DENVER – Four-time All-Star Charlie Blackmon will retire at the end of the season after spending his entire major league career with the Colorado Rockies.
The outfielder, known for his bushy beard, announced his decision on Monday. The Rockies will celebrate Blackmon during their final home game this week and pay tribute to him before Sunday’s season finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Blackmon played 14 seasons with the team and is the franchise’s all-time leader in triples (67). He is also second in games played (1,618), runs scored (991), hits (1,797), doubles (333), extra-base hits (626) and total bases (2,942). Blackmon won a National League batting title in 2017 with a .331 average.
In a post on Instagram, Blackmon wrote: “As a kid, you play the game because you love it, like nothing else matters. I still play the game that way, but I don’t feel like a kid anymore. My perspective has changed. I have been fortunate to call the city of Denver and the Colorado Rockies my baseball home for my entire career. I am grateful for the support of this organization, my teammates and most importantly, the Rockies fans. It is with a grateful heart and memories of an entire career that I choose a new path.”
Blackmon was selected by the Rockies in the second round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft out of Georgia Tech. He made his major league debut on June 7, 2011 against San Diego.
Blackmon, 38, has a .292 average with 226 home runs and 148 stolen bases before his final games. He was also a two-time Silver Slugger.
“When Charlie told me of his plans to retire, I got a little emotional, as I’m sure many fans will when they hear the news that one of the greatest Rockies of all time will no longer be on the field,” Rockies owner Dick Monfort said in a statement. “Charlie’s passion and dedication to the sport of baseball, this organization and our great fans was on display every day and I can’t thank him enough for putting his heart into every game and every at-bat during his 14 years here. Charlie is a Rockie through and through.”
Blackmon concluded his Instagram post by saying, “I’m going to jump the fence, put the beast away and embrace the next phase of my life.”
