What happened: Before Coors Field opened, construction crews building the Rockies' ballpark in 1992 uncovered real dinosaur fossils, including a vertebra and skull fragments, on the site. The find predates the club's mascot, Dinger the Triceratops, who takes his identity from the discovery.
Why it matters: The find ties the Rockies' identity directly to the ground their stadium sits on, giving Dinger's triceratops persona a literal basis rather than a marketing invention. It's a rare case of a franchise mascot drawing from an actual archaeological discovery at its own ballpark site.
What to watch: The Rockies host the Giants at Coors Field with the season series tied 2-2.