Charlie Blackmon Announces MLB Retirement After 14 Years with Rockies, 4 All-Stars
Sep 23, 2024
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - SEPTEMBER 08: Charlie Blackmon #19 of the Colorado Rockies claps after a 4-1 win over the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on September 08, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
Charlie Blackmon is calling it a career.
The Colorado Rockies outfielder announced his retirement Monday near the end of his 14th season in Major League Baseball. He has been a member of the Rockies his entire career.
"Today I'm a ballplayer looking over the fence into uncertainty," he wrote. "For what is behind me, I am grateful. My cup runs over. I have been blessed more than any man should expect."
Blackmon made his major league debut during the 2011 season but didn't appear in more than 82 games until the 2014 campaign.
That year was his breakout effort, as he made his first of four career All-Star Games and slashed .288/.335/.440 with 19 home runs, 72 RBI and 28 stolen bases. It was the start of an impressive stretch that saw him make three straight All-Star Games from 2017 through 2019 as he established himself as a dominant offensive force.
He won back-to-back Silver Sluggers in 2016 and 2017 and finished fifth in National League MVP in the second of those years when he slashed .331/.399/.601 with 37 home runs, 104 RBI, 14 triples and 14 stolen bases.
Blackmon led the league in batting average, total bases (387), hits (213), runs (137) and triples that season while leading the Rockies to the playoffs. It was the franchise's first postseason appearance since the 2009 campaign.
The 38-year-old hasn't been able to replicate those numbers of late and hit .249 with 11 home runs through 118 games this season. He was also scheduled to become a free agent after this season, so there was a bit of uncertainty about the next step before Monday's announcement.
That uncertainty is no longer present, and he will surely be remembered fondly among Rockies fans as a cornerstone of the organization for so many years.
His name is all over the all-time Colorado leaderboards, as he is second in franchise history in runs scored (991), hits (1,797), total bases (2,942), doubles (333) and stolen bases (148). He is first in triples (67), sixth in home runs (226), fourth in RBI (797) and third in walks (482).
It will be unusual to see a Rockies lineup without Blackmon's name in it during the 2025 campaign, but he made his mark in franchise history and is hanging up his cleats after a long and successful career.
Shohei Ohtani Praised as 'Lights out' by Dodgers' Roberts amid Historic MLB Season
Sep 21, 2024
MIAMI, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 19: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a two-run home run, his 50th of the season, becoming the first player with a 50/50 season in MLB history, during the seventh inning against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park on September 19, 2024 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is like the rest of the MLB world in trying to find superlatives to discuss Shohei Ohtani's historic 2024 season.
Speaking to reporters after Friday's 6-4 win over the Colorado Rockies, Roberts praised Ohtani for being "lights out" down the stretch this season.
"I think he's ramped up his focus," Roberts added.
One day after becoming the first player in MLB history to go 50-50 by hitting three homers as part of a 6-for-6 game against the Miami Marlins, Ohtani added another home run and stolen base to his season totals.
Ohtani was coming off a down month in August, at least by his standards. The presumptve NL MVP hit .235/.286/.600 in 27 games last month. He has turned things around with a .324/.390/.730 slash line in 21 starts so far in September, including five homers in his last four games.
Friday marked the 14th different time this season that Ohtani has recorded at least one homer and one stolen base in the same game, breaking the previous MLB record of 13 set by Rickey Henderson in 1986.
The Dodgers (92-62) clinched a playoff berth on Thursday, marking the first time that Ohtani will appear in the postseason in his MLB career. Their magic number to win the NL West is five with eight games remaining.
In addition to fighting for the division title, the Dodgers are tied with the Philadelphia Phillies for the best record in MLB. The Phillies own the head-to-head tiebreaker, so the Dodgers have to finish with a better record to secure home-field advantage in the NL playoffs.
Dodgers Star Shohei Ohtani's 50th HR Ball is Worth $500K, Says Auction Expert
Sep 20, 2024
MIAMI, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 19: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers at bat in the seventh inning during the game against Miami Marlins at loanDepot park on September 19, 2024 in Miami, Florida. Ohtani is now the first player in MLB history to reach 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season. (Photo by Chris Arjoon/Getty Images)
Shohei Ohtani's historic 50th home run of the season for the Los Angeles Dodgers is one of the most valuable baseballs in history.
David Kohler, president of SCP Auctions, told TMZ Sports the ball would likely sell for around $500,000 if it were to be made available at auction.
Ohtani became the first player in MLB history with 50 homers and 50 stolen bases in a season in the Dodgers' 20-4 victory over the Miami Marlins on Thursday. He hit his 50th homer in the seventh inning off Marlins reliever Mike Baumann.
While the fan who caught the ball has yet to be identified, Darren Rovell and Will Stern of CLLCT.com noted the person is believed to be a man in his 50s.
Craig Mish of the Miami Herald added the fan elected to keep the ball even though the Dodgers made an attempt to negotiate a deal to get it for Ohtani.
The fan who caught Shohei Ohtaniโs 50th Home Run baseball has opted to walk away with it. Dodgers did not get it back.
TMZ noted there's no word yet on whether or not the fan intends to sell the ball.
The two-run blast came as part of a 6-for-6 day in which Ohtani hit three homers, two doubles, stole two bases and drove in 10 runs. His home run total now sits at an NL-high 51 with nine games remaining in the regular season.
Ohtani is just the seventh player in MLB history to record at least 17 total bases in a single game.
Here is the entire list of players before today with 17 total bases in a game. Shohei Ohtani is the first to do it without hitting four home runs. He is the only one to steal a base (he swiped two).
On the day he went 50/50, Ohtani had one of the greatest games in MLB history. pic.twitter.com/XSj8APy2EP
There have been six baseballs in history that have sold for auction with a price tag of at least $500,000. The most recent one was Aaron Judge's 62nd home run from the 2022 season that went for $1.5 million.
Other balls on the list include Mark McGwire's 70th homer in 1998 ($3 million), Babe Ruth's homer in the first MLB All-Star Game in 1933 ($805,000), Barry Bonds' 756th career homer ($752,000) and 73rd homer of the 2001 season ($518,000), and Hank Aaron's 755th career homer ($650,000).
MLB Fan Reportedly Keeps Shohei Ohtani's 50th HR Ball amid Viral Video of Scramble
Sep 20, 2024
MIAMI, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 19: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers runs the bases after hitting a three-run home run, his third home run of the game, during the ninth inning against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park on September 19, 2024 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani reached a historic mark on Thursday, becoming the first player in MLB history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season.
Ohtani also became the first MLB player to go 6-for-6 with three homers, 10 RBI and two stolen bases as the Dodgers crushed the Miami Marlins 20-4.
One lucky fan left LoanDepot Park in Miami with a keepsake from the record-breaking night.
As Ohtani's 50th home run soared into the left-field stands, a scrum of fans scrambled to get their hands on the ball, which holds both historic and financial value.
— FanDuel Sports Network Florida & Sun (@FanDuelSN_FL) September 19, 2024
The man who came out of the pile of fans with the ball in tow reportedly left the stadium, opting not to give it back to the Dodgers and Ohtani, per the Miami Herald'sCraig Mish. A video on social media showed the fan leaving the stadium with security around him.
Per cllct's Darren Rovell, MLB used marked balls for Ohtani's at-bat in the seventh inning after he hit his 49th home run, meaning the ball can be authenticated even though it did not go past the in-stadium authenticator.
That authentication means the ball should be worth a hefty price tag, should the fan choose to sell it, but it's unclear just how much it will be worth. Aaron Judge's American League-record 62nd home run ball sold for $1.5 million at an auction in 2022 while Mark McGwire's 70th home run in 1998 remains the highest-paid price for a ball at $3.005 million.
Earlier this season, Ohtani's first home run ball as a Dodger sparked controversy when the fans who retrieved it said they were told that the Dodgers would not authenticate the ball should they choose to keep it. They later exchanged it for an autographed bat, an autographed ball and two autographed caps.
The fan who caught the milestone ball on Thursday seemingly took a different approach, keeping the ball for himself.
Lakers' LeBron James Hypes 'Unreal' Shohei Ohtani After Dodgers Star's Historic Game
Sep 20, 2024
MIAMI, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 19: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run, his 50th of the season, becoming the first player with a 50/50 season in MLB history, during the seventh inning against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park on September 19, 2024 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
LeBron James was amazed by Shohei Ohtani's historic night at the plate during the Los Angeles Dodgers' 20-4 win over the Miami Marlins on Thursday night.
The Los Angeles Lakers star reacted to Ohtani's performance in a post on X.
THIS GUY IS UNREAL!!!! WOWZERS ๐๐พ๐๐พ๐๐พ๐๐พ๐๐พ๐๐พ https://t.co/2IyMP8xf7A
The Dodgers star recorded hits in all six of his plate appearances, including three home runs. He racked up 10 RBIs, setting a new single-game franchise record.
Ohtani also stole two bases, securing his status as the first player in MLB history to have 50 homers and 50 steals in the same season. In fact, he also became the first player in the 51-51 club.
James was far from the only sports star to recognize Ohtani's accomplishment, as Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes were both in awe of the 30-year-old's night at the plate.
After signing a 10-year deal with an overall value of $700 million to join the team in free agency, the two-way superstar has been dominant offensively in his first year as a member of the organization. Although he hasn't been able to showcase his ability on the mound in 2024 due to Tommy John surgery, he's still living up to his hefty contract regardless.
In addition to his 51 homers and 51 steals, Ohtani has also recorded 120 RBIs. He's hitting .294, while his .629 slugging percentage and 1.005 OPS both represent the highest marks among all National League players.
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani on Historic Game to Reach 50-50: I Wanted to Get It Over With
Sep 20, 2024
MIAMI, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 19: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a home run against the Miami Marlins during the seventh inning of the game at loanDepot park on September 19, 2024 in Miami, Florida. Ohtani is now the first MLB player to have at least 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in the same season. (Photo by Chris Arjoon/Getty Images)
After achieving a feat no other MLB player has achieved, Shohei Ohtani shrugged off the historic accomplishment.
The Los Angeles Dodgers star admitted that he was ready to reach the 50 home run, 50 steal mark after months of fans wondering if he'd get to that mark. He achieved both milestones on Thursday against the Miami Marlins.
"I wanted to get it over (with)," Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton, per The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya.
While Ohtani's reserved reaction to reaching the 50-50 mark wasn't one of much excitement, there's no denying just how outstanding the feat is. Just six players in MLB's 100-plus-year history have hit 40 home runs and stolen 40 bases, but Ohtani sits alone as the only player to hit 50 homers and steal 50 bases in a season.
What's more, the Dodgers still have nine games left in the regular season, meaning Ohtani can continue adding to his unbelievable numbers. Ohtani went 6-for-6 with three home runs and accounted for 10 RBI as Los Angeles trounced the Marlins 20-6, showing no signs of slowing down as the season nears its end.
Ohtani will likely win his third MVP and first in the National League, which would make him only the second player to win an MVP in both the National League and American League, the only other being Frank Robinson.
And unlike his years with the Los Angeles Angels, Ohtani's MVP-caliber season has resulted in wins. The Dodgers sit atop the NL West at 91-62 and have clinched a playoff berth.
Los Angeles won the division in 2022 and 2023, but faced divisional round exits in both of those seasons. With the addition of arguably the best player in baseball, the Dodgers will look to avoid another early exit as Ohtani chases his coveted first World Series.
Anaheim, California September 3, 2024-Dodgers Mookie Betts, right, celebrates his three-run home run with Shohei Ohtani against the Angels in the tenth inning at Anaheim Stadium Tuesday. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
For the 12th consecutive season, the Los Angeles Dodgers will play in the MLB postseason.
They clinched a playoff berth after Thursday's win over the Miami Marlins, securing a blowout victory by the final score of 20-4.
Los Angeles' streak of 12 straight playoff appearances is the third-longest in MLB history. Only the Atlanta Braves (14 straight from 1991 to 2005) and New York Yankees (13 straight from 1995 to 2007) had longer streaks.
Here are the updated playoff standings and potential matchups through Thursday's games.
Projected National League Playoff Matchups
First-round bye: No. 1Philadelphia Phillies, No. 2 Los Angeles Dodgers
Wild Card Series: No. 3 Milwaukee Brewersvs. No. 6 New York Mets, No. 4 San Diego Padresvs. No. 5 Arizona Diamondbacks
Projected American League Playoff Matchups
First-round bye: No. 1 New York Yankees, No. 2 Cleveland Guardians
Wild Card Series: No. 3 Houston Astros vs. No. 6 Minnesota Twins, No. 4 Baltimore Orioles vs. No. 5 Kansas City Royals
Current Standings
NL East
Philadelphia Phillies (91-61)
New York Mets (84-68, 7 GB)
Atlanta Braves (83-70)
Washington Nationals (68-84, 23 GB)
Miami Marlins (56-96, 35 GB)
NL Central
Milwaukee Brewers (88-64)**
Chicago Cubs (77-75, 11 GB)
St. Louis Cardinals (77-75, 11 GB)
Cincinnati Reds, (74-80, 15 GB)
Pittsburgh Pirates (71-81, 17 GB)
NL West
Los Angeles Dodgers (90-62)*
San Diego Padres (87-66, 3.5 GB)
Arizona Diamondbacks (84-68, 6 GB)
San Francisco Giants (74-79, 16.5 GB)
Colorado Rockies (59-94, 31.5 GB)
NL Wild Card
San Diego Padres (87-66, +2.5 Games)
Arizona Diamondbacks (84-68)
New York Mets (84-68)
Atlanta Braves (83-70, 1.5 GB)
Chicago Cubs (77-75, 7 GB)
St. Louis Cardinals (77-75, 7 GB)
AL East
New York Yankees (89-64)*
Baltimore Orioles (85-68, 4 GB)
Boston Red Sox (76-76, 12.5 GB)
Tampa Bay Rays (74-78, 14.5 GB)
Toronto Blue Jays (73-80, 16 GB)
AL Central
Cleveland Guardians (89-65)*
Kansas City Royals (82-71, 6.5 GB)
Detroit Tigers (80-73, 8.5 GB)
Minnesota Twins (80-73, 8.5 GB)
Chicago White Sox (36-117 52.5 GB)
AL West
Houston Astros (82-70)
Seattle Mariners (78-75, 4.5 GB)
Texas Rangers (73-80, 9.5 GB)
Oakland Athletics (67-86, 15.5 GB)
Los Angeles Angels (62-90, 20 GB)
AL Wild Card
Baltimore Orioles (85-68, +5 Games)
Kansas City Royals (82-71, +2 Games)
Detroit Tigers (80-73)
Minnesota Twins (80-73)
Seattle Mariners (78-75, 2 GB)
Boston Red Sox (76-76, 3.5 GB)
Tampa Bay Rays (74-78, 5.5 GB)
*Denotes clinched playoff spot
**Denotes clinched division
As impressive as the Dodgers' streak of success is, the biggest story from this year is that Shohei Ohtani will finally be in the playoffs in his seventh MLB season.
The Dodgers' front office made two big splashes last offseason to improve their chances of getting back to the World Series. They signed Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto to deals worth a combined $1.25 billion.
Those moves have paid off spectacularly, as Ohtani is challenging for his third MVP award in the past four seasons. Yamamoto missed three months due to a shoulder injury, but he returned to the rotation on Sept. 10. The 26-year-old has a 2.63 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 82 innings.
Even though there will again be questions about the Dodgers' rotation for the postseason because of injuries to Tyler Glasnow, Clayton Kershaw and Gavin Stone, the lineup looks formidable with Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman at the top of the order.
If Yamamoto and Jack Flaherty can hold their own, L.A. may not need that much depth in the rotation to make a deep playoff run. The rest of the NL playoff picture looks interesting heading into the final stretch of the regular season.
The only division races that have lacked any real drama throughout the season are the NL East and NL Central. The Milwaukee Brewers have led the latter by at least five games for all but three days since May 30.
Philadelphia took sole possession of first place in the East on May 3 and has led by at least five games since May 19.
Even though the very top of the NL East has been owned by the Phillies, the ongoing race between the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves for the final playoff spot has added a lot of drama to the final few weeks of the regular season.
Atlanta has managed to remain in playoff contention despite not having reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuรฑa Jr. since May 26 due to a torn ACL and Spencer Strider for only two starts before he underwent Tommy John surgery.
After a dreadful 9-19 record in May, the Mets have gone 60-35since June 1. They are looking to make it back to the playoffs for just the second time since 2017.
The Dodgers have controlled the NL West for most of the season, but second-half surges by the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks made things interesting before L.A. was able to build up a cushion.
All three NL West clubs seem likely to make the postseason, with the Diamondbacks looking even more formidable than the club that made it to the World Series in 2023.
The Dodgers have lost in the NLDS in each of the past two years and haven't made it to the World Series since winning the Fall Classic in 2020. They will be hoping for better success this time around after those disappointments.
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani Wows MLB Fans After Becoming 1st Player with 50 HRs, 50 SBs
Sep 19, 2024
MIAMI, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 19: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on against the Miami Marlins during the first inning of the game at loanDepot park on September 19, 2024 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Chris Arjoon/Getty Images)
Shohei Ohtani made history on Thursday night.
The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar hit an opposite-field home run in the seventh inning against the Miami Marlins, representing his 50th homer of the season. He had his 50th stolen base earlier in the game as well.
Shohei Ohtani has hit 50 home runs and stolen 51 bases this season and no one else in MLB history has ever had 43+ homers and 43+ steals in one year. It's completely ridiculous. pic.twitter.com/Mt8JuiqBNx
Major League Baseball is 155 years old. The Dodgers have played 135 seasons. Shohei Ohtani is a first for both. His 50th homer makes him the first 50/50 player in MLB history. He is also the first Dodger to reach 50 home runs in a season and single-season HR leader.
Ohtani already reached new heights in terms of steals and homers prior to his outburst against the Marlins, becoming the first MLB player to join the 43-43 club during a win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Aug. 30.
With three home runs and two steals on Thursday, he's now the first in the 51-51 club.
After signing a massive 10-year contract with a total value of $700 million to join the Dodgers as a free agent in December 2023, Ohtani has already surpassed the lofty expectations that were placed upon him entering his first season with the organization.
He's hitting .294 with 51 home runs and 120 RBI to go along with a National League-leading 1.005 OPS. Ohtani has helped the Dodgers earn a 90-62 record prior to Thursday, the best mark in the NL West.
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - MARCH 17: Yoshinobu Yamamoto #18 and Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers applaud fans prior to the exhibition game between Los Angeles Dodgers and Kiwoom Heroes at Gocheok Sky Dome on March 17, 2024 in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo by Masterpress/Getty Images)
The signatures of Los Angeles Dodgers teammates Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto are featured on a dual autograph card for the first time ever, Topps announced on Thursday.
Ohtani signed a long-term global trading card agreement with Topps on Aug. 29, as Yamamoto already had a deal with the company.
For the first time EVER, Yoshinobu Yamamoto & Shohei Ohtani have been featured on a dual autograph card ๐ฏ๐ต๐ฅ pic.twitter.com/UGnIQdGjDp
Prior to their 2024 season on the Dodgers, the Japanese stars were previously on the same roster in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. They helped Team Japan win the country's third title in the tournament, with Ohtani recording the final strikeout.
Some of the most memorable moments from the 2023 World Baseball Classic
The two-way superstar joined the Dodgers on a massive 10-year, $700 million contract in Dec. 2023. Ohtani's contract structure was unique, with $680 million deferred to 2034-43 in order to give Los Angeles more payroll flexibility to sign free agents.
One such free agent was Yamamoto, who was one of the top starting pitchers on the market. He eventually signed a 12-year deal worth $325 million with the Dodgers less than two weeks after Ohtani became a member of the team.
Yamamoto's first season in Los Angeles has been shortened due to a strained rotator cuff, but he's still looked impressive on the mound. In 16 starts, he has a 6-2 record to go along with a 2.63 ERA. He has also racked up 95 strikeouts in 82 innings of work.
As for Ohtani, the two-time American League MVP could be adding some more hardware to his collection at the end of his 2024 campaign as a frontrunner for the National League MVP award. He's already recorded 48 home runs, 110 RBIs and 49 stolen bases to go along with a .287/.371/.607 slash line.
MLB Rumors: Buster Posey Handled Matt Chapman Contract Due to Frustration with Zaidi
Sep 16, 2024
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 13: Former San Francisco Giants player Buster Posey talks during a Wall of Fame induction ceremony before the game between the San Francisco Giants and the Minnesota Twins at Oracle Park on July 13, 2024 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
Buster Posey was once a critical piece for the San Francisco Giants on the field, and now the retired catcher is making his presence felt in a much different way.
The Athletic's Andrew Baggarly reported Sunday that the franchise's executive board "became so frustrated by the lack of immediate progress" on extension negotiations with third baseman Matt Chapman that Posey intervened.
"Sources said Posey personally dealt with Chapman to hammer out the basic structure of the contract, which includes a full no-trade provisionโone of the sticking points that [president of baseball operations Farhan] Zaidi had not included in the team's initial proposal," Baggarly wrote.
San Francisco signed Chapman to a six-year, $151 million deal amid a strong campaign from the four-time Gold Glove winner. He has 24 home runs and a 122 OPS+ while continuing to play high-level defense.
"I just have so much respect and value for a player like that."
Signing Chapman in the first place was a nice feather in the cap for Zaidi, yet now the third baseman's second contract with the Giants raises serious questions about the long-term direction of the front office.
Speaking with Baggarly, Zaidi downplayed the significance of what was reported in the story.
"I viewed myself and ownership working in total sync," he said. "This was a priority to get done. I'd expect them to be heavily involved in a deal of this magnitude and they were."
Still, it's tough to positively spin how Posey, who joined the ownership group in September 2022, and his fellow executives reportedly "did not trust" that Zaidi could wrap up a contract with Scott Boras, Chapman's agent.
Zaidi's contract with the Giants is only guaranteed through 2025 with a club option for 2026, so he's potentially heading into next year as a lame duck off the back of a third straight season without playoff baseball.
Baggarly's report points to one obvious conclusion: a change at the top of the front office could come as early as this offseason. Should that happen, Posey might be assuming more power over baseball decisions if he's already helping in negotiations.
