Charlie Blackmon was, at his peak, one of baseball’s most feared leadoff hitters. He took advantage of Coors Field’s unique hitting environment to drive in 104 runs from the leadoff spot in 2017 — a feat rarely accomplished by even the best No. 1 hitters of all-time.
Monday, the longtime Colorado Rockies outfielder announced his retirement from baseball effective at the end of the season.
“As a kid you play the game because you love it, like nothing else matters,” Blackmon wrote on his Twitter/X account Monday. “I still play the game that way, but I don’t feel like a kid anymore. My perspective has changed.
“I have been blessed to call the city of Denver and The Colorado Rockies my baseball home for the entirety of my career. I am grateful for the support of this organization, my teammates, and most of all Rockies fans. It is with a …