie Blackmon was on the roster bubble at the end of spring training, but he ignited his All-Star career in Colorado’s 12-2 home-opening win over Arizona. Blackmon went 6 for 6 with a homer and three doubles, becoming the first player since the Pirates’ Dick Groat in his MVP season of 1960 to have three doubles among six hits in a game.
Colorado Rockies’ Charlie Blackmon (19) hits a home run in the fourth inning, batting in DJ LeMahieu, during the Rockies’ season home opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field in Denver, on Friday, April 4, 2014. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)10. Jon Gray’s 16K gem
Date: Sept. 17, 2016
The “Gray Wolf” let loose a howl at the end of Colorado’s 8-0 victory over the Padres. In his complete-game shutout, the right-hander struck out a club-record 16, the most by any single pitcher in Coors Field history. Gray allowed four hits and walked none.
Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jon Gray, center, is doused after throwing his first shutout game by relief pitcher Jason Motte, left, and catcher Tom Murphy after Gray retired the San Diego Padres in the ninth inning of a baseball game on Sept. 17, 2016, at Coors Field in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)9. Humidor’s debut
Date: March 31, 2002
Coors remains the most hitter-friendly park in the majors, but the installation of a humidor changed things. From 1995 to 2001, Colorado’s average team ERA was 6.14, and the pitching staff gave up an average of 126.7 home runs per season. But in the first 20 years of the humidor (2002-2021), the ERA shrank to 5.06, and home runs dropped to 98.8 per season. Before the humidor, the Rockies’ batting average at Coors was .328, and they averaged 128.3 home runs per season. Post-humidor, the average fell to .295, and home runs tumbled to 103.2.
Tony Cowell, an engineer at Coors Field, inspects a dozen baseballs stored in a walk-in humidor at Coors Field in Denver on May 8, 2002. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)8. CarGo’s walk-off cycle
Date: July 31, 2010
Carlos Gonzalez hit a leadoff, walk-off, 462-foot homer into the upper deck in right field off Sean Marshall to beat the Cubs, 6-5. CarGo became the first player since Boston’s Dwight Evans in 1984 to hit a walk-off home run to complete the cycle. CarGo singled in the first, tripled in the third, doubled in the fifth and hit a sacrifice fly in the seventh.
Colorado Rockies left-fielder Carlos Gonzalez (5) jumps to home plate after rounding the bases on his walk-off solo home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to beat the Chicago Cubs 6-5 at Coors Field, July 31, 2010, in Denver. (Photo by Diego James Robles/The Denver Post)7. 1998 All-Star fireworks
Date: July 6-7, 1998
In the highest-scoring All-Star Game to that point, the American League beat the National League 13-8 in a wild affair that included a record-tying 31 hits. The day before, Ken Griffey Jr., who had initially declined to participate, won the Home Run Derby. Griffey hit 19 homers to beat Jim Thome in the finals.
Todd Helton pumped his fist after watching his ninth-inning home run clear the fence to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-8 on Sept. 18, 2007, at Coors Field in Denver. (Photo by Karl Gehring/The Denver Post)6. Helton’s walk-off ignites Rocktober
Date: Sept. 18. 2007
Todd Helton smashed a two-run, walk-off homer off closer Takashi Saito for a 9-8 victory, capping a doubleheader sweep of the Dodgers and keeping the Rockies’ faint playoff hopes alive. Helton, displaying rare on-field emotion, ran around the bases with his finger signaling No. 1 and then leaped into a mosh pit at home plate.
5. 1995 wild-card clincher
Date: Oct. 1, 1995
The Rockies rallied from a six-run deficit as Larry Walker and Eric Young hit two-run homers to spark a 10-9 victory over the Giants and clinch the wild-card berth. Curtis Leskanic struck out J.R. Phillips and Tom Lampkin before allowing a single to Glenallen Hill. Then Leskanic induced a groundout to clinch the win. No expansion baseball team ever qualified for the playoffs quicker than the Rockies, who did it in their third year of existence.
Colorado Rockies manager Don Baylor, center, is doused with champagne by first baseman Andres Galarraga, left, and Trenidad Hubbard, right, in the Rockies clubhouse after the Rockies clinched the National League wildcard playoff spot in Denver on Sunday, Oct. 1, 1995. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)4. Dante’s walk-off inferno
Date: April 26, 1995
In the first game played at 20th and Blake, Dante Bichette delivered a magical moment. In the 14th inning of a cold and frosty game, with runners at first and second and one out, Bichette hammered a 2-1 pitch off left-hander Mike Remlinger.
“A high drive, way back, and there’s the storybook ending for the Rockies!” ESPN’s Jon Miller shouted as Bichette’s blast landed halfway up the bleachers in left-center for Colorado’s 11-9 victory.
3. Arenado’s Father’s Day cycle
Date: June 18, 2017
Third baseman Nolan Arenado, blood dripping down his face from a cut above his eye, screamed to the heavens after blasting a walk-off, three-run homer off closer Mark Melancon to beat San Francisco 7-5 in front of a delirious sellout Father’s Day crowd of 48,341. Arenado became the fifth player in big-league history to hit a walk-off homer to finish his cycle. Arenado’s face was cut during the celebration at home plate.
Colorado Rockies’ Nolan Arenado, front, is doused by teammates Trevor Story, back left, and Ian Desmond after hitting a walkoff three-run home run off San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Mark Melancon in the ninth inning of a baseball game on June 18, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)2. Rockies clinch NL pennant
Date: Oct. 15, 2007
Troy Tulowitzki scooped up a grounder hit by Eric Byrnes and rifled a throw to first baseman Todd Helton, who caught the ball and then raised both arms over his head in jubilation. The Rockies were going to the World Series after beating the Diamondbacks, 6-4, to sweep the National League Championship Series. Colorado won 21 of 22 games to reach baseball’s promised land, becoming the first team since the 1935 Chicago Cubs to win 21 of 22 after Sept. 1.
Todd Helton celebrates the Rockies win in Game Four of the National League Championship series between the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field in Denver on Oct. 15, 2007. (Photo by John Leyba/The Denver Post)1. Game 163, Holliday crash-lands at home
Date: Oct. 1, 2007
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Carroll hit Hoffman’s first pitch into shallow right, Giles caught it, and Holliday tagged up from third. Holliday charged home, catcher Michael Barrett couldn’t handle Giles’ throw, but Barrett blocked the plate with his left foot, making it unclear whether Holliday touched home with his left hand as he slid headfirst, bloodying his chin. Holliday was called safe, and the Rockies earned the NL wild card, completing a magical run in which they won 14 of 15 regular-season games.
Matt Holliday (5) of the Colorado Rockies dives home with the winning run on a base hit by Jamey Carroll as Michael Barrett (4) of the San Diego Padres tries to control the ball at Coors Field on Oct. 1, 2007, in Denver. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)Want more Rockies news? Sign up for the Rockies Insider to get all our MLB analysis.
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