Help Getting Through the Day

To start things off, I’m going to go back to August 3rd, 1995. I had to look up the date, however the day was very memorable. Had graduate that spring from UNC and was still trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life (Still figuring). Was still living in Greeley and woke up that morning with no interest in going to work. While reading the paper I noticed that Saberhagen was making his Rocks debut that afternoon and on a rare spontaneous moment, I decide I was going to the game. Called in sick, cleaned up and headed south.

Parked on the west side of I-25 in my usual spot a couple of hours before the game and bought the first ticket I could get my hands on – 1st Base side, just into the outfield, about mid way up. Don’t remember what I paid, but really didn’t care. Don’t remember much about the game other than Sabs did well and that we pounded the Dodgers.

It was just a great day all around – Me, Myself and I – and thousands of other fans.

And probably not all that exciting, but thought I’d share since I thought of it.

Years ago, either when I was still in high school or during one summer home from college, I can’t remember when, I was in my room listening to the game on the radio. I ended up falling asleep, and when I woke up I had vague memory of Eric Young having hit a home run (which means that had to have been in high school or after my freshman year of college). But I wasn’t sure whether it had happened or whether I had dreamed it. I had to upstairs and ask my mom. And now I can’t remember for sure what the outcome was, but I think it had been a dream.

One is being at the 2007 wild card game against the Pads with my wife….not her first game, by any means, but that was when she really became a FAN finally, given the drama. That, and the celebrations on Blake after that game, and each playoff sweep game.

The one favorite moment is kinda stupid, but is the time I first buttoned up Aaron Cook’s 2003 road jersey for the first time. I almost felt like a playa. But that moment truly pales in comparison to any actual game related moment…

2007 NLDS Game 3 (especially the black-out), 2007 NLCS Game 4 (Sec. 235, 2nd row).

The third date I can’t remember (and I’m too lazy to look it up), but it was Opening Day (not just Home Opener) and Mike Hampton’s first game with the Rockies. Playing the Cardinals as I recall. At any rate, early in the game, Hampton was in a jam when Larry WALK-er made an incredible throw from deep RF to nail someone at the plate and squash the rally. Coors Field went ballistic. Hampton dominated the rest of the way, and the Rox won. (8-0 was the score as I remember.) A great memory from a great day.

Here is the game recap link from Baseball-Reference.com. Note the last play in the top of the 1st.

Opening Day 2001

October 3, 1995: The first ever Rockies playoff game. I was sick as a dog, barely had a voice, but I went to the game anyway. Sat in row 24 of the upper right field stands (section 305 or so). I remember Vinny Castilla hitting a homer at some point, but I was only 7 at the time, so not much else.

October 1, 2007: The tiebreaker. After the last game of the regular season, we went and bought like 6 or 7 tickets because we knew we’d find that many people to go, and we did. Don’t think I really need to expand on the game much, because we all know what happened.

Miserable as all hell after the Pads scored 5 to destroy our promising start. The next morning I could barely bring myself to check the score. I don’t know if a sporting moment has ever been as euphoric as when I finally summoned up the balls to do so.

Are you going to provide another topic today, jlot10?

Mile High Stadium, Attendance: 70,217
Fireworks Game

My first Rockies game in person, the fans were chanting GO…..ROCK….IEEEES!!! making the stands rumble with the noise. The Wizard of Oz broke the MLB record for assists in the game earning a standing ovation from the savvy new baseball town. Dante Bichette and Gallaraga hit HR’s in the game, but the hit I remember most was by the hotel chain. Howard Johnson was taking his lefthanded practice swings and preparing to enter the box when Cardinals lefty Steve Dixon was brought in to face him. Without a single warmup swing, HoJo stepped into the righthand side and doubled off the wall.

Starter Lance Painter earned the win after 7 strong innings and only 3 earned runs allowed. The game was postponed at one point by rain, but it didn’t stop the fireworks on and off the field.