Mile High Sports

The Year in Pictures 2017: Moments & Milestones

This story originally appeared in Mile High Sports Magazine. Read the full digital edition.

It’s the phrase every athlete want’s associated with his or her name: “That’s one for the record books.”

Part of what makes sports such an enduring part of our collective psyche are those accomplishments remembered in our minds and recorded in the annals of the games.

History was made many times over in 2017. These photos capture the moments and milestones in Colorado sports that will live on well past this calendar year.

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Rockies Pat Valaika and Nolan Arenado gave a special tip of the cap to parents everywhere on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Both hit home runs on both holidays.

Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Becoming just the fifth Broncos player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, two-time Super Bowl champion, 1998 NFL MVP and MVP of Super Bowl XXXII Terrell Davis joined teammates Shannon Sharpe, Gary Zimmerman and John Elway in Canton’s hallowed halls.

Aug 5, 2017; Canton, OH, USA; Denver Broncos former running back Terrell Davis poses with his bust during the Professional Football HOF enshrinement ceremonies at the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

In front of a Nuggets home crowd, OKC’s Russell Westbrook dropped 50 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists, giving him 42 triple-doubles on the season to break Oscar Robertson’s record.

Apr 9, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) drives to the basket against Denver Nuggets guard Gary Harris (right) during the second half at Pepsi Center. The Thunder won 106-105. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Rockies slugger Charlie Blackmon belted 14 first-round homers in the 2017 Home Run Derby, but was eliminated after getting robbed of the 30-second bonus round.

Jul 10, 2017; Miami, FL, USA; National League outfielder Charlie Blackmon (19) of the Colorado Rockies in the first round during the 2017 MLB Home Run Derby at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Boasting a conference-leading 21.2 points per game and adding 6.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists for the Rams, CSU’s Gian Clavell was named Mountain West Player of the Year.

Feb 4, 2017; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Colorado State Rams guard Gian Clavell (3) shoots during a game against the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels at Thomas & Mack Center. Colorado State won the game 69-49. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado became the second player in history, and the first in the National League, to earn a Rawlings Gold Glove Award in each of his first five seasons in the majors. In 2017, Arenado posted a .979 fielding percentage, the highest of his career, and committed only nine errors on 311 attempts.

Jul 24, 2017; St. Louis, MO, USA; Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) dives and catches a line drive hit by St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong (not pictured) during the first inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Matt Register of the Colorado Eagles was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2017 Kelly Cup Playoffs – the first defenseman to earn the honor in the ECHL’s 29-year history. The Eagles hoisted their first Kelly Cup championship after a 4-0 sweep of the South Carolina Stingrays in the finals.

Mandatory Credit: Colorado Eagles

Following nearly nine months of treatment, Rockies pitcher Chad Bettis returned to the mound after his battle with testicular cancer. And what a return it was. After surviving a near-inside the park home run from Atlanta leadoff man Ender Inciarte, Bettis tossed seven innings of shutout baseball and gave the Rockies a 3-0 win.

Aug 14, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Chad Bettis (35) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

After posting a game-high 36 points and 11 assists in a Rising Stars Challenge victory for Team World, the Nuggets’ Jamal Murray was named the game’s MVP.

Feb 17, 2017; New Orleans, LA, USA; World Team guard Jamal Murray of the Denver Nuggets (27) celebrates winning the MVP during the Rising Stars Challenge at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Twenty-five outs into what began as a ho-hum July 9 game at Coors Field, Rockies fans stood in unison, cheering nervously for a no hitter. A rarity in the rare air of Colorado, the near-no-no belonged to Rox rookie Kyle Freeland. Unfortunately, Melky Cabrera slapped the game’s only hit in the top of the ninth with just two outs remaining. Freeland didn’t quite get the no-hitter, but the Rockies notched a 10-0 win against the White Sox.

Jul 9, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Kyle Freeland (31) reacts after ending the eighth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Furniture Row Racing’s Martin Truex Jr. did a little driving, then a little drinking. The champagne was well deserved, for it was the beverage of choice following Truex’s eighth win on the season. The victory sealed Colorado’s very first NASCAR Cup Series Championship.

Nov 19, 2017; Homestead, FL, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Martin Truex Jr. (78) celebrates with champagne after winning the NASCAR Cup Championship and the Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Playing in his third consecutive All-Star Game and making his first start, Nolan Arenado made Colorado Rockies history in Miami. With a pair of singles – one in the second inning and one in the fourth – Arenado became the first Rockie ever to record multiple hits in an All-Star Game.

Jul 11, 2017; Miami, FL, USA; National League third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) of the Colorado Rockies during the 2017 MLB All-Star Game at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

On a night where Nuggets (and Rockets) legends were celebrated at Pepsi Center, it might have been Supermascot Rocky who stole the show. Not having been honored alongside Doug Moe, Dan Issel, David Thompson, Alex English, Dikembe Mutombo and Byron Beck, Rocky reminded the Nuggets faithful of a few of his own milestones.

Mandatory Credit: Ronnie Kohrt-Mile High Sports

Broncos linebacker Von Miller recorded two sacks against the Los Angeles Chargers on Oct. 22 to pass Karl Mecklenburg for second all-time on the Broncos career sacks list.

Oct 22, 2017; Carson, CA, USA; Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller (58) works against Los Angeles Chargers center Spencer Pulley (73) during the fourth quarter at StubHub Center. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Against the Padres in late September, Rockies closer Greg Holland recorded a 1-2-3 ninth inning and his 41st save of the season, tying the club’s record for most saves in a season. Holland began the season red hot, making 26 appearances and earning 23 saves before recording his first blown save on June 15.

Sep 22, 2017; San Diego, CA, USA; Colorado Rockies pitcher Greg Holland (56) pitches during the ninth inning for the save against the San Diego Padres in a 4-1 win at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

The struggles of the Colorado Avalanche in 2016-17 – particularly its defense – was well documented. But goaltender Semyon Varlamov didn’t necessarily need great defense on the night of Nov. 2 of the following season. He was unbelievable against the Hurricanes that night, stopping a career-high 57 shots and leading the Avs to a 5-3 win.

Nov 2, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov (1) makes a stick save on Carolina Hurricanes right wing Justin Williams (14) in the third period at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Nolan Arenado’s walk-off home run on Father’s Day was both a moment we’ll never forget and a milestone for the young slugger. Arenado, who also homered on Mother’s Day, became the eighth player in Rockies history to hit for the cycle, joining teammate Carlos Gonzalez as the only two to complete the feat with a walk-off home run.

Mandatory Credit: Chris Humpreys-USA TODAY Sports

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