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 Monday. The Rockies will celebrate Blackmon throughout their final home game this week and honor him before Sunday’s season finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Blackmon spent 14 seasons with the team and is the franchise’s all-time leading triple-double (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 the National League’s batting title in 2017 with a .331 average.
In an Instagram post, Blackmon wrote, “When you’re a kid, you play baseball because you love it, like nothing else matters. I still play that way, but I don’t feel like a kid anymore. My perspective has changed. I’ve been fortunate to call the city of Denver and the Colorado Rockies my baseball home for my entire career. I’m grateful for the support of this organization, my teammates, and most importantly, the Rockies fans. It’s with a grateful heart and career memories 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, is batting .292 with 226 home runs and 148 stolen bases entering his final games. He is also a two-time Silver Slugger.
“When Charlie announced his retirement, I was a little emotional, as I’m sure many fans will be when they learn 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 game of baseball, this organization and our great fans was evident 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 at heart.”
Blackmon concluded his Instagram post by writing, “I’m gonna jump over that fence, strip the beast and embrace the next phase of my life.”
