The Nolan Arenado Coors Field Combo Whatever

Needless to say I'm very irritated with the Colorado Rockies these days.

For years, I've been advocating the sentiment:

But that's not going far enough... 

In honor of my all time favorite Colorado Rockies player departing Denver, I was going to conduct another Top Whatever of some Nolan Arenado cards in my collection. But my thoughts about this trade were too negative in just talking about Arenado. So I decided to offset this Whatever, with some of my more positive thoughts about watching Rockies baseball at Coors Field, during the years I lived in Denver. Something that I really miss...

I even miss the Rockies terrible purple dinosaur mascot, Dinger. 

Sometimes, the Dinger Van would be sitting in the parking lot, beyond center field. I have to question that statement on the driver's side of the van. Running up and down the stadium steps, wearing a heavy purple dinosaur costume in the summer heat, sounds like the opposite of an awesome job.

2014 parking ticket from said lot.

Which is a short (or long, depending on attendance) walk up to the Center Field Gate.

That picture was from a game Laura and I went to in September, 2014. The San Francisco Giants were visiting. They'd win the World Series that year, so I was expecting the Rocks to lose pretty handily. However, the Rockies won, 9-2, with Nolan Arenado hitting a three run homer in the fifth inning.

Just over a month after this game, Rockies General Manager Dan O'Dowd declined a new contracy and was replaced by Farm Director, Jeff Bridich. O'Dowd had been the General Manager of the Rockies since September, 1999. I've been highly critical of the moves O'Dowd made over his 15 year reign over the Rockies. He made bizarre trades and signings that didn't make a lot of sense, and never seemed to have a solid plan at what he was attempting to do. 15 years of throwing stuff at the wall, to see what stuck...

For example, after a surprising 2000 season finishing with a winning record (82-80), O'Dowd convinced stingy ownership to hand out nearly $150 million dollars on two starting pitchers:

Hampton signed with Colorado because he liked the schools. Neagle, because he liked the prostitutes.

Shockingly, these moves were an absolute disaster for the team.

A few years of painful recovery later, through sheer blind luck, Colorado went on their "Deal With Satan" run, all the way to the 2007 World Series.

Which they didn't win. But that's another story for another day. (And another reason to hate Bud Selig.)

October 16, 2007 Rocky Mountain News

The Rocky Mountain News was a great paper. Denver lost a lot when they ceased operations two years later.

2007 Ultra Matt Holliday

Holliday was major star for the 2007 Rockies. After another strong season in 2008, a contract dispute led to O'Dowd trading Holliday to the Oakland Athletics for a package of young players. Key amongst them:

2016 Stadium Club Carlos Gonzalez

Cargo was an instant star for the Rockies, outperforming Holliday on his own, easing the pain of losing a home grown superstar. When confronted with a difficult personnel decision like this, you hope your team can replace that superstar in the trade. I will give O'Dowd credit, he did well for himself here. After making seemingly hundreds of questionable trades, this was his shining moment. During a 15 year span, without a whole lot of high points, that would warrant 15 years in the role.

Yes... I'm resorting to juvenile word bubbles because I'm angry. Take THAT Rockies management. 

Both today and 15 years ago!

Unfortunately, there was little in the return from the Cardinals that would come close to the Holliday/Gonzalez trade O'Dowd miraculously pulled off.

Speaking of, let's get to the Whatever. This does not represent my entire Nolan Arenado cards. But it is the best of them. As usual, my judging methods are very scientific. How much I like them. So here is:

The Top 51 Nolan Arenado Cards!

#51 - 2017 Optic Diamond King Nolan Arenado

I like this more than the regular Donruss Diamond Kings card. In this case, the Chrome works better.

#50 - 2017 Optic Nolan Arenado

The base card from the same set is pretty good too.

#49 - 2019 Optic Peak Performers Nolan Arenado

Would this design work as well for a non-Colorado player? I also have the Mike Trout card, and it's just not the same...

With Arenado gone, it's kind of doubtful the Rockies will be as well represented in these nice insert sets. Trevor Story will make a few... Maybe Charlie Blackmon...  But I see the Rockies joining teams such as the Marlins, or the Pirates, or the Rays, as teams without that big superstar to represent the them in a limited 25 card themed insert set.

So there's the motivation...

Makes sense now...

When I moved to Colorado in October 1996, I was anxiously awaiting watching my new home team, in my new home stadium. Denver being a National League city, that means I'd be able to catch the Montreal Expos when they came to town! Late July of 1997, was circled on the calendar as the Expos only visit to Denver that year.

July 29, 1997. Expos vs Rockies. This would be my fourth Expos game I'd seen in person. The first and third Expos games I attended were actually in Montreal. (The third was in Pittsburgh, in July of 1995.) I've always been proud of being able to see my favorite team play at home, before on the road. Especially given their distance from Minnesota. Not to mention, a foreign country!

View of the scoreboard (with Vladimir Guerrero!), from the upper deck behind first base. Back in 1997, these seats offered a decent view of the Rocky Mountains behind the stadium, and about 20 miles to the west. Now they are obscured by a big buncha lofts and condominiums. Montreal won this game 3-0, so I was happy! The game lasted only 2 hours and 16 minutes, and 48,117 people were there that night.

Bottom of the 5th, Rockies have 2 on with 2 outs. Pedro Martinez started for Montreal, and dominated the Rockies. Throwing a complete game shutout, allowing only 5 hits and 1 walk, while striking out 13. I've seen a few of Pedro's starts in person, none better than this game. There he is on the mound, with catcher Darrin Fletcher (hey! that rhymes!) telling him not to worry. The Rockies batter, Eric Young Sr., will be grounding out to shortstop to end the inning very soon.

Wish I had a better camera in 1997...

I used my mom's better camera on May 17, 2003, when I saw my last Montreal Expos game in person. The Expos won this game as well, 6-4. Nothing too notable happened other than Expos pitcher Zach Day, getting ejected in the third inning, for having a foreign substance on his fingers.

#48 - 2020 Select Nolan Arenado

This design is growing on me, but it doesn't scan well.

#47 - 2016 Stadium Club Nolan Arenado Contact Sheet

I didn't get nearly enough 2016 Stadium Club.

#46 - 2017 Panini Chronicles Nolan Arenado

And I never bought any 2017 Panini Chronicles (likely because I never saw any), but with as big of a fan of the 2020 offering, I wish I could have.

Lets go look at Coors Field some more!

I love the open construction of Coors, with the exposed steal beams showing the skeleton of the structure. The best example would be the Right Field Concourse, covered by the angled seating deck. From foul pole to foul pole, the lower concourse has a flat celling, due to the club level directly above. So we'll check out this area for a bit.

If you walk down about halfway, past the seats, there's an open area that overlooks the bullpens.

The visitor pen comes first.

On May 17, 2003, I found Montreal Expos starting pitcher, Zach Day, warming up in the bullpen. Likely pre-foreign substance on his fingers.

Then on August 16, 2011, Edgmer Escalona was working out some pitches with a Rockies coach in their bullpen. Escalona was a Rockies relief pitcher that I absolutely do not remember. Looking him up, I found that Escalona appeared in 78 games between 2010 and 2013, pitching well below average for exactly 100 innings total.

I still don't remember him...

Past the Rockies bullpen is a small forest, under the batters eye. These are the fountains that shoot up 20 feet whenever Arenado (or any Rockie for that matter) hits a home run.

Behind the batters eye, the Rockies placed a series of plaques recognizing every contractor and construction worker who built Coors Field. That's actually a really cool thing to do. If you helped weld those steel beams holding up the Upper Deck, your name appears here.

One of the few signs of respect towards the fans, shown by Rockies ownership. Whose seemingly official stance on the Arenado trade boils down to...

Yeah...

Let's look at some more of his cards...

#45 - 2016 Tops National Trading Card Day Nolan Arenado

One positive about living in Minnesota, there's absolutely zero competition for Colorado Rockies cards. I've picked up so many cool ones that I hadn't run into when I was living in Denver.

#44 - 2017 Bowman Platinum Nolan Arenado

Most of them from the years (and products) that I didn't get to buy as much as I would have liked. I didn't even have a LCS between much of 2013 to 2017. Being at the mercy of retail stock meant nice cards like these were rarely seen. If at all.

#43 - 2020 Topps Big League Nolan Arenado

Replacing Arenado's right arm with lightning sparks isn't going to help him throw out a baserunner.

While going through my 2020 cards, I found that I was reasonably close to completing the 2020 Topps Big League base set. Under 30 cards is kind of a deciding factor. Since this set has no irritating short prints, I could complete this with some effort. So it goes on the list of 2020 sets I'm going to try and complete, along with Heritage and Stadium Club. Of those sets, I do have the Arenado card for each of them. 

But the Rockies wont have Arenado for the face of the franchise any longer. Someone else will be placed on the covers of national publications. With the incredibly weak return for a superstar, does Bridich (or Monfort) actually think they've come close to replacing everything that Nolan was to the team?

2016 Sporting News Baseball Yearbook

I really can't image Austin Gomber making the cover of the Sporting News...

Beckett Baseball October 2018 

Few Rockies have ever made the cover of The Becketts.

Do you think Elehuris Montero will?

Arenado will no longer appear in any in-stadium advertising around Coors Field.

In a few years will fans see Mateo Gil photos hawking team merchandise?

Doubtful...

Whatever...

#42 - 2018 Optic All Star Nolan Arenado

Even without logos, this is a great looking card. 

#41 - 2017 Topps Chrome 1987 Nolan Arenado

This one, less so. It looks incomplete without the fake wood paneling of 1987 Topps.

Speaking of, since 2021 Topps is honoring the 35th anniversary of 1986 Topps, can we please NOT rehash 1987 Topps AGAIN next year? I like these retro parallels and inserts of parallels of parallels, but the hobby has lived through entirely enough 1987 Topps. Just retire it completely until 2087, when you can do the hundred year anniversary of that set. I’ll be dead and won’t have to look at it! Enough with 1987 Topps!

#40 - 2018 Topps MVP Medallion Nolan Arenado

And I could be dead if this card ever fell on me... It is ridiculously heavy for what it is. And what’s with the weird perspective of Nolan standing there? His torso is just barely wider than his neck and his head looks all misshapen. I’m guessing the shear weight of the card has oddly stretched his body to compensate.

At least he doesn’t have to worry about being the Rockies Team MVP again...

Damat...

Even MLB Network, which tries to be impartial in their coverage, was pretty lost in how to fairly analyze just whatever it is the Rockies are doing. Our three biggest stars are down to just two, with the biggest one sent away with little to show for it. 

And how badly did the St. Louis Cardinals fleece us?

Not only did we get next to nothing in return, we ALSO had to give St. Louis $51 MILLION just to make this trade!?!?!

Please explain this Jeff!

Yeah… That’s about what I expected out of you.

Less than two years ago, I watched Jeff, Nolan and Dick, take a pause during Spring Training to announce that Nolan had signed that 8 year contract. I was excited, my favorite player would be sticking around with my second favorite team. Of course there were obvious payroll issues on the horizon, thanks to the numerous poor decisions made by Dick and Jeff, but they could be ironed out. After all, there were issues with payroll some 15-20 years ago with Dick and Dan, but Todd Helton stuck around and had a hell of a career in purple. 

Now Nolan could do the same!

Well...

#39 - 2020 Stadium Club Nolan Arenado

And also, the Oversized Box Topper card that looks exactly like this. Only bigger!

#38 - 2019 Topps Chrome Family Business Nolan Arenado

An insert set dedicated to the theme of bloodlines in baseball. Coincidentally, Nolan’s cousin Josh Fuentes also plays for the Rockies. Or should I say, STILL plays for the Rockies. Quite possibly at third base in 2021, replacing his cousin…

#37 - 2019 Topps National Trading Card Day Nolan Arenado

I am happy to living near a good card shop, so I can acquire these great free promos when Topps and/or Panini issues them.

September 3, 2014 Giants vs Rockies Ticket

With a great photo of former Minnesota Twins right fielder, Michael Cuddyer, who put in a solid 3 seasons with the Rockies between 2012-2014. Even winning the 2013 National League Batting Title, with a .331 average. Obviously these were not my season tickets. These seats belonged to my old job in Denver. I'd usually be given tickets to a game once or twice every season.

Without having to pay over a hundred dollars for a seat, you get an incredible view from here. 

Looking down, it's almost a straight on view with Home Plate.

So yeah, if you're planning on going to a game at Coors Field, and don't have $500 to spend, look for seats in Section 330.

There's a men's room nearby!

Whatever...

#36 - 2017 Bowman Nolan Arenado

Back when I was able to find retail Bowman at Denver area WalMarts and Targets, I'd usually end up with a decent amount of the base star cards from Bowman. No autographs, because it was retail, but the base cards were usually pretty nice. 

#35 - 2014 Topps Archives Nolan Arenado

I'm already looking forward to 2021 Topps Heritage's take on 1972 Topps, but also 2022 Topps Heritage, honoring the 1973 set. 1973 isn't as popular with vintage collectors as other years, but I've always liked it.

#34 - 2018 Topps Glove Work Nolan Arenado

Nolan Arenado is the best defensive third baseman that I've ever watched play the game. 

As I mentioned before, the Rockies have lost their Face of the Franchise. A homegrown superstar that was heavily marketed. As he should have been given the number he consistently posted. Both offensive and defensive sides. The last time Colorado had a comparable player for a decent stretch of seasons, was Todd Helton.

Helton was drafted by the Rockies in 1995 (the year Coors Field opened) and made the majors in September 1997. (The first season I of the Rockies as my home team) He played first base for Colorado from that point, until the end of the 2013 season. Posting borderline Hall of Fame numbers in that time. His jersey number #17, was the first and only one retired by the Rockies. He's a beloved player in Denver, and a name synonymous with a team that doesn't have much of a history,

2007 Upper Deck Triple Play Todd Helton

He was your token Rockies player in nearly every baseball card insert set released between 1997 and 2007, when Troy Tulowitzki took over that role. (And we all know who traded him...)

Souvenir collector drink cups still honor Todd Helton.

Nestled under the left center field scoreboard, there is even a Todd Helton Burger Shack!

With a limited menu and mile high prices (even for 2011, when I took this picture). I'll let you in on a little secret... The "Helton Burger" is actually no different than any other burger available at any non-Helton themed concession stand.

But I was never a fan of the Coors Field burgers...

The Hebrew National Hot Dogs were the way to go!

I didn't get to a game before I moved in 2018, but I heard they switched to Nathan's Hot Dogs after the 2017 season. That's kind of disappointing. I have nothing against Nathan's. It's a good wiener, But it's no Hebrew National!

As long as we're here, let's move out to Center field, and look out at Coors, with downtown Denver behind it. While not a fan of these seats, the skyscrapers peeking over the upper deck is pretty cool.

#33 - 2018 Bowman Nolan Arenado

Another Bowman retail find, which was difficult in 2018, due to Ohtani-madness...

How novel that seems three years later...

#32 - 2017 Topps Update Gold Nolan Arenado

Serial numbered out of 2017. At least Topps uses actual All Star Game photos for their All Star cards.

#31 - 2011 Topps Pro Debut Nolan Arenado

The first of two minor league Arenado cards to make this Whatever. Shown here with the High A Asheville Tourists, a long time affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, dating back to 1994. Even Todd Helton was a Tourist, after being drafted in 1995.

Unfortunately some of these new acquisitions from the Arenado trade won’t be able to make a name for themselves in Asheville. After the 2020 season, the Rockies moved their High A affiliate to Spokane, Washington. The Asheville Tourists now supply talent for the Houston Astros.

Only Gomber is expected to make the 2021 team, which makes this trade all the more discouraging. Bridich trades our irreplaceable superstar third baseman AND $51 million dollars for this... 

Did we also get a packet of magic beans?

I guess that's one way of looking at this trade.

After all, Topps seems to agree...

But if you are at a game and still want to give Dick more money to mismanage, be sure to stop by the Diamond Dry Goods store, along the right field foul line. There you can find all sorts of great Rockies merchandise! At prices hovering around 30% higher than most outlets!

Although in 1997, I bought a really interesting hardcover book about the history of baseball in Denver. It was printed in 1995, covering up to the opening of Coors Field. It was on clearance because no one goes to a stadium wanting to buy a book.

And I guess to buy something, you need Cash Registers...

Whatever...

#30 - 2019 Bowman Nolan Arenado

More retail Bowman!

#29 - 2018 Diamond Kings Nolan Arenado

More singles picked up for cheap at Pal's!

#28 - 2019 Topps Big League Nolan Arenado

And... Back to retail!

Another very convenient factor in having seats in Section 330 is the easy access to the clock tower smoking area...

You're in Colorado, they have to say this. 

You know some have...

Looks like no one wanted Margaritas today...

Just a bird hanging out in the smoking area, looking for a little second-hand buzz. With all the new lofts and condos going up, you soon wont be able to see the Rockies while watching the Rockies...

Stop moving to Denver!

While enjoying a smoke break, I always liked looking over the sides of the upper deck, at the crowd below. Early departures are streaming out of Coors in the 8th inning. Providing a fun look down at Blake & 20th Ave. 

This picture really makes me miss Denver...

Whatever...

#27 - 2017 Topps Chrome Refractor Nolan Arenado

This card just did not scan well. It looks really good in person. But you'll just have to take my word for it. Unless you own a copy of your own. Probably not. No one collects Rockies cards. 

And after this trade, no one should.

I still will...

#26 - 2019 Topps Heritage Then & Now Nolan Arenado

Betting it was cold at Coors on this night. The stadium probably turned blue.

(Because of the cans... Turn color in the fridge... So you know your beer is cold... I wish I didn't have to explain this joke. It was so good when I thought of it, but I was worried no one would get it...)

#25 - 2017 Finest Nolan Arenado

Another of the many singles from Pal's. I'm pretty sure my Arenado collection has doubled thanks to the card shop a couple of miles north of my house.

I'm hungry...

Time for a...

Though I'll pass of the grilled pepper, onions and sauerkraut. My digestive system can't handle that. Although I did go with diced raw onions on occasion. And I usually paid for it...

Also within a short walk of Section 330, was the Grille Works stand. Or the Rockie Dog Dispensary! This one was named the "City View Grill". because you can view the city. But only if you turn around. Otherwise you're just looking at the City View Grill. 

Then you go back to Section 330, hand a wiener (with mustard) to Laura, and enjoy your Rockie Dog, with ketchup only today. I opted to skip the diced onions. And yes, I always wear my Expos jersey to baseball games. I may not have my team anymore, but I will always represent.

If Tornadoughs, Helton Burgers or Rockie Dogs are not your thing, you could always take out a second mortgage and treat yourself to some Famous Dave’s, out in left field.

With so many tasty food options at Coors Field, how could you possibly pick just one?

Whatever...

#24 - 2018 Panini Cyber Monday Nolan Arenado

See, Panini can play the free promotional giveaway too!

And this is a more fun design than what Topps gives out...

#23 - 2018 Topps Nolan Arenado

I really liked 2018 Topps.

#22 - 2014 Topps Yellow Nolan Arenado

That yellow is tough to look at.

More than one of these parallels would start to bring back terrible memories of 1991 Fleer...

Stuffed back behind some coolers and other stuff in a corner of the upper deck was The Players Clubhouse. Actually a closed up souvenir stand, and not where the Rockies dress for the game. I'd imagine that being a lot nicer. Featured on the side panel are the top 6 Rockies stars of 2014. In addition to Arenado, you have the steady and underrated pitcher Jorge De La Rosa, Tulowitzki at shortstop, Carlos Gonzales in left, and a couple of former Minnesota Twins Right fielder Michael Cuddyer and Todd Helton's replacement at first, Justin Morneau.

May 16, 2008 Twins vs Rockies Ticket

Both of whom played in this game. One of the rare visits the Minnesota Twins have ever made to Coors Field.

Yes, I wore my Expos jersey to this game.

Heheheheheh... I'm funny...

#21 - 2012 Bowman Platinum Nolan Arenado

I actually pulled this card from a (retail) pack, way back in 2012. I'd heard of Arenado at that time, but had no idea he would be one of the rare Bowman prospects to work out and develop into a star.

#20 - 2019 Topps Archives Nolan Arenado

I wish Topps wouldn't mute the background in photos. The photos are one of the most important factors in cards. 1975 Topps didn't do this, so why does a tribute to 1975 Topps?

#19 - 2013 Topps Update Making Their Mark Nolan Arenado

This insert set was my favorite of 2013 Topps. It ran through all three series, and featured rookies debuting in the 2013 season. Since early 8 years have passed, you can look back at sets like this with a little perspective. Arenado is easily the biggest name of the update set. Despite the strong start by Yasiel Puig…

How about some more Coors Field?

Hmmm… I just looked up a satellite view of the area and found this Archway leading up to the left field gate has been removed. The sliver of parking lot at the left edge of the photo is being converted into even more condos and/or lofts. Kind of sad this is gone. I liked the sculpture, which featured a series of painted baseballs on both pillars, along with a segment of railroad track on top. This represented the rail yards that used to be in the area before the stadium (and all those condos and/or lofts) were built. The Wynkoop Street bridge over 20th Street is still standing, according to the Googles…

So Denver continues to evolve…

Something I can’t imagine changing would be the Purple Row of seats, that circles the upper deck. The significance of the Purple Row is that these seats are exactly 5280 feet above sea level. Sitting there, you are exactly one mile high. I have sat here for an inning before moving back to my normal (closer) seats. Kind of a cool thing that could only exist in Denver.

#18 - 2010 Topps Pro Debut Nolan Arenado

The other Arenado Minor League card in this whatever. For a few seasons, the Rockies operated a rookie league team in Casper, Wyoming. They were called the Casper Ghosts. Which is kind of clever, even though that ghostly baseball logo doesn’t exactly look friendly…

#17 - 2016 Donruss Nolan Arenado

Panini rips off 1982 Donruss… And fails… But that’s a cool photo and needs to be on a MUCH better card.

#16 - 2019 Bowman’s Best Nolan Arenado

From a box of 2019 Bowman’s Best that I broke (and wrote about!). 

But I really know the big question that's on every single person still reading this story's mind... What happens when you are at a Rockies game and the weather gets crappy?

They have a plan!

It's inevitable watching outdoor sports that occasionally, bad weather is going to roll in. Especially given the strange effects the Rocky Mountains have on weather in the Denver area. 

One of those times was April 25, 2016, during a Rockies game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Shortly after the game started, the clouds to the west were changing rapidly. It was just a matter of time before we'd be getting wet if we stayed uncovered in Section 330.

Sure enough, not even an hour later, the field was covered by a tarp and the rain was pouring down. Growing up, I had to watch live baseball inside the HHH Metrodome. Which was 18 shades of terrible to watch baseball in, but you never had weather delays. The first live rain delay I ever encountered was at a Reds game in Cincinnati, in July 1995. It was so novel to me that I just stayed in my seat and enjoyed the rain falling on me. It only lasted about 45 minutes.

About the same amount of time this storm lasted. However, this was accompanied by a lot of lightning, so they made all the fans in the Upper Deck stand in the covered entryway so no one was struck. It was far too cramped with people in this hall, we went out by the Clock Tower and I smoked cigarettes while watching people on the streets below.

One season, there was a ridiculous amount of rain delays for the Rockies, both in Colorado and on the road. Every year, the network would produce a series of player biographies and interviews during Spring Training, and would air them throughout the season. Several of them were designated for rain delay programming, and they would appear on a random rotating basis. Think it was during the 2015 season? We saw the Arenado episode at least 30 times that year. Sometimes more than once on the same day. We had his pre-draft biography memorized by June.

After the rain moved out and the game resumed, the sky turned a really cool shade of blue. Not sure what caused the ghost lights to appear in this picture, above the Rock Pile seats. And trust me, they may be the cheapest Rockies tickets you can buy, but you do NOT want to sit in the Rock Pile...

#15 - 2019 Stadium Club Black Foil Nolan Arenado

2019 Stadium Club was a gorgeous set. With this photo, you get a great shot of the Rockies 25th Anniversary Sleeve Patch, just underneath the 2018 MLB Postseason Patch. Hard to believe the Rockies were in the playoffs in 2018, and today they wont even sniff fourth place.

And Nolan is a Cardinal...

#14 - 2018 Topps Tek Nolan Arenado

I'm not yet sold on clear plastic cards even being cards. But they do look kinda cool...

#13 - 2019 Topps Chrome Refractor Nolan Arenado

This one scanned all sorts of insane... I bought a lot of 2019 Topps Chrome at Targets. It was almost always available. This past year, I never saw Topps Chrome at retail even once.

New to Coors Field in 2014 was The Rooftop.

What is that?

After the 2013 season, the Rockies demolished the top sections of seats in the Right Field Upper Deck. When Coors Field was built, these seats were often sold, but not as much over the last 10 years. Most games, these sections were closed off for sale. 

So why not get rid of them and do something else with that space?

Throughout the 2013-2014 offseason, The Rooftop was built. Basically, The Rooftop is a few bars and restaurants and viewing areas, for people who want to be at the game without actually paying attention to the game. Their numbers are greater than you’d imagine.

Nicest part of that is they are kept far away from when the people that ARE there to watch game, are sitting. The Rooftop became the exclusive habitat of the frat boy and their token hot chicks. None of whom gave a shit about baseball. So they kept to themselves over in fancy microbrewville. By simply not going into that area, it made games all the more pleasant.

On April 25, 2016, the day of the above mentioned rain delay, Laura and I wandered around The Rooftop before the game. Also at The Rooftop was Kent Tekulve Guy. A Pittsburgh fan dressed in a full late 1970's era Pirates uniform of submariner Kent Tekulve. At any game you'll see thousands of jerseys of players from all teams, but a full uniform of a player this obscure is a rarity.

1992 Action Packed Kent Tekulve

He even had the trademark Aviators...

Whatever...

#12 - 2016 Bowman’s Best Nolan Arenado

Bowman’s Best are some of the nicest loud and obnoxious looking cards every year...

#11 - 2017 Bowman Chrome Then & Now Nolan Arenado

This was a fun Bowman insert set. A current photo next to an image of their first Bowman Chrome card. And I actually don't have a 2010 Bowman Chrome Nolan Arenado yet. So this sort of counts.

#10 - 2018 Finest Purple Refractor Nolan Arenado

Serial numbered out of 250. Purple Refractors are made for Rockies cards. They look rather stupid for the Giants or Orioles. And vice/versa for the Orange Refractors.

April 10, 2017 Padres vs Rockies ticket

The very last Rockies game I ever attended came in 2017. April and May of 2018 were too hectic for us to get to another game before we left Colorado. Again getting tickets from my former job, in that familiar Section 330.

This was only the 7th game of the season, but Nolan Arenado was off to another fast start, according to these numbers on the scoreboard. Nolan went 2 for 4 tonight with 2 singles, but Colorado lost to the San Diego Padres, 5-3.

This swing resulted in a single to right field. Photo taken from Section 330.

However, this game wasn't important for anything Nolan, or the Rockies, did on the field.

Tonight's MVP was a Padre...

Going into the top of the 8th inning, Padres first baseman, Wil Myers came to the plate. I hadn't noticed until I looked at the scoreboard that Myers had gone 3 for 3 at that point. More important, he had a single, double and home run on the night. Were he to defy the odds and hit a triple, he'd become one of the few Major Leaguers to hit for the cycle.

Suddenly, I'm very interested in a very not interesting game...

So Wil Myers steps up to the plate and promptly smacks a liner into deep right field, falling between Blackmon and CarGo, and rolls to the wall. Myers kicks it into high gear and reaches third base without even sliding.

The throw came to Nolan, from right field, wasn’t even close. After catching the ball, Arenado prepared to throw the baseball into the Padres dugout. I’m sure Myers, or the team, would have wanted to keep it. But now I’ve witnessed my first live Cycle in baseball! Before this, as far as on field rarities go, I’d seen a Triple Play turned by the Twins against the Seattle Mariners, at the HHH Metrodome in May, 2007. At the tail end of 2018, I came fairly close to seeing a perfect game at Target Field. But no denying this, I got to witness history!

Whatever…

#9 - 2017 Stadium Club Nolan Arenado

Stadium Club cards are always really nice. But you know that already…

#8 - 2017 Topps Gold Label Nolan Arenado

This is a tie. One is a rarer parallel, but I really don’t care which one. 

#7 - 2013 Bowman Nolan Arenado

This was a retail pack pull, from a Denver area WalMarts, back in 2013.

And a very linty scan today…

Doesn’t seem that long ago that I watched Nolan in his 2013 rookie season. Surprise surprise, the Rockies were terrible in 2013. And 2014. And 2012… But they were building! Dan O’Dowd had made a few moves that looked to be building towards something. But after 2014, he pulled a power play and was finally out of a job. 

Bring on the Bridich to mess all of that up…

Basically, this can be summed up by saying he spent too much money on the wrong players. Resulting in a budget crunch that cost us the players we should have kept…

2017 Topps Chrome Pink Refractor DJ LeMahieu

Now that we’ve seen what LeMahieu can do in New York with the Yankees, we can only imagine how much this production would have affected the Rockies. But we couldn’t afford him after the 2018 season, because far too many millions were spent on the likes of…

2019 Topps Ian Desmond

2019 Topps Bryan Shaw

2019 Donruss Wade Davis

And as much as it pains me to say it, Bridich WAAAAAAAYYY overpaid my second favorite Rockies player…

2015 Finest Refractor Charlie Blackmon

We needed to keep Chuck Nazty. But he was older than the rest of the Rockies current core, which was a strength. We didn’t need to over-extended in both years and dollars, but Bridich did it anyways. Blackmon would have been a fool to turn down this deal, and I was happy to have him signed long term. But it didn’t make sense from day one. Not one but TWO player option years at ages 35 and 36?

Really Bridich?

I love Charlie Blackmon, but no...

So what comes next?

2017 Topps Silver Pack Trevor Story

Colorado’s star shortstop either plays out his contract and leaves at the end of the 2021 season, and we get a compensation pick for him. Or he get’s traded by the July deadline, too late to get anything useful for him. Making the Arenado return look like Brock for Broglio. Or in true Bridich fashion, in two weeks there will be another Spring Training press conference, with Dick and Jeff announcing that Story has been signed to an 8 year contract. With an opt out before Opening Day 2021, and an opt out at the end of every month, through the life of the contract.

All sides will proclaim love for each other, then Bridich will go into hiding and trade Story to the Texas Rangers for a dozen Nolan Ryan autographed baseballs. 

Run Trevor! Do not sign with the Rockies!

Even if I really want you to!

Whatever…

#6 - 2018 Topps Inception Nolan Arenado

Really nice looking cards from a high dollar set that I've never bought. 

But I'll snap up singles if I can find them!

#5 - 2020 Bowman’s Best Nolan Arenado

Sometimes you buy the high dollar stuff and Topps screws you over...

But brand loyalty and all that!

#4- 2020 Topps Silver Pack Nolan Arenado

Probably my favorite 2020 Topps Silver 1985 Whatever It's Called, that I saw last year. The Rockies colors work really well on the 1985 Topps design, with the Parquetflooringfractor design pulling it all together. I need a black or purple parallel of this card now!

Heheheheh... I remember when the Rockies thought Ben Paulsen was going to be a star... 

Right Bridich?

Before I get to the final three cards of the Sad Nolan Arenado Top Whatever, I have one final -yet extremely awesome- piece in the personal Arenado collection:

For X-Mess 2018, Laura got me an official MLB Authenticated autographed Nolan Arenado bat. 

Zooming in on the barrel, you can see that Nolan Arenado's scribble is a little disappointing...

But it rules, so Whatever...

#3 - 2011 Bowman Platinum Nolan Arenado

Another retail pack pull at the WalMarts, almost 10 years ago now. Hard to believe a decade has passed since these cards managed to stay on shelves long enough to actually buy them! Possibly my favorite Bowman branded prospect card of Arenado.

#2 - 2013 Topps Update Emerald Nolan Arenado

As far as the base card goes, I only have one copy, and that's part of the set. So it counts, but it doesn't. It's tucked away in a box, rarely seen unless I decided to break up the set at some point. Pretty sure it's missing some cards, but I haven't looked since 2013. Now this parallel of that card, ranks high up on the list of my best Rockies in the collection. The Emerald parallels look great on any card, but a card of this importance (both personal and in hobby significance), is a top prize.

Have to thank these guys for this one!

Last Summer, they had a series of 5000 count Monster Boxes, filled with stuff from 2001-2014. I got to go on a strip mining mission for Twins, Rockies and Expos, from sets I hadn't collected during the early part of this century. Which also gave me the opportunity to pick up other cards from those sets that I liked. (More stuff that makes me want to re-do the yearly card albums...)

One afternoon as I was strapping on the helmet, he showed me this card and added it into what I'd find over the next couple hours. Buying this was a no brainer. How often do you come across one of these? And it was in really sharp condition.

Love this card.

And it would be number one...

But it's not, because my favorite Nolan Arenado card in my collection is:

In May of 2018, I made my last visit to Mike's Stadium Sportscards. Laura and I were moving out of state soon, and I wanted to buy one last significant card in Colorado, before we left. Something that will always stand out, as the last significant card I bought in Colorado. I had my eye on this one for a few months...

#1 - 2011 Bowman Platinum Nolan Arenado Auto/Jersey

Ignore the imperfections of the scan, this card is perfect. 

From the first time I saw it in the case, I'd wanted to buy it. The reason I didn't was the price was significant enough, that adding it to the intended purchase would be too far above budget. My list visit's budget was that card.

Luckily, it was still there! I told Mike that I wanted to buy it, giving him a brief summary of why. He said that he's always getting offers for a lower price and he refused them all. I agreed, it was completely reasonable to ask that for this card. Which I why I settled that debate with the appropriate checklist:

Favorite player...

Autograph and jersey...

Good design for that autograph and jersey...

I'm leaving town.

It's an absolute bargain!

My last visit to Coors Field for a Rockies, game was over a year earlier, April 25, 2017.

A few hours before Wil Myers hit for the cycle, I was doing my normal pre-game ritual. Walking around the entire stadium, taking pictures inside the ballpark and outside at Denver. To me, this is just as important as the game. It's all part of the experience. I've done this for years (both here and at Target Field in Minneapolis) and no one has ever said a thing about it.

Until today...

Snapping a picture of the far left field corner ramp, I heard the call of Coors Field Karen, trying to get my attention. As I start walking towards her, she starts telling me that I'm not allowed to take pictures of the ballpark.

What? Am I a threat to build my own stadium to compete with Coors Field?

ENHANCE!

Coors Field Karen: "Sir! It's against Major League Baseball rules to take pictures of the ballpark!"

(No, it's not.)

Me: "No, it's not."

Coors Field Karen: "I could ask you to give me your memory card."

Me: "Yeah, that's not going to happen."

Obviously, it didn't. I just walked away from her, pantomiming putting my camera away until she had gone back to her perch. Incidents like this have always irritated me with overly aggressive stadium personnel. Dating back to the mongoloids with Simms Security, that worked Twins game in the late 1980's. Maybe she was bored. Maybe she really needed a new memory card. Either way, you annoyed me during my last Rockies game. 

So now you're famous!

Going back on what I said multiple times last year, I decided to it anyway... On the day it hit the market, I bought a Hobby Jumbo Box of 2021 Series 1. I'm not going to talk about it right now. I plan a far less grand review of it than I normally do, in a little while. The box was severely underwhelming, but it was fairly Rockies heavy.

I was hoping I could count on Topps to put Arenado in Series 1, just so I could have a final Rockies card with his complete Colorado stats on the back. So thank you for including him among the base cards. I wont get too negative until I review the box later.

2021 Topps Nolan Arenado

My first impression on seeing this card was it's a nice photo. Then I looked at the mask around his neck, and how it lines up with those stupid diagonal lines and shapes... And it really looks like that terrible card design is reaching out and choking the life out of Arenado, as he's trying to throw the ball.

Almost the perfect metaphor for both the trade and my opinions of 2021 Topps...

The reality is, Nolan Arenado will be a Cardinal in most 2021 baseball sets (that haven't already been printed). 

And I'll still buy his cards.

So I guess I now have a favorite St. Louis Cardinal. 

That sounds wrong...

Hard to believe that less than two years ago, this was the big moment Rockies fans were asking for. Nolan shaking hands with Dick. Symbolically showing that even for one day, management and ownership was on the same page with the players, even with the fans. 

Goodwill that lasted a matter of months, before it quickly began to deteriorate.

Before I go, does anyone have any last words?

Go Rockies...