On his night, Helton lobbies for Blackmon in exclusive Rox club

DENVER -- On Saturday, a gold ring was added to the display of Todd Helton’s retired No. 17 at Coors Field, indicative of his induction this year to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Before the Rockies held a pregame ceremony in his honor, Helton took time to endorse current Rockies outfielder/designated hitter Charlie Blackmon to become the third Rockies player to have his number retired.

Hall of Famer Larry Walker’s No. 33 hangs forever. If Helton has a say in it, Blackon’s No. 19 will find its way to the facing of the upper deck in right-center field.

“I was doing TV last night, and they threw up his stats, organizationally, where he ranked,” Helton said. “How can you not put him up there? And if you throw on top of that the type of guy he was, or is, and what he has meant to his teammates, he deserves to be up there.”

While Helton was a guest commentator on the home broadcast of the Rockies’ victory over the Padres on Friday night, Blackmon launched his 223rd home run -- sixth-most in club history. The homer also tied Blackmon with Vinny Castilla for fifth in Coors Field history with 132.

Blackmon, who caught the ceremonial first pitch from Helton on Saturday, is the only player on the current squad to have been a teammate of Helton, who played for the club 1997-2013. Blackmon went deep last year on Todd Helton Day. Blackmon didn't match that this time around, but he did have a hit among his four at-bats during the Rockies' 8-3 loss to the Padres.

The thought of such warm words from Helton brought a smile to the face of Blackmnon, who was wearing the No. 17 dry fit for batting practice that the players and staff are wearing through Players’ Weekend.

“It’s always great to be graced with the presence of Todd,” said Blackmon, who debuted with the Rockies in 2011 and like Helton has played for no other team. “I’m happy to see him, and we played together for a few years. Obviously, he has been inducted into the Hall of Fame, and I’m happy to see him.

“He did a great job with his speech, which is not in his wheelhouse of strengths -- public speaking. I’m happy to see him come back and have a weekend to celebrate all his accomplishments.”

Blackmon entered Saturday leading the club in career triples and ranking second in games played, hits, runs, total bases, doubles and extra-base hits.

Will Blackmon join his former teammate in being honored by the Rockies with special events, and have his 19 never worn again in a game? One problem with that: Blackmon hasn’t decided when he’ll stop wearing his current number.

Conditions are the same as last season at about this time, with the Rockies attacking their youth movement at full speed. Blackmon’s contract was to run out at the end of the season, but the club signed him to a one-year, $13 million extension. Keeping him meant the Rockies could let players develop if they needed time.

Michael Toglia played some right field before taking over first base, and outfielder Jordan Beck and utility man Hunter Goodman received playing time in and around Blackmon. But Blackmon has been needed.

For example, Brenton Doyle entered Saturday leading the Rockies with 20 homers, with Toglia and shortstop Ezequiel Tovar tied for second at 19. The Rockies have experimented with Doyle and Tovar batting leadoff, but both players are better when Blackmon bats at the top.

Blackmon entered Saturday batting .256 with a still-respectable .730 OPS.

“If you could scratch out the not-so-good games, I would be playing well, right?” Blackmon said. “But the league is much harder this year. There is one guy in the National League hitting .300 right now [the Padres’ Luis Arraez], so averages are down. You’ve got to keep that in perspective.

“I’m consistently being competitive. I don’t feel like I’m giving away a ton of at-bats. I’m not hitting for as much power as I’d like to be, but there has been some on-base, which plays from the leadoff spot. Hopefully, I can get together a good last month and a half.”

Blackmon admitted “thinking about it sometimes,” but he has not declared whether the next month and a half is his last month and a half.

“I’m still focused on day to day right now,” Blackmon said.