Back to the Colorado Rockies Newsfeed

Michael Cuddyer retires; baseball loses one of its true gentlemen

(Getty Images North America)

In the southwest corner of Denver’s Observatory Park sits a backstop and a bare-bones baseball diamond. I drive by it often because I love the neighborhood.

I drove by again Saturday as the snow floated down, creating a Christmas postcard.

As I looked at the snow-covered diamond, I thought about Michael Cuddyer.

The former Rockies outfielder and part-time first baseman retired from baseball Friday night, saying his 36-year-old body just couldn’t take the strain and the pounding anymore.

During his three seasons with the Rockies, Cuddy rented a house and lived directly across the street from that baseball diamond in Observatory Park.