Happy birthday, Colorado — and Colorado sports.

Leading into the state’s 150th birthday Aug. 1, The Denver Gazette has partnered with the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame to publicize the definitive list of Colorado’s top 150 sports moments.

Colorado Sports Hall of Fame historian Dave Plati and a committee of 10 compiled and will release the list every week until the No. 1 moment on July 31. Plati and Broncos icon Jim Saccomano will unveil the list weekly on a Colorado Sports Hall of Fame podcast at coloradosports.org/podcast/.

No. 141

July 3, 1982

Denver entered the national record books again, as the Bears’ annual fireworks night drew a minor-league record 65,666 fans, as announced at the time. The Denver fire marshal told team officials the crowd had to be capped at that number; in actuality, the true attendance was 73,155, as confirmed years later by business manager Bobby Burris. (Not to mention by looking at an aerial photo of the Mile High Stadium from that night. In no way were there 10,000 empty seats). Omaha spoiled things with a 7-4 win in a strange game, outhitting the Bears 17-5, with a scoreless contest through five innings and each team scoring in their remaining four frames. In fact, Omaha’s Bill Kelly had a no-hitter entering the sixth and had it broken up with a triple by Denver native and Abraham Lincoln High School grad Nick Capra.

—Dave Plati, Colorado Sports Hall of Fame historian