Rockies make home debut with record Mile High crowd | April 9, 1993 | Colorado’s Top 150 Sports Moments

By Chris Schmaedeke July 17, 2026 | updated 4 hours ago

In this April 9, 1993, file photo, fans at Mile High stadium in Denver watch the first pitch of the Colorado Rockies home opener. While this stadium became known mostly as home of the NFL's Denver Broncos, it did include a huge movable stand to accommodate baseball. It was used for the expansion Colorado Rockies' first two seasons while Coors Field was under construction. (AP Photo/Joe Mahoney)

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/.

Colorado's Top 150 Sports Moments — Colorado Sports Hall of Fame Top 150 Sports Moments

No. 12 — April 9, 1993

The Colorado Rockies made their home debut at Mile High Stadium in front of a record crowd of 80,227, defeating the Montreal Expos, 11-4. After Bryn Smith shut down the Expos in the top of the first, Eric Young stepped to the plate for the first official major league at-bat by the home team in Colorado. He responded by slamming a 3-2 pitch off Kent Bottenfield 390 feet into the left field stands, sending the crowd into a frenzy. Young led an 18-hit attack, going 4-for-4, scoring four runs and driving in two. Smith, a former Denver Bear, pitched seven innings of shutout ball for the win. It was also the first win in team history after dropping two games in New York.

— Dave Plati, Colorado Sports Hall of Fame historian

Chris Schmaedeke

Reporter