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.

For Nos. 50 to 1, Colorado Sports Hall of Fame historian Dave Plati coordinated a 19-member committee to rank in order what they considered the top moments. The No. 1 moment will be revealed 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. 46 — Oct. 22, 1973

On a day declared “Orange Monday” in Denver, the Broncos finally made their debut on “Monday Night Football.” Denver at the time was the 25th out of 26 teams in the league to be selected for the prime-time slot. (Buffalo was the last.) The opponent was the archnemesis Oakland Raiders. Billy Thompson returned a fumble 80 yards for the game’s first score; Oakland countered with an 80-yard play of its own, a touchdown pass from Ken Stabler to Mike Siani. But field goals ruled the roost, with Oakland’s George Blanda making three as did Denver’s Jim Turner, whose 35-yarder with three seconds remaining forged a 23-23 tie. At the time it was the most-watched Broncos game locally and nationally.

— Dave Plati, Colorado Sports Hall of Fame historian