Rockies keep Charlie Blackmon around, hiring him for front office role

One of the greatest players in Colorado Rockies history is staying with the club in retirement, as the team announced Saturday on social media that Charlie Blackmon will remain in the organization as special assistant to the general manager.

Blackmon just retired from playing in September, ending a wonderful 14-year big league career that was spent solely in purple. The sweet-swinging outfielder helped the club to two playoff appearances with near-MVP numbers in his prime. But his personality, beard and walkup song are just some of the things that make Chuck Nazty an iconic figure of the franchise.

“Charlie has been an integral part of the Rockies organization for over a decade, both on and off the field,” Rockies general manager Schmidt said in the press release. “His leadership, deep understanding of the game and passion for this franchise make him the perfect fit to step into this new role. We’re thrilled to have him bring his unique insight and experience back to the Rockies players and front office.”

The Rockies selected Blackmon in the 2008 MLB Draft out of Georgia Tech. He debuted for the Rockies in June of 2011 as a fresh-faced 24-year-old. He had solid speed, range and projected well as a bat. What Blackmon didn’t have until 2014 is a real long chance in the show sadly because of injuries that limited his chances as well as a good centerfielder in Dexter Fowler ahead of him. But the Rockies dealt Dex ahead of the 2014 season opening up a real shot for Blackmon. What Blackmon gained in 2014 wasn’t just a chance with the Rockies but facial hair and an All-Star campaign in his first full big league season. And that’s how Chuck Nazty was born, never looking back as he went to three more All-Star Games all the while the beard grew longer and Your Love by The Outfield was sung louder.

Blackmon is only bested by Hall of Famer Todd Helton in almost all Rockies career stats including games played. Chuck finished with 227 homers and a .293/.353/.479 slash line across 6,825 plate appearances. He collected two Silver Slugger Awards and the 2017 NL batting title, a season he finished fifth in NL MVP voting while hitting .331/.399/.601 with 37 home runs, and helping the club end an eight-year playoff drought.

Blackmon said before he hung up his spikes that he would like to keep working for the Rockies in some other way that didn’t include a mitt and bat. We now know he’ll stick around and help with scouting and likely offering tips to developing younger players, something he was keen to do in his later playing years. The new role was announced at the team’s winter fanfest which is being held at Coors Field over the weekend.