Charlie Blackmon waltzes into his final weekend with the Colorado Rockies

“May God bless and keep you always, may your wishes all come true, may you always do for others, and let others do for you. May you build a ladder to the stars, and climb on every rung, may you stay – forever young, forever young, forever young, may you stay forever young…”

Bob Dylan, singing in The Last Waltz

Speaking of young, look at this face…

You’d hardly believe that baby face could grow a beard, right? That young mug looks like a moustache would be a multi-year effort. Fourteen seasons later, There were almost as many exit questions about/for Charlie Blackmon’s beard as there were for Chuck himself.

What Blackmon has brought to Rockies baseball in those fourteen years is exactly why he should have his number retired by the organization. One of a very few Rox loyalists over the years, Charlie decided to stay when other left, and still never made waves with those who decided to go. Hell, he may have even started the healing between the Rockies and their former star Nolan Arenado, when Nolan attended Charlie’s press conference announcing his retirement. Charlie was the type of guy everyone stayed kind to, everyone stayed loyal to. Because that’s what he was always giving in return.

Speaking of giving, Blackmon was renowned in the clubhouse for taking players under his wing for both baseball and life advice. But Charlie was also a known giver in the community, taking the time and energy to show Denver how much he enjoys calling the city home. His humble sensibilities seem to appeal greatly to the Rockies fanbase, and the hole he leaves behind is going to be a lot bigger than an opening on a lineup card.

With all that loyalty, and a career that was primarily injury-free, Mssr. Nazty departs the Rockies as the franchise leader in triples, and in second place in games played, runs scored, hits, doubles, extra base hits, and total bases, and those totals second to only Hall-of-Famer Todd Helton. Pretty impressive stuff for a guy who always considered himself more a student of the game than a superstar. As a guy who comes into the final final three games of his career, Blackmon exits the game still at the top of his abilities, with three RBI Thursday night against the Cardinals to help prevent the series sweep in a 10-8 Colorado win. In these last few games, Charlie has bumped his career totals above 1800 hits and 800 RBI in a little over 1600 games played. Nazty indeed.

Whether Charlie decides to stay with the organization in some official capacity or not, he is firmly entrenched as one of the greatest to ever lace them up for the team, and as a pillar of what has made the organization better. Wherever Chuck decides to waltz off to next, it has certainly been an incredible dance with him these last 14 years. Thanks for the memories, Mr. Blackmon. A four time All-Star, batting champion, and two-time Silver Slugger. Every Rockies fan wishes you the best as you head off to make whatever you touch next a better thing. We didn’t want to lose your love tonight, or any other. Godspeed, Chuck Nazty.