Blackmon’s iconic 2014 home opener changed everything for Rockies star

Ten years ago, Chuck got “Nazty.” First, there was the birth of The Beard. Then he played one of the greatest games in Rockies history.

“That one game, you could almost say, single-handedly turned my career around,” Charlie Blackmon said.

The date was April 4, 2014 — opening day in Lodo, with 49,130 packed into Coors Field to witness what became one of the most iconic performances of Blackmon’s career.

Sporting the beginnings of his famed beard, Blackmon hit 6-for-6 with one home run, three doubles, two singles and five RBIS in Colorado’s 12-2 win over Arizona.

“I remember it well — just an incredible day,” said former Rockies second baseman DJ Lemahieu, Blackmon’s close friend and former roommate.

On Friday afternoon, Blackmon, 37, will play in his 12th home opener at Coors. After he finishes his meticulous pregame routine — stretching, studying video, taking batting practice — he’ll be sure to soak it all up.

“Because opening day is such a big deal for the city of Denver, right?” he said. “It seems like everybody’s at the ballpark or is downtown watching the game at a local establishment. It seems like the whole city is plugged into that home opener. So that was the right time to have a game like that. It was special.”

It’s unlikely Friday’s game will come close to matching that game 10 years ago. Not only because Blackmon had six hits — since 1900, it’s only been accomplished 74 times in a nine-inning game — but also because it launched an extraordinary career for the fourtime All-star who’s become a Rockies