Pregame, in-game, postgame, off day, or offseason, Charlie Blackmon always had a game plan precisely mapped out.
Until now.
With his retirement on the near horizon, the Rockies’ star outfielder and fan favorite finds himself in limbo at age 38. He’s not even sure what will happen to the gnarly beard he’s been growing for over a decade.
“My wife (Ashley) has actually never seen me without it, so I’m a little bit concerned about how that would be received at home,” he joked. “I think there will be a time — I’m not going to put any dates on it for you — but I think there’ll be a time when I will have to reveal my naked face. Clean it up, get a nice haircut or whatever, just to say that I’ve done it. But then after that, all bets are off.”
During his retirement news conference on Tuesday at Coors Field, Blackmon was candid, measured and funny as he discussed his 14 years in the big leagues. But he’s not quite sure what comes next after he plays his final game on Sunday against the Dodgers.
“I don’t think I’m looking for a nine-to-five (job),” he said as he balanced his 3-year-old daughter, Josie, and his 1-year-old son, Wyatt, on his lap. “I’m probably going to take some time and get away from from the grind. I’m looking forward to having free time, spending more time with my family, and doing some dad stuff.
“But at the same time, I don’t think you can just take someone who’s played at this level, who’s reached the highest level in any profession, and then just turn the competitive spigot off. I don’t think it works like that. I think it’s kind of your gift and your curse. So I do wonder what I’ll choose to apply myself to next.”
Blackmon doesn’t like to “dabble” in anything, including his passion for fishing and hunting.
“I like to be very, very good at something,” he said.
He certainly was on the baseball field. Blackmon entered Tuesday night’s game against the Cardinals as Colorado’s career leader in triples with 67. His 1,797 hits, 2,942 total bases, 333 doubles and 1,618 games played rank second in team history to Hall of Famer Todd Helton. He was selected to four All-Star Games and won two Silver Slugger awards.
“I feel like I have never really worked a day in my life, but I do work really hard,” he said. “It’s going to be very different on the other side, I know that. But at the same time, I think this is the right decision.”
Blackmon, who lives full-time near Atlanta, wants to stay connected to Colorado and the Rockies and has already talked with general manager Bill Schmidt and others about a possible role with the club.
“I definitely plan to be involved,” he said. “I definitely don’t think I’ll put the uniform on and be part of the staff, like as a permanent fixture. But I do want to come to spring training. I want to come to Coors Field. I want to be around the guys. I want to talk to some hitters and be in the (batting) cage, occasionally. I do still very much want to be a part of the Colorado Rockies family. I’m just not sure exactly how.”
Tuesday’s news conference certainly felt like a family gathering. Nearly all of the Rockies players, staff, and front office were in attendance, as was Cardinals star third baseman Nolan Arenado, who was Blackmon’s teammate in Colorado from 2013 to ’20.
“We ended up having breakfast at the same spot (Monday),” Arenado said. “He told me he (was retiring) and I was kind of rattled. I couldn’t believe it, just because of how long he’s played and how consistent he’s been. I was thinking about it all day yesterday.
“I’m happy for him. He’s an incredible player. Consistency is what I would think about with him. He’s the best leadoff hitter I ever got the chance to play with. He’s one of the smartest players I ever got to play with, too.”
Rockies manager Bud Black called the news conference “genuine Charlie.”
“Charlie has been a great Rockie and he will be one of my favorite players — always,” Black said. “As an athlete and a professional baseball player, I admire him because I know what he’s done to become the player he’s become.”
Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon, center, announced on Monday that he will retire from Major League Baseball at the end of this season. Blackmon was joined on stage with his son Wyatt (2), left, and his daughter Josie (3) during the interview before the Rockies’ game against the St. Louis Cardinals in Denver, on Sept. 24, 2024. Blackmon’s teammates were also present for the occasion. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)
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Pitcher Kyle Freeland, the Denver native who’s played with Blackmon since 2017, said he believes Blackmon’s No. 19 should be retired, hanging at Coors Field alongside the numbers of Hall of Famers Helton (17), Larry Walker (33) and Jackie Robinson (42).
“I’ve never seen anyone work so hard at their craft in their life,” Freeland said. “We should all strive to be like Charlie in that way. He truly is, to the core, Colorado Rockies baseball.
“I personally believe that No. 19 should be thrown up there. He’s been a staple in this organization for his entire career. He’s shown what hard work looks like and what hard work does and how it pays off. I believe no one else in this organization should wear No. 19 again.”
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