DENVER — Charlie Blackmon. Chuck Nazty. Major League Baseball outfielder. Beard aficionado.
Charlie Blackmon announced this week he will be retiring after playing 14 seasons in the major leagues, all in a Colorado Rockies uniform.
Since his Major League Baseball debut with the Rockies on June 7, 2011, there's been a 14-year Blackmon beard evolution before our eyes.
A day after he announced his retirement from the Rockies, Blackmon took the big questions from the media. Among them: "Does the beard come with you?"
"Such a good question," Blackmon said. "My wife's actually never seen me without it, though I'm a little bit concerned how that would be received at home. I think there will be a time. I'm not going to put any dates on it for you, but I think there will be a time where I will have to reveal my naked face to my family. And clean it up, get a nice haircut and whatever, just to say that I've done it. But then after that, all bets are off."
The Rockies will celebrate Blackmon, who is the longest-tenured active Rockies player, through the final series of the season this weekend at Coors Field.
2018 and 2019 brought a bushier beard and two All-Star Game appearances.
In 2017, Blackmon's 104 RBI — the eighth-most in the NL that season — helped propel the team to the postseason and earned him the National League batting title and an All-Star Game start.
2016 and 2017 were banner years for Blackmon -- and not just his glorious beard. He took home Silver Slugger awards and garnered MVP votes in both years.
The beard made its first appearance in 2014 — the same year Blackmon made his first All-Star Game appearance. Coincidence? You decide.
