Rockies’ Blackmon takes curtain call in last game
DENVER — Charlie Blackmon trotted out to center field all alone and stood above the giant No. 19 that was etched into the grass at Coors Field.
The longtime Colorado Rockies outfielder known for his bushy beard tipped his cap to the cheering fans one last time as a player on Sunday before a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
It was Charlie Blackmon Day at the ballpark as the four-time All-Star waved goodbye to the game after 14 seasons with the Rockies, the only team he has ever known. Blackmon was back in a familiar spot on the lineup card, too — starting in center field and batting leadoff. This was the first time he’s been in center in six years.
“Literally, the best teammate I’ve ever had,” third baseman Ryan McMahon said. “He’s the most unselfish person I’ve been around. The total pro’s pro.”
A second-round draft pick of the Rockies in 2008, Blackmon blossomed into one of just 50 players in major league history to amass more than 1,800 hits, 325 doubles, 225 home runs, 65 triples and 800 RBIs. He was the NL batting champion in 2017 when he hit .331. He leaves as the franchise’s all-time leader in triples and second behind Hall of Famer Todd Helton in games played, runs scored, doubles and total bases.
Blackmon long has been a fan favorite — along with his catchy walk-up song, “Your Love,” by The Outfield, which never failed to get the crowd singing along. Not only that, but his determined play earned respect from dugout to dugout.
“For me, he’s everything I would want in a baseball player — outside of that big, old, ugly beard,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts cracked. “You look at the last, call it 10 to 12 years, he’s one of probably my top five players I’ve enjoyed watching play.”
This sunny afternoon was all about Blackmon. His wife, Ashley, and two young kids, Josie and Wyatt, joined him on the field for a pregame ceremony, where he was presented with a plaque. He also received a Toyota truck that had been perched on top of a sign in left field. His kids each threw a pitch to him.
On the way into the park, a fan held up a sign that read, “Let Chuck pitch.” Probably won’t happen, manager Bud Black said before the game. He did ask Blackmon if he wanted to carry out the lineup card to the umpires, but Blackmon politely declined.
After all, he had a game to get prepare for.
Black did have a emotional meeting with Blackmon in his office before first pitch.
“We hugged,” Black said. “And then we sort of pulled away, and we smiled at each other and said: ‘Hey, I’m going to see you again. This is not it.'”
Blackmon announced his decision to retire last Monday. He’s expected to remain with the organization in a non-playing role.
Translation: He will still be around come spring training.
“We’ll be like: ‘Hey, Charlie, you’re on field four. You’ve got the outfielders,'” Black joked.
Initially, Blackmon balked at taking the field by himself for the start of the game. He doesn’t need — or crave — being the center of attention.
“I go, ‘Chuck, you’re going to run out to center, but everybody’s not going to go out there with you,'” Black recounted. “He goes, ‘How long am I going to be out there by myself?’ I’m like, ’20, 30 seconds maybe.’ He goes, ‘OK, but not any longer than that.”
Blackmon took the field to applause and the playing of “Centerfield” by John Fogerty. His teammates — and the Dodgers — clapped for him on the top rail of the dugout. He played the first inning in center before moving over to right for the second.
“The way I play this game,” McMahon said, “it’s all based off things I’ve learned from him.”
Blackmon singled up the middle in the third inning and was subbed out for a pinch runner. He received another ovation from the fans.
The final weekend of the 2024 MLB regular season is over — but wins for the Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Mets paired with an Atlanta Braves loss on Sunday means we get a bonus Monday of playoff-impacting baseball.
While those three teams battle for the final two wild-card sports, the remainder of the playoff field is set. The Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies have the top seeds in the National League and the Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres have the next two seeds. In the American League, the New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians have the top seeds, with the Baltimore Orioles, Houston Astros, Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals joining them.
Where do the current playoff matchups stand? What does the playoff schedule look like? We have everything you need to know as the regular season comes to a finish.
Watch: Mets-Braves doubleheader, starting Monday at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN2
Key links: Full MLB standings | Wild-card standings | Passan’s World Series prediction
Who will secure the final two playoff spots?
There were several potential outcomes depending on the results of Sunday’s games, but with the Braves falling to the Royals and the Mets and Diamondbacks notching wins over their respective opponents, both games of Monday’s doubleheader between Atlanta and New York will take place. The winner of the first game of the doubleheader is automatically in. If the loser of the first game wins the second, that team is in as well and the D-backs would be eliminated. However, if either the Mets or Braves are swept in the doubleheader, that team would be out and the Diamondbacks would be in.
Who is in?
Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers clinched the season’s first playoff spot, when they secured the NL Central crown for the third time in four seasons.
New York Yankees
The Yankees clinched a playoff spot on with a win against the Seattle Mariners and followed by clinching the AL East title.
Cleveland Guardians
The Guardians clinched a playoff spot with a win over the Minnesota Twins and followed by clinching the AL Central crown.
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers clinched a playoff spot with their 20-4 blowout win over the Marlins and have won the NL West title for the 11th time in 12 years.
Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies clinched their third straight playoff spot with a win over the Mets on Friday night. With a win over the Cubs on Monday, they clinched their first NL East title since 2011.
Houston Astros
The Astros beat the Mariners on Tuesday to clinch their fourth consecutive AL West division title.
Baltimore Orioles
With a win over the Yankees and the Twins’ loss to the Marlins, the Orioles clinched a playoff spot.
San Diego Padres
With a game-ending triple play to seal their win against the Dodgers, the Padres clinched their spot in the postseason.
Detroit Tigers
By handing the White Sox a record 121st loss, the Tigers ended their 10-year postseason drought.
Kansas City Royals
The Twins’ loss on Friday clinched the final AL playoff spot for the Royals, their first since 2015.
What are this October’s MLB playoff matchups as it stands now?
American League
Wild-card round: (6) Tigers* at (3) Astros*, (5) Royals* at (4) Orioles*
ALDS: Tigers/Astros vs. (2) Guardians*, Royals/Orioles vs. (1) Yankees*
National League
Wild-card round: (6) Mets at (3) Brewers*, (5) Braves at (4) Padres*
NLDS: Mets/Brewers vs. (2) Phillies*, Braves/Padres vs. (1) Dodgers*
* — Clinched playoff spot
Tiebreakers
If Atlanta and New York tie, the Braves currently hold the tiebreaker by virtue of a 6-5 edge in the head-to-head season series (with two games remaining).
In the event of a two-team tie involving the D-backs for the NL’s final playoff spot, the Mets and Braves both hold the tiebreaker because they won the season series.
Breaking down the AL race
The Yankees fended off the Orioles in a battle for the AL East crown — though, Baltimore also clinched a playoff berth — while the Guardians and Astros both also clinched division titles. Two more AL Central teams — the Tigers and Royals — round out the field. Here are the odds for the AL playoff squads for every round:
Breaking down the NL race
While the Atlanta Braves, New York Mets and Arizona Diamondbacks battle for the final playoff spots, the Dodgers, Phillies, Brewers and Padres prepare for October. Milwaukee clinched the NL Central crown and Philadelphia cruised to a division title in the NL East. Los Angeles beat San Diego in the final matchup of the (regular) season to clinch its 11th NL West title in the past 12 seasons, with the Padres going on to secure the 4-seed. Here are the odds for the NL playoff squads — as the playoff picture currently stands — for every round:
Playoff schedule
Wild-card series
Best of three, all games at better seed’s stadium
Game 1: Tuesday, Oct. 1
Game 2: Wednesday, Oct. 2
Game 3: Thursday, Oct. 3*
Division series
Best of five
ALDS
Game 1: Saturday, Oct. 5
Game 2: Monday, Oct. 7
Game 3: Wednesday, Oct. 9
Game 4: Thursday, Oct. 10*
Game 5: Saturday, Oct. 12*
NLDS
Game 1: Saturday, Oct. 5
Game 2: Sunday, Oct. 6
Game 3: Tuesday, Oct. 8
Game 4: Wednesday, Oct. 9*
Game 5: Friday, Oct. 11*
League championship series
Best of seven
ALCS
Game 1: Monday, Oct. 14
Game 2: Tuesday, Oct. 15
Game 3: Thursday, Oct. 17
Game 4: Friday, Oct. 18
Game 5: Saturday, Oct. 19*
Game 6: Monday, Oct. 21*
Game 7: Tuesday, Oct. 22*
NLCS
Game 1: Sunday, Oct. 13
Game 2: Monday, Oct. 14
Game 3: Wednesday, Oct. 16
Game 4: Thursday, Oct. 17
Game 5: Friday, Oct. 18*
Game 6: Sunday, Oct. 20*
Game 7: Monday, Oct. 21*
World Series
Best of seven
Game 1: Friday, Oct. 25
Game 2: Saturday, Oct. 26
Game 3: Monday, Oct. 28
Game 4: Tuesday, Oct. 29
Game 5: Wednesday, Oct. 30*
Game 6: Friday, Nov. 1*
Game 7: Saturday, Nov. 2*
Note: If both LCS end by Oct. 19 — meaning neither series lasts longer than five games — the World Series will begin on Tuesday, Oct. 22
* If necessary
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