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. 53 — Aug. 23, 2001

In one of the most impressive debuts in major league history, Colorado pitcher Jason Jennings threw a complete game, 10-0 shutout of the New York Mets at Shea Stadium. He allowed five hits and struck out eight. At the plate, he went 3-for-5 with two runs batted in while capping the scoring with a home run hit deep to right field in the top of the ninth inning. Jennings would spend six seasons with the Rockies, compiling a 58-56 record before finishing his career with Houston for one season and Texas for two.

—Dave Plati, Colorado Sports Hall of Fame historian