Nanette “Nan” Black, a former pediatric ICU nurse and the wife of former Colorado Rockies manager Bud Black, has been his biggest supporter for nearly four decades.
Their partnership, which started in the early 1980s, has gone through the highs of playoff runs and the lows of professional setbacks, including Bud’s recent firing from the Rockies on May 11, 2025, after a historically dismal 7-33 start to the season.
As Bud experiences this tough time, Nan’s strong support will help him process the situation. Their long friendship and shared values, like caring for family and helping others, strengthen their bond.
Bud Black has publicly expressed their mutual admiration in interviews. In a 2017 San Diego Union-Tribune feature, Bud credited Nan’s support during his transition from player to coach, saying:
Nan’s been there through every step, moving cities, late nights, the whole deal. She’s tougher than I am, and I love her for it.
Bud and Nan’s love story began in the early 1980s at San Diego State University, where Bud was a standout pitcher and Nan worked at the dining hall, checking meal ticket punch cards.
Nan’s father was a professor there during that time, and Bud was pursuing his baseball career.
After dating for a few years, Bud proposed, and they married on February 9, 1985. They have been married for 40 years.
The Blacks have two daughters, Jamie and Jessie. While the family maintains a relatively private profile, Bud has occasionally shared glimpses of their bond.
In a 2018 MLB interview, he mentioned how Nan and his daughters grounded him during the high-pressure baseball season:
Nan and the girls, they’re my rock. Whether it’s a win or a loss, I go home to them, and that’s what keeps me steady.
Nan And Bud Black Are Involved In Philanthropic Activities!
Bud and Nan Black, a married couple of 40 years, are committed to children’s health and well-being.
On April 23, 2020, Nan and Bud donated $10,000 to River + Pearls, a Fort Collins, Colorado-based nonprofit founded by Nan’s sister, Christina DiMari.
The donation funded the production of “My Journey,” a specialized coloring book designed as art therapy for children in hospitals, particularly those weakened by serious illnesses or treatments.
The book, created by 17-year-old Morgan Sallier, who was inspired by her sister’s battle with leukemia, features easy-to-complete pages with simple messages and space for children to express their emotions.
The Blacks’ contribution enabled the distribution of these books to hospitals in Colorado and Wyoming. This was part of a broader effort that saw nearly 50,000 books donated to 151 hospitals nationwide amid heightened demand during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nan’s background in pediatric nursing and her later work in infectious disease case studies, including research on MRSA, speak volumes about her longstanding connection to pediatric care and hospital environments.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Bud Black was a Major League Baseball pitcher before becoming a manager. He played for teams like the Kansas City Royals, Cleveland Indians, Toronto Blue Jays, and San Francisco Giants.
- He was part of the Kansas City Royals’ 1985 World Series-winning team.
