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. 101 — Nov. 29, 1954

After weeks of speculation and negotiation, Bob Howsam purchased the defunct Kansas City franchise for $75,000 that elevated Denver into the American Association and Triple-A baseball, simultaneously with the New York Yankees remaining the parent club of the franchise with its move to Denver. It would trigger a series of events over the next 40 years for the city to get a major league franchise.

—Dave Plati, Colorado Sports Hall of Fame historian