After 14 seasons in purple, one of the greatest Rockies to ever play has announced his plans to retire following the conclusion of the 2024 regular season.
In what will truly be the end of an era, Colorado Rockies outfielder and designated hitter Charlie Blackmon has announced his intent to retire at the end of the 2024 season.
— Charlie Blackmon (@Chuck_Nazty) September 23, 2024
“I have been blessed to call the city of Denver and the Colorado Rockies my baseball home for the entirety of my career,” Blackmon posted on his social media accounts early Monday evening. “I am grateful for the support of this organization, my teammates, and most of all Rockies fans. It is with a thankful heart and a career’s worth of memories that I choose a new path.”
Blackmon, now 38-years-old, was selected by the Rockies in the second round of the 2008 MLB draft. Affectionately referred to as “Chuck Nazty,” Blackmon made his debut in 2011 and has been a mainstay of the Rockies lineup ever since.
Standing out with his impressive beard that he began growing in 2013 and his wild mullet—pronounced ‘moo-lay’ because “it’s French. Real classy.”—Blackmon has been a fan favorite in Colorado and across the baseball community for both his unique look and personality.
“He’s weird,” said former teammate Carlos González. “He’s doing weird (stuff) all the time. But that’s Charlie Blackmon.”
“Charlie is a little bit different,” further expounded former Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado. “He has his own style to the game. That’s also what makes him who he is. He’s quirky. But when it comes time to lock in, and he puts on the uniform, he’s a different animal.”
That “different animal” led Charlie Blackmon to four All-Star Games and two Silver Slugger Awards across his 14-year MLB career. Blackmon also finished fifth in National League MVP voting after a career 2017 season during which he won the batting title and led the league in runs, hits, triples, and total bases.
“When Charlie told me of his plans to retire I got a little emotional, as I’m sure many fans will when they see the news that one of the greatest Rockies of all-time will no longer take the field,” said Rockies owner and CEO Dick Monfort in a press release on Monday. “It has been an absolute privilege watching Charlie’s career from start to finish here at Coors Field. Charlie’s passion and dedication to the game of baseball, this organization and our great fans was on display every single day and I can’t thank him enough for pouring his heart into every game and every at-bat over the course of his 14 years here. Charlie is a Rockie to his core, and although his playing days are over, he will continue to be a part of this team in a multitude of ways going forward. We look forward to celebrating Charlie throughout this weekend and we wish Charlie and his family nothing but the best in the years ahead.”
Charlie Blackmon retires as truly one of the greatest Rockies players in the history of the franchise, having suited up for the second-most games in purple behind Hall of Fame first baseman Todd Helton.
Blackmon is amongst the top of the leaderboards in most offensive categories as a Rockie. At time of writing his 20.8 wins above replacement per Baseball-Reference is the seventh-best of all position players in team history. He has the second-most runs scored, hits, doubles, stolen bases, and total bases in franchise history and is the Rockies’ all-time leader in triples.
His methods were unique and his own as Blackmon worked to conquer the stigma of his home ballpark at Coors Field and the hangover that comes with leaving it’s confines.
“That’s what I tell everybody: If I do it, I would be super ridiculous,” González said, laughing. “They’d be like, ‘What happened to you? You need to go to treatment. You’ve changed.’ If it’s Charlie, it’s like, ‘Oh, he’s good. It’s Charlie Blackmon doing it.’”
Now Blackmon is set to depart at the end of the season with an unknown future. Both of the Rockies’ Hall of Famers—Larry Walker and Todd Helton—have suggested his no. 19 should be the next to be immortalized with their numbers 33 and 17.
“I don’t know what’s on the other side of the fence,” Blackmon concluded in his announcement. “But I take solace in knowing one thing remains constant. Although names and faces will change, the game will continue to be played. I’ll hop over that fence, pickle the beast and embrace the next phase of my life.”
The Rockies have just six games left to play in the 2024 season, and no doubt fan reactions to the results of this season will be mixed. However, there is one thing each and every fan of the Colorado Rockies can agree on:
We don’t want to lose your love. TONIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT!
Thank you for everything, Charlie Blackmon. Congratulations on a career well spent.