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NUMERO UNO
The Engbars take their responsibility as Season Ticket Holders seriously.
E
BY JULIAN VALENTIN
that was instrumental in Colorado securing a Major League franchise.
very Colorado Rockies Season Ticket Holder has a priority
Some five months before MLB Commissioner Fay Vincent would ulnumber that identifies when their account was established.
timately select expansion cities
Mel and Myrna Engbar of Dento begin play in 1993, Denver’s
ver, Colo., are Priority Number
baseball ownership group
1, meaning they set up their aclaunched a Season Ticket drive
count first, and their journey as
on January 25, 1991, requesting
Rockies Season Ticket Holders
a refundable deposit of $50 per
started well before the first pitch
seat in an effort to demonstrate
was thrown at Mile High Stathe demand for baseball in Coldium.
orado. Over 20,000 deposits
“When there was talk about
were accepted. MLB couldn’t igus getting a National League
nore the fan base in Colorado
team here in Colorado, I made
anymore.
a $100 donation in September
While he’s proud of his staof 1990,” Mel Engbar says.
tus as Season Ticket Holder
“And in January of 1991, I sent
Number 1, Mel acknowledges
another $200 check to the Colthat there are some responsibiliorado Baseball Partnership.
ties and obligations that come
That’s how far back it goes.”
with it. The Engbars can’t exKeenly aware of their place
actly go to a game and be incogin history and the history develnito.
oping around them, the Engbars
“We have people come up to
still have carbon copies of those
us, friends and people who
22 and 23-year-old checks.
know us, say, ‘How come you
“In sending the checks, I figweren’t at the game last night?’”
ured I had nothing to lose,” says
TRADITION: Myrna and Mel Engbar (middle rear) have passed
on their love of Rockies baseball to their kids and grandkids.
Engbar says. “They’re using
Engbar. “What was our next
binoculars from wherever they’re
closest team, Kansas City? Or all
sitting to see if I’m at the game.
the way to the West Coast.”
I told my wife, we need to look nice when we go out of the house.”
After years of Minor League baseball in Denver with the Denver
But the need to attend games in their Sunday best has never kept
Bears and Denver Zephyrs, the Engbars, like many rabid baseball fans
them from the ballpark; the Engbars attend at least 50 games every
in the Rocky Mountain Region, were hungry for the opportunity to
year and they didn’t miss any games in the first few seasons.
see the best players in the world on a nightly basis.
While the Engbar’s first donation in 1990 may have gotten them
(continues on page 12)
Priority Number 1, their second check was part of a larger campaign
APRIL 2013
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