There have been a whole lot of good and bad uniforms in the history of Colorado sports.
We polled The Post’s sports department to select the 10 best and worst. Here’s a look at the ones our staff loved:
Denver Broncos’ original orange (1965)
Description: A horse with a star in its eye, and a whole lot of orange.
Briefly: That iconic orange-and-blue home jersey combo? It all started here. With the exception of a helmet variation in 1962, the two great looks made their debut in 1965 — those blue swaths helping the white numerals on the shoulder pads pop on the growing number of color television sets across the country. At 4-10, the Broncos’ play left a lot to be desired in those days — Lionel Taylor and Cookie Gilchrist notwithstanding. But man, did they look good doing it. Bonus aside: The “bucking” Bronco on the helmet originated from a caricature drawn by Post sportswriter/cartoonist Bob Bowie. — Sean Keeler
Colorado Rockies hockey (1976-82)
Description: The classic uniforms of Denver’s ill-fated NHL franchise
Briefly: For six years, the Colorado Rockies tried to establish a footing in the NHL. Only once in six seasons did they qualify for the playoffs before the franchise moved to New Jersey to become the Devils. Despite their lousy play, their bold threads were magnificent. Vibrant blue, red and gold surrounded the vintage Rockies logo. The statement jerseys matched the flair of coach Don Cherry, who only lasted a season but went on to become a legendary Canadian broadcaster. — Mike Singer
Denver Nuggets Rainbow Skyline (1982-93)
Description: The “Rainbow Skyline” uniforms of the ’80s and early ’90s.
Briefly: The biggest mistake in Nuggets history? No, it’s not the draft-day trade of Donovan Mitchell. It’s the day some dope dared replace one of the greatest uniforms in basketball history. The combination of the mountains, skyline and rainbow stripes evoke an image of the city’s unparalleled sunsets, providing a unique sense of style and place — the goal of any good pro sports uniform. The Louvre didn’t ditch the Mona Lisa because it was getting old. The Nuggets would’ve been smart to follow suit. — Matt Schubert
CU Buffs football (1990s)
Description: The 1990 national champion football team’s classic uniforms featuring gold helmets with black or white jerseys and black or gold pants.
Briefly: After CU flirted with shades of blue in the early 1980s, athletic director Bill Marolt issued a “Black is Black” directive in 1985. Coach Bill McCartney’s throwback efforts in 1984 sparked the change. The football jersey had a blue stripe on the arm for the 1985-87 season before it was dropped altogether in 1988. The black-and-gold combination, with the iconic CU Buffaloes logo on the helmet, along with Ralphie running the field, made for a powerful statement during CU’s glory years. — Patrick Saunders
Rockies “Turn Ahead The Clock” (1999)
Description: Nearly sleeveless, with huge purple mountain and white baseball slicing through.
Briefly: After the Mariners did the original promotion in 1998, the league followed with a “Turn Ahead The Clock” promotion in 1999. Though the futuristic uniforms were widely panned by critics — vertical type for player names and the use of space terms to describe positions didn’t help — the Rockies’ version was a ragin’ testament to this mountainous state. Colorado wore the unis twice, and in the second game, Larry Walker hit a walk-off homer against the Braves’ John Rocker. — Kyle Newman
Denver Cutthroats (2012-14)
Description: A true indigenous trout story.
Briefly: A strong name with deadly implications, the cutthroat is a species of trout found in cold-water tributaries of the Rocky Mountains. The return of the Central Hockey League to Denver hearkened memories of Paul Newman in “Slap Shot,” and you could just imagine Newman’s character demanding his team “go out there and cut some throats.” The Cutthroats had excellent “fishy” uniforms of blue, green, red and white. The red referred to the distinctive red coloration on the underside of the fish’s lower jaw, which accounts for the trout’s name. Boulder-area team owner John Hayes had the right idea but partnered with a league destined to fail. — Mike Chambers
Colorado Avalanche NHL Stadium Series (2016)
Description: White jerseys with Colorado “C” worn for 2016 game vs. Red Wings at Coors Field.
ڱ:Every Stadium Series game is the opportunity for a new NHL jersey. In 2016, the Avalanche introduced the “C” logo that you might recognize from the Colorado state flag — and that is also a throwback to the old Colorado Rockies hockey days. The “C” was featured on the Stadium Series jersey and used with a mountain backdrop on the team’s third jersey. It also appeared on the shoulders of the home and road jerseys (replacing the Yeti foot). In a nod to the “Mile High City,” 5280 was embroidered in white on the black collar. – Lori Punko
CSU Rams’ state pride (2017-present)
Description: The white and blue “State Pride” uniforms featuring Colorado’s state flag emblem
Briefly: Traditionalists will decry the lack of green or gold, but beyond modern style, these uniforms are pure marketing genius. The state flag is a beloved icon of which CSU is wise to attach its brand. This look endears local recruits, boosts merchandise sales and gives a national audience a reason to remember the Rams. And, the design has very clean lines and is not cluttered by unnecessary graphics. — Kyle Fredrickson
CSU Rams’ Ag Day orange
Description: The Rams go orange.
Briefly: Orange rules in apountry. At the risk of committing heresy, however, I think orange looks best on the football team in Fort Collins. When the Rams break out their Ag Day kit, it’s somehow both retro cool and a mind-blowing rush of futuristic color. Sorry, Broncos, but pumpkin orange beats soda-pop orange every day of week, and twice on Sunday. Furthermore, what shouts Aggie pride louder than alfalfa green? These babies should be CSU’s every-game attire. Don’t @ me. — Mark Kiszla
Air Force Legacy Series uniforms (2019)
Description: Legacy Series C-17 uniforms used for the 2019 Hawaii game.
Briefly: Part of the legacy uniforms designed in honor of the C-17 transport plane. No, it might not be as spectacular as a crazy color combo like Oregon, but it stays true to the military. The gray is sharp, and the black lettering features nine Air Force bases on the back of the jersey where a name usually goes. Take that, Oregon! The uniform combination also utilized reflective material that is on the side of the aircraft. The reflective material is on the helmet and shoulders, sides of the jersey and side of the plants. If that doesn’t get you ready to fight, I’m not sure what will. — Scott Monserud
