Nolan Arenado Among Former Colorado Rockies at Charlie Blackmon's Retirement Press Conference

Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon held his retirement press conference Tuesday, and St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado showed up to support his former teammate.

May 21, 2019; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Colorado Rockies right fielder Charlie Blackmon (19) and third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) celebrate after defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. The Rockies shutout the Pirates 4-0. / Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Between 2014 and 2020, there weren't many MLB duos that could match Nolan Arenado and Charlie Blackmon.

Arenado and Blackmon were both multi-time All-Stars, and they led the Colorado Rockies to playoff berths in both 2017 and 2018. They ceased being teammates when Arenado got traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in 2021, however, marking the end of an era in Denver.

Another era in Rockies history came to a close on Monday, when the 38-year-old Blackmon announced that he would be retiring at the end of the 2024 campaign.

Blackmon held a retirement press conference at Coors Field on Tuesday, explaining his decision to hang up his cleats after 14 seasons in the big leagues.

"It really means a lot that I'm joined by so many current and former teammates here, staff members, members of the media, family members," Blackmon said. "Thank you for making this week special. I'll never forget it."

One of the former teammates in attendance was Arenado.

All of Charlie Blackmon’s #Rockies teammates, staff & some former teammates, including Nolan Arenado, taking in every word of Blackmon’s retirement press conference. pic.twitter.com/bYbJs3tChT

— Kelsey Wingert-Linch (@KelsWingert) September 24, 2024

Arenado just so happened to be in town, with the Rockies hosting the Cardinals in a three-game series that started Tuesday. The third baseman has missed just seven of St. Louis' 157 games so far this season, continuing to contribute into his mid-30s.

"I saw him at breakfast yesterday, we just ended up at the same spot and he told me it was gonna happen and I was kinda rattled," Arenado said after the game. "I couldn't believe it, just cause you know how long he's played and how consistent he's been and I was thinking about it all day yesterday. ... For me, the best leadoff hitter I've ever gotten a chance to play with."

When they were both everyday players for the Rockies from 2014 and 2020, Arenado and Blackmon combined to hit .301 with an .897 OPS, averaging 66 home runs, 207 RBI and 9.6 WAR per 162 games between the two of them. Blackmon made four All-Star appearances with two Silver Sluggers in that span, while Arenado made five All-Star appearances with seven Gold Gloves and four Silver Sluggers.

Blackmon's batting average and OPS have dipped to .265 and .752 since Arenado left in 2021. And even though Arenado finished third in NL MVP voting in 2022, his 10-year Gold Glove streak ended last year and his eight-year All-Star Game streak ended this year.

Arenado still has three years and $74 million left on his contract with the Cardinals, so he won't be following Blackmon into retirement this offseason. But beyond the fact that Colorado's front office still owes Arenado $10 million over the next two seasons, he and Blackmon clearly still share a bond as Rockies.

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