Unusual events color a unique season for fans of the Colorado Rockies

It’s a classic statement that’s been uttered countless times over and it’s yet to be proven inaccurate.

Whenever you go to the ballpark, you’re guaranteed to see something you’ve never seen before.

For fans of the Colorado Rockies, it’s a streak of 4,534 games that began on April 5, 1993 and it shouldn’t end anytime soon.

This list may not contain any moments that will resonate for the entirety of your life like Dante Bichette’s 14th-inning fist pump to open Coors Field, Todd Helton’s full-extension arm raise to punctuate the National League pennant or Tony Wolters’ excited clench at first base following the go-ahead RBI-single in the 2018 NL Wild Card Game.

However, you should be able to smile, chuckle and give thanks for everything we witnessed in 2021 with our hometown heroes.

Quirkiest Moment

Coors Cat, April 2

It may have been only the second game of the season, but it was no.1 in our hearts. 

With Ryan McMahon in the batter’s box and David Price on the mound in the bottom of the eighth inning between the Rockies and Dodgers, a grayish cat emerged from the third base side of the ballpark and ran out to center field. The 90-second delay left an indelible image burned into our minds as the cutest (and furriest) interloper we’ve seen scamper onto the field of play. 

In the days and weeks after the aptly named Coors Cat made it’s appearance, numerous other felines were spotted around the stadium, shining a spotlight onto the common practice of employing feral cats in a stadium in order to keep less desirable critters at bay.

Most Meme-able

Dodgers’ base-running blunder by Cody Bellinger and Justin Turner, April 1

Believe it or not, just one day prior to our introduction to the quirky kitty cat was the misfortunate base-running by two of L.A.’s best players on Opening Day. Bellinger, not yet aware he was set for an abysmal season as one of the sport’s worst at the plate, hit a fly ball the opposite way to left field that seemed destined for extra bases.

While Raimel Tapia appeared to secure the ball in his mitt, it came out and landed on the other side of the fence for an apparent two-run homer. However, Justin Turner ran back to first base during the confusion while Bellinger kept running towards second base awaiting the home run signal.

Alas, Bellinger was ruled out for passing the runner on first base and Turner was credited with a run scored on what was ultimately an unusual outside-the-park single. The image of the two heading in opposite directions, coupled with the always befuddled look on Bellinger’s face, make this the easiest selection of the series.

Worst Moment (Fans)

Nolan Arenado trade, February 1

Between the still unofficial departure of Trevor Story and Kyle Freeland’s return to pitching prominence in 2021 after a visibly upsetting shoulder injury in March, there’s simply nothing close to the day the world stopped for Rockies fans.

The rumblings of an Arenado trade had been persisting for over a year and with players reporting to Spring Training only a few weeks away, it seemed Colorado would at least have one more half-season of baseball from the best defensive third baseman of all-time.

Eventually word got out on January 29 and the unthinkable became official a few days later: Colorado had traded away their cornerstone.

In the days following the deal, owner Dick Monfort and general manager Jeff Bridich addressed the media with little conviction about the benefit of such a transaction for the 2021 season, let alone the optics of dealing a future Hall of Fame player signed well through his prime. Less than three months later, Bridich handed in his resignation and the organization has been stuck cleaning up the mess ever since.

Most Emotional Moment

Sam Hilliard homers just days after father’s passing, September 17

Following years with Team Hilliard ALS raising awareness about and funds to support research of the insidious disease, the world became a worse place on Sep 12 when Jim Hilliard’s courageous battle against ALS came to an end.

Somehow, his son found the strength to take the field mere days later and spurn his club to a victory over the Washington Nationals in the nation’s capital.

As emotional as the lead-flipping home run in the top of the sixth seemed to be for those watching at home, it grew even more so in the bottom of the inning when Sam was left with his own thoughts and cameras captured his response upon taking left field.

Most Surprising Moment

Coors Field awarded 2021 All-Star Game, April 5

The math is quite simple: each of baseball’s 30 teams gets to host the All-Star Game once about every 30 years.

Since Colorado had last hosted in 1998 and discussions about their next opportunity had been taking place with MLB to host once again in 2024, it wouldn’t be long before the best and brightest would descend upon Coors Field for the Midsummer Classic.

But when the state of Georgia passed restrictive laws that limited access for voting, MLB expedited Colorado’s clock by pulling Atlanta’s hosting privileges and giving it to the Rockies, who play in a state with more expanded access for voters.

Out of nowhere, the biggest baseball party of the year was coming to Denver. And right when the pandemic was going to allow for more normal behaviors and increased attendance at the ballpark.

For three days in July, fantastic festivities extending to a celebrity softball game to concerts and even the most exciting Home Run Derby we’ve seen since the last one made for special  memories none of us could have seen coming… at least not for a few years. 

Worst Moment (Players)

Scott Oberg’s blood clots return, March 27

As one of the longest-tenured players on the team, clubhouse leader and union representative for the Rockies, Oberg has meant a lot more to the organization than many would typically realize. 

The loss of Oberg to blood clots for the third time in his career in August 2019 was gut-wrenching. He underwent surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome in September 2020 before returning for four Spring Training games this past season.

But on March 25, the blood clots returned for the fourth time. While manager Bud Black tried to be upbeat about seeing Oberg back on a mound one day during his media availability to share the sad news, the odds have strongly suggested this could be the end of a fantastic playing career for the 31-year-old reliever.