Hyoung Chang, The Denver PostColorado Rockies manager Clint Hurdle's daughter Madison, 5, left, hugs Colorado Rockies mascot Dinger during Rockies Appreciation Rally at Skyline Park in downtown Denver on Wednesday. The City of Denver and the Downtown Denver Partnership host a mid-day rally to celebrate the Colorado Rockies and provide fans an opportunity to express their appreciation to the team.
Denver Post fileThe Colorado Rockies baseball team hosts Rally Monday '07 on Monday, Oct. 1, 2007, in front of Coors Field in Denver to celebrate the Rockies success. Musical guest Opie Gone Bad played for fans, highlight videos played on a large screen, and ticket and prize giveaways made fans cheer. Rockies mascot "Dinger" joins the fans for the concert.- Andy Cross, The Denver PostColorado Rockies mascot Dinger waves the team flag in victory after the the Rockies beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-4 at Coors Field on Sept. 25, 2015.
- Hyoung Chang, The Denver PostDinger, the Colorado Rockies mascot performs before the game. The Colorado Rockies hosted the Arizona Diamondbacks in the Rockies season home opener at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado Friday, April 4, 2014.
- Hyoung Chang, The Denver PostColorado Rockies mascot Dinger celebrates Bobby Cisneros, 11, of Denver as he awarded August 2006 youth of the month award at Wilfley Boys and Girls Club in Denver, CO on Thursday. The Christmas Party of the club is postponed by the holiday storm.
- Denver Post fileGeorge Zierk took a picture with mascot Dinger before the game. The Colorado Rockies hosted the Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field Friday night, July 4, 2014.
- Denver Post fileRockies' mascot Dinger was sporting a patriotic shirt Friday night, but like most nights forgot to put on his pants. The Colorado Rockies hosted the Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field Friday night, July 4, 2014.
- Rich Pilling, MLB Photos via Getty ImagesDENVER - OCTOBER 27: The Colorado Rockies mascot, "Dinger" cheers with fans against the Boston Red Sox during Game Three of the 2007 World Series at Coors Field on October 27, 2007 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Rich Pilling/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
- David Zalubowski, Special to The Denver PostColorado Rockies mascot Dinger
- Denver Post fileRockies mascot Dinger helped members of the grounds crew pull the tarp into place as a weather delay was initiated at Coors Field Saturday afternoon. The Colorado Rockies are set to host the Milwaukee Brewers at Coors Field Saturday afternoon, June 21, 2014.
- John Leyba, The Denver PostKids ages 10 and undertake off in the non-competitive 1k event that circled the warning track of Coors Field lead by Dinger the Mascot who was on a go ped during the 2005 Colorado Rockies Home Run.
- AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver PostRockies Mascot Dinger hangs out near baggage check in at the Frontier Airlines terminal at Denver International Airport on Thursday, December 8, 2011.
- Denver Post fileDinger stood with the University of Denver ski team during the National Anthem before the game Wednesday night. The Colorado Rockies hosted the San Francisco Giants Wednesday night, May 21, 2014.
- Denver Post fileDinger, the Rockies mascot, dances to the music of the band "Opie Gone Bad" as they open up the festivities at the rally celebrating the Colorado Rockies and their World Series season at Skyline Park in downtown Denver on Wednesday, October 31, 2007.
- David Zalubowski, The Associated PressDinger the dinosaur, left, mascot of the Colorado Rockies, extends his hand to shake with St. Louis Cardinals slugger Mark McGwire who reaches out to squeeze Dinger's horn before the Cardinals' 10-2 ictory in Denver's Coors Field Saturday, July 24, 1999.
- Doug Pensinger, Getty Images"Dinger" the mascot of the Colorado Rockies supports his team along with the fans against the Arizona Diamondbacks during Game Four of the National League Championship Series at Coors Field on Oct. 15, 2007 in Denver. The Rockies defeated the Diamondbacks 6-4 to sweep the series 4-0.
- Denver Post fileDinger, the Colorado Rockies mascot stands for the National Anthem before the game. The Colorado Rockies took on the San Diego Padres on Opening Day at Coors Field in Denver.
Hyoung Chang, The Denver Post
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Colorado Rockies manager Clint Hurdle's daughter Madison, 5, left, hugs Colorado Rockies mascot Dinger during Rockies Appreciation Rally at Skyline Park in downtown Denver on Wednesday. The City of Denver and the Downtown Denver Partnership host a mid-day rally to celebrate the Colorado Rockies and provide fans an opportunity to express their appreciation to the team.
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By Glen Barber | The Denver Post
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:
Getting your player ready...
Dinger, the Rockies’ purple prehistoric mascot, has been entertaining Colorado fans for more than 20 years.
Former Denver Post writer William Porter :
In January 1994, the Rockies announced the discovery of a dinosaur egg at Coors Field, then under construction. This played off the fact that an unidentified dinosaur rib bone was unearthed during the site’s excavation.
The “egg” was exhibited at the Denver Museum of Natural History, now the Museum of Nature & Science. A naming contest was held.
On April 16, 1994 – the first month of the Rockies second season – the egg was escorted into Mile High Stadium by a National Guard contingent and hatched at 12:49 p.m. Out waddled Dinger. “Wild Thing” blasted from the loudspeakers.
