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'''Todd Lynn Helton'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-reference.com/h/heltoto01.shtml|title=Todd Helton Statistics|accessdate=2007-10-19|publisher=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> (born [[August 20]], [[1973]] in [[Knoxville, Tennessee]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=5870|title=ESPN - Todd Helton Stats, News, Photos - Colorado Rockies - MLB Baseball|accessdate=2007-10-19|publisher=ESPN.com}}</ref>) is a [[Major League Baseball]] [[first baseman]] who has played for the [[Colorado Rockies]] since the [[1997 in sports|1997]] season.
'''Todd Lynn Helton'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-reference.com/h/heltoto01.shtml|title=Todd Helton Statistics|accessdate=2007-10-19|publisher=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> (born [[August 20]], [[1973]] in [[Knoxville, Tennessee]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=5870|title=ESPN - Todd Helton Stats, News, Photos - Colorado Rockies - MLB Baseball|accessdate=2007-10-19|publisher=ESPN.com}}</ref> is [[first baseman]] for the [[Colorado Rockies]] [[ ]].

⚫
Helton is a , of . As of the end of the 2007 season, has the highest batting average all active players at .332, placing him second behind [[Tony Gwynn]] (.338) among all players whose careers began after World War II.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/stats/historical/player_stats.jsp?sortByStat=AVG&baseballScope=mlb&statType=1&teamPosCode=all&subScope=pos&timeFrame=3&timeSubFrame2=0 |title=All-Time Batting Average Leaders (Top 50) |publisher=[[Major League Baseball]] |accessdate=2007-11-16}} Gwynn is 15th all-time and Helton 21st. The only player above them in batting average who played after World War II was [[Ted Williams]], whose career began in [[1939]], before the U.S. entered the war.</ref> Although [[Ichiro Suzuki]] has a .333 average for his MLB career, higher than that of Helton, he will not have enough at-bats to qualify for career leadership until the 2008 season.

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the 2007 active (.332), in onbase percentage (.430), in slugging percentage (.583), in intentional walks (162) and 10th in doubles (455).

⚫
In addition, Helton holds Colorado Rockies club records for hits (1,878), home runs (303), doubles (455), walks (980), runs scored (1,104), RBI (1,087), on-base percentage (.430), games played (1,578), total bases (3,304) and other categories.


==Before turning pro==
==Before turning pro==

===High school years===
===High school years===


Helton attended Knox Central High School in [[Knoxville, Tennessee]] and was a letterman in football and baseball. In football, he posted 2772 total yards as quarterback.
Helton attended Central High School in [[Knoxville, Tennessee]] and was a letterman in football and baseball. In football, he posted total yards as quarterback.


In baseball, as a senior, he posted a .690 batting average and 12 home runs and was named the Regional Player of the Year. Helton graduated from [[Central High School (Knoxville, Tennessee)|Central High School]] in 1992 with a 3.97 grade point average.
In baseball, as a senior, posted a . batting average and 12 home runs and was named the Regional Player of the Year. [[ .


===University of Tennessee===
Today a framed photo of Helton in his Colorado Rockies uniform hangs in Central High's commons area.


⚫
Helton received a scholarship from the [[University of Tennessee]] to play both football and baseball a the his Tennessee he backed up [[Heath Shuler]] at quarterback. his junior season he was the back-up [[Jerry Colquitt]] and ahead of [[Peyton Manning]]. After an injury to Colquitt, Helton got the starting spot only to face injury himself and be replaced by Manning. Following his junior baseball season where he won the [[Dick Howser Trophy]] as National Collegiate Baseball Player of the Year, Helton was drafted by the Colorado Rockies.
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===Football career===

⚫
Helton received a scholarship from the [[University of Tennessee]] to play both football and baseball, after turning down a deal from the San Diego Padres. During his freshman and sophomore years at Tennessee he backed up [[Heath Shuler]] at quarterback. Starting his junior season he was the back-up behind [[Jerry Colquitt]] and ahead of [[Peyton Manning]]. After an injury to Colquitt, Helton got the starting spot only to face injury himself and be replaced by Manning. Following his junior baseball season where he won the [[Dick Howser Trophy]] as National Collegiate Baseball Player of the Year, Helton was drafted by the Colorado Rockies.


===Draft and debut===
===Draft and debut===


Helton was drafted in the 1st round, 5th overall, in 1995 by the Colorado Rockies. Todd spent the next few years playing for the high A [[Asheville Tourists]], AA [[New Haven Ravens]], and AAA [[Colorado Springs Sky Sox]]. He made his major-league debut on July 21, 1997.
Helton was drafted in the round, overall, in 1995 by the Colorado Rockies. spent the next few years playing for the highA [[Asheville Tourists]], AA [[New Haven Ravens]] and AAA [[Colorado Springs Sky Sox]]. He made his major-league debut on , 1997.


==MLB career==
==MLB career==


⚫
===1997-1999: Early career===
{{Unreferencedsection|date=October 2007}}


⚫
During the 1997 season, Helton hit .280/.337/.484 (batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage), with home runs, in 35 games played. When Rockies first baseman [[Andrés Galarraga]] went to the [[Atlanta Braves]] in 1998, Helton became the full-time starter at first base for Colorado. He hit .315/.380/.530, with 25 home runs and 97 RBI, in 152 games played. Helton led all major-league rookies in average (.315), homers (25), RBI (97), multi-hit games (49), total bases (281), slugging percentage (.530) and extrabase hits (63).<ref name=rockiesbio1998>[http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/team/player_career.jsp?player_id=115732&y=1998 The Official Site of The Colorado Rockies: Team: Player Information : Biography and Career Highlights<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> He also led all National League rookies in runs (78), hits (167) and on-base percentage (.380). At the time, only Mike Piazza (35), David Justice (28) and Darryl Strawberry (26) had hit more homers as an NL rookie since 1972, and only Piazza had more RBI (112).<ref name=rockiesbio1998 /> Helton finished second to [[Kerry Wood]] of the [[Chicago Cubs]] in the voting for [[National League]] [[MLB Rookie of the Year Award|Rookie of the Year]].
⚫
Helton is a solid first baseman, the winner of three Gold Glove Awards (2001, 2002, 2004). As of the end of the 2007 season, he has the highest batting average among all active players at .332, placing him second behind [[Tony Gwynn]] (.338) among all players whose careers began after World War II.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/stats/historical/player_stats.jsp?sortByStat=AVG&baseballScope=mlb&statType=1&teamPosCode=all&subScope=pos&timeFrame=3&timeSubFrame2=0 |title=All-Time Batting Average Leaders (Top 50) |publisher=[[Major League Baseball]] |accessdate=2007-11-16}} Gwynn is 15th all-time and Helton 21st. The only player above them in batting average who played after World War II was [[Ted Williams]], whose career began in [[1939]], before the U.S. entered the war.</ref> Although [[Ichiro Suzuki]] has a .333 average for his MLB career, higher than that of Helton, he will not have enough at-bats to qualify for career leadership until the 2008 season.


⚫
In 1999, Helton .320.395.587 35 home runs and 113 RBI 68 walks. On [[June 19]], [[1999]], Helton [[hit for the cycle]] against the Florida Marlins. He fell short of hitting a second cycle on four different occasions during the 1999 season, which would have made him only the second player since 1900 to hit two cycles in one season.<ref />
⚫
Through the [[2007]] season, he had the highest career batting average of any active player with enough at-bats to qualify for career leadership (.332), and was 2nd in on base percentage (.430), 4th in slugging percentage (.583), 7th in intentional walks (162), and 10th in doubles (455).


⚫
=== career===
⚫
In addition, Helton holds the Colorado Rockies club records for hits (1,878), home runs (303), doubles (455), walks (980), runs scored (1,104), RBI (1,087), on-base percentage (.430), games played (1,578), total bases (3,304), and other categories.


⚫
Helton enjoyed his best season in [[ ]], the major leagues in (), (), doubles (59), total bases (405), extrabase hits (103), slugging percentage (.698) and OPS (1.162).<ref name=rockiesbio2000>[http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/team/player_career.jsp?player_id=115732&y=2000 The Official Site of The Colorado Rockies: Team: Player Information : Biography and Career Highlights<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> league-leading numbers in on-base percentage, slugging percentage and batting average gave him the "percentage triple crown."<ref name=rockiesbio2000 /> Helton became the second Rockies player ([[Larry Walker]] in 1999) to accomplish that feat. Helton and Walker made the Rockies the first team to record percentage triple crowns in consecutive seasons with different players.<ref name=rockiesbio2000 /> Helton became only the fourth player in National League history to lead the NL in both batting average and RBI.
His favorite players growing up were [[Rod Carew]] and [[Don Mattingly]].{{Fact|date=February 2007}}


⚫
Helton was invited to his first career [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game]] in 2000. He also received National League [[Player of the Month]] for May and August. He finished fifth in voting for the MVP award. However, the [[Associated Press]], [[The Sporting News]], USA Baseball Alumni and [[Baseball Digest]] all named Helton the MLB Player of the Year.<ref name=rockiesbio2000 /> [[Buck O'Neil]] and the [[Negro Leagues Baseball Museum]] presented Helton with the Walter Fenner "Buck" Leonard Legacy Award.<ref name=rockiesbio2000 /> Helton was also given the team-honored version of the [[Roberto Clemente]] Man of Year Award, for his community contributions Eastern Tennessee.<ref name=rockiesbio2000 /> Furthermore, he was the National League winner of the second annual [[Hank Aaron Award]]. For all of his success, the Colorado Rockies rewarded Helton with a nine-year, $141.5 million dollar contract in April of 2001 that took effect in 2003.<ref>[http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/mlb/article/0,2777,DRMN_23924_5681159,00.html RINGOLSBY: Team-by-team report : Rockies : The Rocky Mountain News<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
⚫
===1997-1999: Early career===


The [[2001 Colorado Rockies season|following season]], Helton posted a career-high 49 home runs (22 of them occurred away from [[Coors Field]]).<ref name=rockiesbio2001>http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player_career.jsp?player_id=115732&y=2001</ref> The 49 home runs tied teammate [[Larry Walker]] for the most home runs ever by a Colorado Rockies player in a single season.<ref name=rockiesbio2001 /> Additionally, Helton averaged a .336 batting average, .432 on-base percentage and .685 slugging percentage.<ref name=rockiesbio2001 /> He also had 105 extra base hits, making him the first player in MLB history to have at least 100 total extra base hits in back-to-back seasons.<ref name=rockiesbio2001 /> Furthermore, Helton attained 402 total bases, making him only the fourth player in MLB history to do so ([[Chuck Klein]], Gehrig and Foxx are the others).<ref name=rockiesbio2001 />
⚫
During the 1997 season, Helton hit .280/.337/.484 (batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage), with 5 home runs, in 35 games played. When Rockies first baseman [[Andrés Galarraga]] went to the [[Atlanta Braves]] in 1998, Helton became the full-time starter at first base for Colorado. He hit .315/.380/.530, with 25 home runs and 97 RBI, in 152 games played. Helton led all major-league rookies in average (.315), homers (25), RBI (97), multi-hit games (49), total bases (281), slugging percentage (.530) and extra-base hits (63).<ref name=rockiesbio1998>[http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/team/player_career.jsp?player_id=115732&y=1998 The Official Site of The Colorado Rockies: Team: Player Information : Biography and Career Highlights<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> He also led all National League rookies in runs (78), hits (167) and on-base percentage (.380). At the time, only Mike Piazza (35), David Justice (28) and Darryl Strawberry (26) had hit more homers as an NL rookie since 1972, and only Piazza had more RBI (112).<ref name=rockiesbio1998 /> Helton finished second to [[Kerry Wood]] of the [[Chicago Cubs]] in the voting for [[National League|NL]] [[MLB Rookie of the Year Award|Rookie of the Year]].


Helton appeared in his second consecutive All-Star game in 2001 - his first as a starter.<ref name=rockiesbio2001 /> He won his first [[Gold Glove]] at first base and was once again a top candidate for MVP, but was overshadowed by [[Sammy Sosa]] and [[Barry Bonds]].
⚫
In 1999, Helton hit .320/.395/.587, with 35 home runs and 113 RBI. He also drew 68 walks. On [[June 19]], [[1999]], Helton [[hit for the cycle]] against the Florida Marlins. He fell short of hitting a second cycle on four different occasions during the 1999 season, which would have made him only the second player since 1900 to hit two cycles in one season.<ref>[http://www.redroaddesign.com/todd/bio.htm Todd Helton's Official Website<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


In [[2002 Colorado Rockies season|2002]], Helton had a .329 batting average, 30 home runs, 109 RBI, 107 runs and 319 total bases.<ref name=rockiesbio2002>http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player_career.jsp?player_id=115732&y=2002</ref> He became the first player in Rockies history to score at least 100 runs in four consecutive seasons.<ref name=rockiesbio2002 /> He was named [[Player of the Month]] for May, as he hit .347 with six doubles, one triple, 10 homers and 28 RBI during the month.<ref name=rockiesbio2002 /> Helton was named to his third consecutive All-Star game - second straight as a starter.<ref name=rockiesbio2002 /> He also received his second consecutive Gold Glove.<ref name=rockiesbio2002 />
===2000-2004: Mid-career===


[[2003 Colorado Rockies season|2003]] saw Helton involved in the closest NL batting race in history, as he hit .35849, while [[St. Louis Cardinals]] first baseman [[Albert Pujols]] finished first with a .35871 batting average.<ref name=rockiesbio2003>http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player_career.jsp?player_id=115732&y=2003</ref> During the season, Helton also had 33 home runs, 117 RBI, 135 runs, 49 doubles and five triples. He won his fourth Player of the Month honor during the month of April, as he hit .337 with six home runs, 27 RBI, 28 runs, 11 doubles and 24 walks.<ref name=rockiesbio2003 /> He also appeared in his fourth consecutive All-Star game.
⚫
In 2000, Helton enjoyed his best season, leading the National League in batting average (.372) and also winning the overall Major League batting title over the [[American League]]-leading, [[Boston Red Sox]] shortstop, [[Nomar Garciaparra]]. During the 2000 season, Helton led the major leagues in RBI (147), hits (216), doubles (59), total bases (405), extra-base hits (103), on-base percentage (.463), slugging percentage (.698) and OPS (1.162). Helton's 103 extra-base hits tied for the fourth most in MLB history and the second most in NL history.<ref name=rockiesbio2000>[http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/team/player_career.jsp?player_id=115732&y=2000 The Official Site of The Colorado Rockies: Team: Player Information : Biography and Career Highlights<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> His league-leading numbers in on-base percentage, slugging percentage and batting average gave him the "percentage triple crown."<ref name=rockiesbio2000 /> Helton became the second Rockies player ([[Larry Walker]] in 1999) to accomplish that feat. Helton and Walker made the Rockies the majors' first team to record percentage triple crowns in consecutive seasons with different players.<ref name=rockiesbio2000 /> Helton became only the fourth player in [[National League]] history to lead the NL in both batting average and RBI.


During the [[2004 Colorado Rockies season|2004 season]], Helton again finished second in the NL batting race, as he hit .347, while [[San Francisco Giants]] [[left fielder]] [[Barry Bonds]] hit .362. Helton also had 32 homers and 96 RBI on the season. He became the first player in MLB history to hit at least .315 with 25 HR and 95 RBI in each of his first seven full seasons in the majors.<ref name=rockiesbio2004>http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player_career.jsp?player_id=115732&y=2004</ref> He became only the third player in MLB history to do accomplish that feat during any seven-year stretch in a career ([[Lou Gehrig]] and [[Babe Ruth]] are the others).<ref name=rockiesbio2004 /> He set a franchise record by hitting at least 30 home runs in six consecutive seasons.<ref name=rockiesbio2004 /> Helton was named to his team-record fifth consecutive All-Star game and won his third Gold Glove during the season.<ref name=rockiesbio2004 />
⚫
Helton was invited to his first career [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game]] in 2000. He also received [[National League]] [[Player of the Month]] awards for May and August. He finished fifth in voting for the MVP award. However, the [[Associated Press]], [[The Sporting News]], USA Baseball Alumni and [[Baseball Digest]] all named Helton the MLB Player of the Year.<ref name=rockiesbio2000 /> [[Buck O'Neil]] and the [[Negro Leagues Baseball Museum]] presented Helton with the Walter Fenner "Buck" Leonard Legacy Award.<ref name=rockiesbio2000 /> Helton was also given the team-honored version of the [[Roberto Clemente]] Man of Year Award, for his community contributions in Eastern Tennessee.<ref name=rockiesbio2000 /> Furthermore, he was the National League winner of the second annual [[Hank Aaron Award]]. For all of his success, the Colorado Rockies rewarded Helton with a nine-year, $141.5 million dollar contract in April of 2001 that took effect in 2003.<ref>[http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/mlb/article/0,2777,DRMN_23924_5681159,00.html RINGOLSBY: Team-by-team report : Rockies : The Rocky Mountain News<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


In [[2005 Colorado Rockies season|2005]], Helton spent time on the disabled list (July 26 - August 9) for the first time in his career with a strained left calf muscle.<ref name=rockiesbio2005>http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player_career.jsp?player_id=115732&y=2005</ref> He hit .302 with 20 home runs, 79 RBI, 92 runs and 45 doubles for the season. He was under 1.000 in OPS (finished with .979 OPS) for the first time since 1999.<ref name=ESPNstats /> Helton also wasn't named to the National League All-Star team for the first time since 1999. However, he did end up joining Gehrig and [[Bill Terry]] as the only first baseman in MLB history to have at least a .315 batting average in eight consecutive seasons.<ref name=rockiesbio2005 />
The following season, Helton posted a career-high 49 home runs. Additionally, he averaged .336/.432/.685 and drew 98 walks. The 49 home runs tied teammate Larry Walker for the most home runs ever by a Colorado Rockies player in a single season. Helton was a top candidate for MVP, but was overshadowed by [[Sammy Sosa]] and [[Barry Bonds]]. In 2002, he hit .329 and led the Rockies with 30 homers and 109 RBI. In 2003, Helton was in the closest NL batting race in history. He hit .358, but [[St. Louis Cardinals]] first baseman [[Albert Pujols]], who hit .359, won the batting title. Helton added 35 home runs and 117 RBI during the 2003 season. In 2004, he hit .347, but his batting average that year was topped by Barry Bonds' .362. Helton also had 32 homers and 96 RBI on the season.

[[Image:Helton at bat 2.JPG|thumb|left|Helton swinging at a pitch during a game against the [[Seattle Mariners]].]] The following [[2006 Colorado Rockies season|season]], Helton had to spend time on the disabled list again, this time from April 20 - May 4, as he was diagnosed with [[ileitis|acute terminal ileitis]].<ref name=rockiesbio2006>http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player_career.jsp?player_id=115732&y=2006</ref> He hit .302 with 15 home runs, 81 RBI, 40 doubles, 91 walks and a .404 on-base percentage for the season.<ref name=rockiesbio2006 /> He ended the season below .900 in OPS (he had .880 OPS) for the first time since entering the league in 1997 when he only played 35 games that year.<ref name=ESPNstats /> Helton finished third on the Rockies roster in 2006 in runs (94), hits (165), doubles (40), total bases (260) and multi-hit games (42).<ref name=rockiesbio2006 />


===2007-present===
===2007-present===


Helton's power and RBI production stayed relatively level to his previous year's stats during the 2007 season, as he managed 17 home runs and 91 RBI. Despite these numbers being below his career averages, Helton has so far kept up his string of seven consecutive seasons with an On-Base Percentage higher than .400, nine consecutive seasons with a batting average above .300, and has also been walked more times than he has struck out (a feat he has accomplished in seven of his first ten full seasons).
Helton's power and RBI production stayed relatively level to his previous year's stats during the 2007 season, as he managed 17 home runs and 91 RBI. Despite these numbers being below his career averages, Helton has so far kept up his string of seven consecutive seasons with an - higher than .400, nine consecutive seasons with a batting average above .300, and has also been walked more times than he has struck out (a feat he has accomplished in seven of his first ten full seasons).


Helton recorded his 1,000th career hit at [[Coors Field]] on [[June 20]], [[2007]], in a 6-1 home win over the [[New York Yankees]], becoming only the fourth active player to have 1,000 hits in his own ballpark.<ref>http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=270620127</ref>
Helton recorded his 1,000th career hit at [[Coors Field]] on [[June 20]], [[2007]], in a 6-1 home win over the [[New York Yankees]], becoming only the fourth active player to have 1,000 hits in his own ballpark.<ref>http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=270620127</ref>
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Helton hit his 300th career home run on [[September 16]], [[2007]], in a 13-0 home win over the [[Florida Marlins]].<ref>http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=270916127</ref><ref>http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20070916&content_id=2211951&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=col</ref> He became the first player to hit 300 home runs for the [[Colorado Rockies]].
Helton hit his 300th career home run on [[September 16]], [[2007]], in a 13-0 home win over the [[Florida Marlins]].<ref>http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=270916127</ref><ref>http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20070916&content_id=2211951&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=col</ref> He became the first player to hit 300 home runs for the [[Colorado Rockies]].


Helton made what was arguably the most pivotal play of the Rockies' 2007 season in the second game of a [[Doubleheader (baseball)|doubleheader]] against the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] on [[September 18]], [[2007]]. In the bottom of the ninth inning, with two outs and two strikes, Helton hit an emotional two-run [[walk-off home run]] off of Dodgers [[closer (baseball)|closer]] [[Takashi Saito]].<ref>http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=270918327</ref> The home run kept the Rockies alive in the bid for the [[wild card]] and [[National League West]] titles. The Rockies eventually clinched the [[National League]] [[wild card]] in a [[2007 National League One Game Playoff|wild card tiebreaker game]] against the [[San Diego Padres]], allowing Helton to appear in the playoffs for the first time in his career.<ref>http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=271001127</ref> Colorado went on to sweep the [[Philadelphia Phillies]] in three games of the [[2007 National League Division Series|National League Division Series]]. Helton hit a triple in the first pitch of his first career playoff at bat in the opening game against the Phillies at Philadelphia.<ref>http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=271003122</ref> The Rockies also swept the [[Arizona Diamondbacks]] in four games of the [[2007 National League Championship Series|National League Championship Series]], sending the Rockies on their first trip to the [[World Series]] in franchise history.
Helton made what was arguably the most pivotal play of the Rockies' 2007 season in the second game of a [[Doubleheader (baseball)|doubleheader]] against the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] on [[September 18]], [[2007]]. In the bottom of the ninth inning, with two outs and two strikes, Helton hit an emotional two-run [[walk-off home run]] off of Dodgers [[closer (baseball)|closer]] [[Takashi Saito]].<ref>http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=270918327</ref> The home run kept the Rockies alive in the bid the [[wild card]] [[National League West]] . The Rockies eventually clinched the [[National League]] [[wild card]] in a [[2007 National League One Game Playoff|wild card tiebreaker game]], allowing Helton to appear in the playoffs for the first time in his career.<ref>http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=271001127</ref> Colorado went on to sweep the [[Philadelphia Phillies]] in three games of the [[2007 National League Division Series|National League Division Series]]. Helton hit a triple in the first pitch of his first career playoff atbat in the opening game against the Phillies at Philadelphia.<ref>http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=271003122</ref> The Rockies also swept the [[Arizona Diamondbacks]] in four games of the [[2007 National League Championship Series|National League Championship Series]], sending the Rockies on their first trip to the [[World Series]] in franchise history.


Helton is currently in the sixth year of a nine-year, $141.5 million dollar contract and will be a free agent following the 2011 season.
Helton is currently in the sixth year of a nine-year, $141.5 million dollar contract and will be a free agent following the 2011 season.
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===Coors Field effect===
===Coors Field effect===


There is some evidence Helton's impressive statistics are the results of playing his home games at hitter-friendly Coors Field. As of September 29, 2007, Helton has batted .367 in Colorado, and .295 on the road. He has averaged one home run per 15.5 at bats at Coors Field versus one home run per 23.8 at bats on the road. In a similar number of at bats (2849 at home, 2807 on the road), Helton has 225 more RBI at Coors than on the road. He also has scored more runs (685 vs 417), has a higher [[on base average]] (.465 vs .394), [[slugging average]] (.662 vs .502), and [[On-base plus slugging|OPS]] (1.127 vs .897) at Coors Field. Helton also walks less, hits fewer doubles and triples, steals fewer bases, and strikes out more frequently on the road.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/5870/splits;_ylt=AtxBWGRotfNHH.DTshJYsxaFCLcF?year=career&type=Batting|title=Todd Helton's career split stats |publisher=Yahoo! Sports|accessmonthday=[[September 30]] |accessyear=[[2007]]}}</ref> However, it should be noted that one of the reasons for any substantial differences in home and road splits for Rockies batters is that they have to make adjustments in how they see pitches away from Coors Field - particularly breaking balls, such as sliders and curve balls - since those pitches act differently at Coors Field than on the road.<ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=rogers_phil&id=2046292 ESPN - Coors Field a truly unique environment - MLB<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
As of September 29, 2007, Helton has batted .367 and .295 on the road. He has averaged one home run per 15.5 atbats at Coors Field versus one home run per 23.8 atbats on the road. In a similar number of atbats ( at home on the road), Helton has 225 more RBI at Coors than on the road. He also has scored more runs (685 vs 417), has a higher [[on base average]] (.465 vs .394), [[slugging average]] (.662 vs .502) and [[On-base plus slugging|OPS]] (1.127 vs .897). Helton also walks less, hits fewer doubles and triples, steals fewer bases, and strikes out more frequently on the road.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/5870/splits;_ylt=AtxBWGRotfNHH.DTshJYsxaFCLcF?year=career&type=Batting|title=Todd Helton's career split stats |publisher=Yahoo! Sports|accessmonthday=[[September 30]] |accessyear=[[2007]]}}</ref> However, it should be noted that one of the reasons for any substantial differences in home and road splits for Rockies batters is that they have to make adjustments in how they see pitches away from Coors Field - particularly breaking balls, such as sliders and curve balls - since those pitches act differently at Coors Field than on the road.<ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=rogers_phil&id=2046292 ESPN - Coors Field a truly unique environment - MLB<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


===Statistics===
===Statistics===

====Regular season====
====Regular season====


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* National League [[List of National League Slugging Percentage Leaders|Slugging Percentage leader]] (2000)
* National League [[List of National League Slugging Percentage Leaders|Slugging Percentage leader]] (2000)
* National League [[List of Major League Baseball RBI champions|RBI leader]] (2000)
* National League [[List of Major League Baseball RBI champions|RBI leader]] (2000)
* National League [[List of Major League Baseball doubles champions|Doubles leader]] (2000, Helton hit 59 doubles during the season, which tied [[Chuck Klein]] for the third-highest single-season doubles total in NL history.).
* National League [[List of Major League Baseball doubles champions|Doubles leader]] (2000, Helton hit 59 doubles during the season, which tied [[Chuck Klein]] for the third-highest single-season doubles total in NL history.)
* National League Hits leader (2000)
* National League Hits leader (2000)
* National League On-Base Percentage leader (2000, 2005, 2007)
* National League On-Base Percentage leader (2000, 2005, 2007)
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* [[The Sporting News]] National League Player of the Year (2000)
* [[The Sporting News]] National League Player of the Year (2000)
* No. 10 in [[Major League Baseball]] history in [[On-base percentage]] (.430)
* No. 10 in [[Major League Baseball]] history in [[On-base percentage]] (.430)
* Helton is the only player in MLB history to have 100-plus extra base hits in consecutive seasons: 103 in 2000, and 105 in 2001. The only others to do it twice in their careers, but not consecutively, were [[Lou Gehrig]] [1927 (117), 1930 (100)] and [[Chuck Klein]] [1930 (107), 1932 (103)].
* Helton is the only player in MLB history to have 100-plus extra base hits in consecutive seasons: 103 in 2000, and 105 in 2001. The only others to do it twice in their careers, but not consecutively, were [[Lou Gehrig]] [1927 (117), 1930 (100)] and [[Chuck Klein]] [1930 (107), 1932 (103)].
* Helton is one of only four players in MLB history (Klein in 1929 and 1930, [[Jimmie Foxx]] in 1932 and 1933, along with Gehrig in 1930 and 1931) to have reached 400 total bases in consecutive seasons (405 in 2000, 402 in 2001). Gehrig reached 400 total bases in four seasons (1927, 1930, 1931, 1934), and Klein did so once more (1932). The other players to reach 400 total bases twice in a career, but not consecutively, were [[Babe Ruth]] (1921, 1927), [[Rogers Hornsby]] (1922, 1929) and [[Sammy Sosa]] (1998, 2001).
* Helton is one of only four players in MLB history (Klein in 1929 and 1930, [[Jimmie Foxx]] in 1932 and 1933, along with Gehrig in 1930 and 1931) to have reached 400 total bases in consecutive seasons (405 in 2000, 402 in 2001). Gehrig reached 400 total bases in four seasons (1927, 1930, 1931, 1934), and Klein did so once more (1932). The other players to reach 400 total bases twice in a career, but not consecutively, were [[Babe Ruth]] (1921, 1927), [[Rogers Hornsby]] (1922, 1929) and [[Sammy Sosa]] (1998, 2001).
* Helton is one of only five players in MLB history (the first ever in the National League) to have at least 200 hits, 40 home runs, 100 RBI, 100 runs, 100 extra-base hits and 100 walks in one season (2000).<ref name=rockiesbio2000 /> The others to do so were Babe Ruth (1921), Lou Gehrig (1927, 1930), Jimmie Foxx (1932) and Hank Greenberg (1937).
* Helton is one of only five players in MLB history (the first ever in the National League) to have at least 200 hits, 40 home runs, 100 RBI, 100 runs, 100 extra-base hits and 100 walks in one season (2000).<ref name=rockiesbio2000 /> The others to do so were Babe Ruth (1921), Lou Gehrig (1927, 1930), Jimmie Foxx (1932) and Hank Greenberg (1937).
* Helton is one of only three first baseman in MLB history (Gehrig and [[Bill Terry]] are the others) to have at least a .315 batting average in eight consecutive seasons (1998-2005).<ref name=rockiesbio2005 />
* Among active players with at least 4,000 [[at bats]], Helton is currently: second in batting average (.3316) to [[Ichiro Suzuki]] (.333), with [[Albert Pujols]] (.3315) nipping at Helton's heels, second (10th all-time) in on-base percentage [(.430), behind [[Barry Bonds]] (.445)], fourth (10th all-time) in slugging percentage [(.583), behind Pujols (.620), Bonds (.607) and [[Manny Ramírez]] (.593)] and third (eighth all-time) in on-base plus slugging [(1.0138), behind Bonds (1.0512) and Pujols (1.0402)].
* Among active players with at least 4,000 [[at bats]], Helton is currently: second in batting average (.3316) to [[Ichiro Suzuki]] (.333), with [[Albert Pujols]] (.3315) nipping at Helton's heels, second (10th all-time) in on-base percentage [(.430), behind [[Barry Bonds]] (.445)], fourth (10th all-time) in slugging percentage [(.583), behind Pujols (.620), Bonds (.607) and [[Manny Ramírez]] (.593)] and third (eighth all-time) in on-base plus slugging [(1.0138), behind Bonds (1.0512) and Pujols (1.0402)].
* Colorado Rockies career leader in on-base percentage (.430), games played (1,578), at bats (5,663), plate appearances (6,758), runs (1,104), hits (1,878), total bases (3,304), doubles (455), home runs (303), RBI (1,087), walks (980), singles (1,089), runs created (1,459), extra-base hits (789), times on base (2,906), sacrifice flies (61) and intentional walks (162).
* Colorado Rockies career leader in on-base percentage (.430), games played (1,578), at bats (5,663), plate appearances (6,758), runs (1,104), hits (1,878), total bases (3,304), doubles (455), home runs (303), RBI (1,087), walks (980), singles (1,089), runs created (1,459), extra-base hits (789), times on base (2,906), sacrifice flies (61) and intentional walks (162).
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==Personal life==
==Personal life==


Helton wears number 17 in tribute to [[Mark Grace]] of the [[Cubs]]. Incidentally, Grace wore 17 because [[Keith Hernandez]] wore 17. Hernandez wore 17 with the [[Mets]] because he could not wear number 37, his number with the [[St. Louis Cardinals|Cardinals]], 37 being retired for [[Casey Stengel]]. Hernandez wore both 37 and 17 to honor [[Mickey Mantle]], whose number was 7.
Helton number 17 in tribute to [[ ]] [[]]. Incidentally, Grace wore 17 because [[Keith Hernandez]] wore 17. Hernandez wore 17 with the Mets because he could not wear number 37, his number with the [[St. Louis Cardinals]], 37 retired [[Casey Stengel]]. Hernandez wore both 37 and 17 to honor [[Mickey Mantle]], whose number was 7.


Helton and his family -- wife Christy and daughter Tierney Faith (born [[September 24]], [[2002]]) -- reside in [[Brighton, Colorado]].
Helton and his family - wife Christy and daughter Tierney Faith (born [[September 24]], [[2002]]) - reside in [[Brighton, Colorado]].


As stated earlier, Helton was the backup quarterback to [[Peyton Manning]], while at the [[University of Tennessee]]. Coincidentally, his current Rockies teammate, [[Seth Smith]], was the backup to Manning's younger brother, [[Eli Manning]], while at the [[University of Mississippi]]. Furthermore, former Tennessee offensive coordinator [[David Cutcliffe]] was Helton's quarterback coach at Tennessee and Smith's head coach at Ole Miss.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070726&content_id=280402&vkey=news_t551&fext=.jsp&sid=t551|title=Player Profile - Seth Smith|author=Lindsey Korsick|accessdate=2007-10-19|date=July 26, 2007|publisher=Colorado Springs Sky Sox}}</ref>
As stated earlier, Helton was the backup quarterback to [[Peyton Manning]], while at the [[University of Tennessee]]. Coincidentally, his current Rockies teammate, [[Seth Smith]], was the backup to Manning's younger brother, [[Eli Manning]], while at the [[University of Mississippi]]. Furthermore, former Tennessee offensive coordinator [[David Cutcliffe]] was Helton's quarterback coach at Tennessee and Smith's head coach at Ole Miss.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070726&content_id=280402&vkey=news_t551&fext=.jsp&sid=t551|title=Player Profile - Seth Smith|author=Lindsey Korsick|accessdate=2007-10-19|date=July 26, 2007|publisher=Colorado Springs Sky Sox}}</ref>
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==External links==
==External links==

{{Commonscat|Todd Helton}}
{{Commonscat|Todd Helton}}
*{{baseballstats |mlb=115732 |espn=3709 |br=h/heltoto01 |fangraphs=432 |cube=H/todd-helton}}
*{{baseballstats |mlb=115732 |espn=3709 |br=h/heltoto01 |fangraphs=432 |cube=H/todd-helton}}

Revision as of 15:28, 13 April 2008

Todd Helton
Colorado Rockies – No. 17
First baseman
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
debut
August 2, 1997, for the Colorado Rockies
Career statistics
(through 2007)
Batting average.332
Home runs303
Runs batted in1,087
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Todd Lynn Helton[1][2] (born August 20, 1973 in Knoxville, Tennessee)[1][3] is the starting first baseman for the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball.

Helton is a 5-time All-Star, 4-time Silver Slugger, 4-time National League Player of the Month and 3-time Gold Glove winner. As of the end of the 2007 Major League Baseball season, Helton has the highest career batting average of all active players at .332, placing him second behind former San Diego Padres right fielder Tony Gwynn (.338) among all players whose careers began after World War II.[4] Although Seattle Mariners center fielder Ichiro Suzuki has a .333 average for his MLB career, higher than that of Helton, he will not have enough at-bats to qualify for career leadership until the conclusion of the 2008 Major League Baseball season.

Following the 2007 Major League Baseball season, among all active players, Helton is the career leader in batting average (.332), second in on-base percentage (.430), fourth in slugging percentage (.583), seventh in intentional walks (162) and 10th in doubles (455).

In addition, Helton holds Colorado Rockies club records for hits (1,878), home runs (303), doubles (455), walks (980), runs scored (1,104), RBI (1,087), on-base percentage (.430), games played (1,578), total bases (3,304) and other categories.

Before turning pro

High school years

Helton attended Central High School in Knoxville, Tennessee and was a letterman in football and baseball.[1] In football, he posted 2,772 total yards as quarterback.

In baseball, as a senior, Helton posted a .655 batting average and 12 home runs and was named the Regional Player of the Year. Baseball America also bestowed him with All-American honors for his senior season.[1]

University of Tennessee

Helton received a scholarship from the University of Tennessee to play both football and baseball. He was named a Gatorade Player of the Year for football and baseball during his time at the University of Tennessee.[1] As a freshman and sophomore, he backed up Heath Shuler at quarterback. In his junior season, he was the back-up to Jerry Colquitt and ahead of Peyton Manning. After an injury to Colquitt, Helton got the starting spot only to face injury himself and be replaced by Manning. Following his junior baseball season, where he won the Dick Howser Trophy as National Collegiate Baseball Player of the Year, Helton was drafted by the Colorado Rockies.

Draft and debut

Helton was drafted in the first round, eighth overall, in 1995 by the Colorado Rockies.[2] He was signed on July 1, 1995.[2] Helton spent the next few years playing for the high-A Asheville Tourists, AA New Haven Ravens and AAA Colorado Springs Sky Sox before getting a crack at the major leagues. He made his major-league debut on August 2, 1997, in a 6-5 road loss against the Pittsburgh Pirates.[5][6] Helton started in left field and flied out in his first at-bat.[5] He recorded his first hit, a single, in his second at-bat off of Francisco Cordova.[5] Helton also hit his first home run, a solo shot, that day off of Marc Wilkins.[5]

MLB career

1997-1999: Early career

During the 1997 season, Helton hit .280/.337/.484 (batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage), with five home runs, in 35 games played. When Rockies first baseman Andrés Galarraga went to the Atlanta Braves in 1998, Helton became the full-time starter at first base for Colorado during the 1998 season. The Rockies named Helton their club representative in 1998, the first time the team ever gave a rookie that role.[1] He hit .315/.380/.530, with 25 home runs and 97 RBI, in 152 games played. Helton led all major-league rookies in average (.315), homers (25), RBI (97), multi-hit games (49), total bases (281), slugging percentage (.530) and extra base hits (63).[7] He also led all National League rookies in runs (78), hits (167) and on-base percentage (.380). At the time, only Mike Piazza (35), David Justice (28) and Darryl Strawberry (26) had hit more homers as an NL rookie since 1972, and only Piazza had more RBI (112).[7] Helton finished second to Kerry Wood of the Chicago Cubs in the voting for National League Rookie of the Year.[7] The Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame named Helton its 1998 Professional Athlete of the Year.[1]

In 1999, Helton had a .320 batting average, .395 on-base percentage and .587 slugging percentage.[8] He also hit 35 home runs and 113 RBI, while drawing 68 walks. On June 19, 1999, Helton hit for the cycle against the Florida Marlins.[9] He fell short of hitting a second cycle on four different occasions during the 1999 season, which would have made him only the second player since 1900 (Babe Herman was the first to do so in 1931) to hit two cycles in one season.[9]

2000-2006: Mid-career

Helton enjoyed arguably his best season in 2000, leading the major leagues in batting average (.372), RBI (147), doubles (59), total bases (405), extra base hits (103), slugging percentage (.698) and OPS (1.162).[10][11] He led the National League in hits (216) and on-base percentage (.463). Helton hit a league-leading home batting average of .391 and placed third in the National League in road batting average (.353).[10] Helton's MLB-leading 103 extra base hits tied for the fourth most in MLB history and the second most in NL history.[10] His National League-leading numbers in on-base percentage, slugging percentage and batting average gave him the "percentage triple crown."[10] Helton became the second Rockies player (Larry Walker in 1999) to accomplish that feat.[10] Helton and Walker made the Rockies the first team in MLB history to record percentage triple crowns in consecutive seasons with different players.[10] Helton became only the fourth player in National League history to lead the NL in both batting average and RBI.[10] He became the first player in National League history and the fifth player in MLB history (Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx and Hank Greenberg are the others) to have at least 200 hits, 40 home runs, 100 RBI, 100 runs, 100 extra base hits and 100 walks in one season.[10]

Helton was invited to his first career Major League Baseball All-Star Game in 2000.[10] He also received National League Player of the Month honors for May and August. He finished fifth in voting for the MVP award. However, the Associated Press, The Sporting News, USA Baseball Alumni and Baseball Digest all named Helton the MLB Player of the Year.[10] Buck O'Neil and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum presented Helton with the Walter Fenner "Buck" Leonard Legacy Award.[10] Helton was also given the team-honored version of the Roberto Clemente Man of Year Award, for his community contributions to Eastern Tennessee.[10] Furthermore, he was the National League winner of the second annual Hank Aaron Award.[10] For all of his success, the Colorado Rockies rewarded Helton with a nine-year, $141.5 million dollar contract in April of 2001 that took effect in 2003.[12]

The following season, Helton posted a career-high 49 home runs (22 of them occurred away from Coors Field).[13] The 49 home runs tied teammate Larry Walker for the most home runs ever by a Colorado Rockies player in a single season.[13] Additionally, Helton averaged a .336 batting average, .432 on-base percentage and .685 slugging percentage.[13] He also had 105 extra base hits, making him the first player in MLB history to have at least 100 total extra base hits in back-to-back seasons.[13] Furthermore, Helton attained 402 total bases, making him only the fourth player in MLB history to do so (Chuck Klein, Gehrig and Foxx are the others).[13]

Helton appeared in his second consecutive All-Star game in 2001 - his first as a starter.[13] He won his first Gold Glove at first base and was once again a top candidate for MVP, but was overshadowed by Sammy Sosa and Barry Bonds.

In 2002, Helton had a .329 batting average, 30 home runs, 109 RBI, 107 runs and 319 total bases.[14] He became the first player in Rockies history to score at least 100 runs in four consecutive seasons.[14] He was named Player of the Month for May, as he hit .347 with six doubles, one triple, 10 homers and 28 RBI during the month.[14] Helton was named to his third consecutive All-Star game - second straight as a starter.[14] He also received his second consecutive Gold Glove.[14]

2003 saw Helton involved in the closest NL batting race in history, as he hit .35849, while St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols finished first with a .35871 batting average.[15] During the season, Helton also had 33 home runs, 117 RBI, 135 runs, 49 doubles and five triples. He won his fourth Player of the Month honor during the month of April, as he hit .337 with six home runs, 27 RBI, 28 runs, 11 doubles and 24 walks.[15] He also appeared in his fourth consecutive All-Star game.

During the 2004 season, Helton again finished second in the NL batting race, as he hit .347, while San Francisco Giants left fielder Barry Bonds hit .362. Helton also had 32 homers and 96 RBI on the season. He became the first player in MLB history to hit at least .315 with 25 HR and 95 RBI in each of his first seven full seasons in the majors.[16] He became only the third player in MLB history to do accomplish that feat during any seven-year stretch in a career (Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth are the others).[16] He set a franchise record by hitting at least 30 home runs in six consecutive seasons.[16] Helton was named to his team-record fifth consecutive All-Star game and won his third Gold Glove during the season.[16]

In 2005, Helton spent time on the disabled list (July 26 - August 9) for the first time in his career with a strained left calf muscle.[17] He hit .302 with 20 home runs, 79 RBI, 92 runs and 45 doubles for the season. He was under 1.000 in OPS (finished with .979 OPS) for the first time since 1999.[8] Helton also wasn't named to the National League All-Star team for the first time since 1999. However, he did end up joining Gehrig and Bill Terry as the only first baseman in MLB history to have at least a .315 batting average in eight consecutive seasons.[17]

Helton swinging at a pitch during a game against the Seattle Mariners.

The following season, Helton had to spend time on the disabled list again, this time from April 20 - May 4, as he was diagnosed with acute terminal ileitis.[18] He hit .302 with 15 home runs, 81 RBI, 40 doubles, 91 walks and a .404 on-base percentage for the season.[18] He ended the season below .900 in OPS (he had .880 OPS) for the first time since entering the league in 1997 when he only played 35 games that year.[8] Helton finished third on the Rockies roster in 2006 in runs (94), hits (165), doubles (40), total bases (260) and multi-hit games (42).[18]

2007-present

Helton's power and RBI production stayed relatively level to his previous year's stats during the 2007 season, as he managed 17 home runs and 91 RBI. Despite these numbers being below his career averages, Helton has so far kept up his string of seven consecutive seasons with an on-base percentage higher than .400, nine consecutive seasons with a batting average above .300, and has also been walked more times than he has struck out (a feat he has accomplished in seven of his first ten full seasons).[8]

Helton recorded his 1,000th career hit at Coors Field on June 20, 2007, in a 6-1 home win over the New York Yankees, becoming only the fourth active player to have 1,000 hits in his own ballpark.[19]

On September 9, 2007, in 4-2 home victory over the San Diego Padres, Helton hit his 35th double of the season. This made him the first and only player in MLB history to have hit 35 or more doubles in at least 10 consecutive seasons (1998 - Present).[20][21]

Helton hit his 300th career home run on September 16, 2007, in a 13-0 home win over the Florida Marlins.[22][23] He became the first player to hit 300 home runs for the Colorado Rockies.

Helton made what was arguably the most pivotal play of the Rockies' 2007 season in the second game of a doubleheader against the Los Angeles Dodgers on September 18, 2007. In the bottom of the ninth inning, with two outs and two strikes, Helton hit an emotional two-run walk-off home run off of Dodgers closer Takashi Saito.[24] The home run kept the Rockies alive in the bid to win the wild card or National League West title. The Rockies eventually clinched the National League wild card, in a 9-8 extra innings victory over the San Diego Padres in a wild card tiebreaker game, allowing Helton to appear in the playoffs for the first time in his career.[25] Colorado went on to sweep the Philadelphia Phillies in three games of the National League Division Series. Helton hit a triple in the first pitch of his first career playoff at-bat in the opening game against the Phillies at Philadelphia.[26] The Rockies also swept the Arizona Diamondbacks in four games of the National League Championship Series, sending the Rockies on their first trip to the World Series in franchise history.[27]

Helton is currently in the sixth year of a nine-year, $141.5 million dollar contract and will be a free agent following the 2011 season.

Coors Field effect

As of September 29, 2007, Helton has batted .367 at Coors Field and .295 on the road. He has averaged one home run per 15.5 at-bats at Coors Field versus one home run per 23.8 at-bats on the road. In a similar number of at-bats (2,849 at home vs. 2,807 on the road), Helton has 225 more RBI at Coors Field than on the road. He also has scored more runs (685 vs. 417), has a higher on base average (.465 vs. .394), slugging average (.662 vs. .502) and OPS (1.127 vs. .897). Helton also walks less, hits fewer doubles and triples, steals fewer bases, and strikes out more frequently on the road.[28] However, it should be noted that one of the reasons for any substantial differences in home and road splits for Rockies batters is that they have to make adjustments in how they see pitches away from Coors Field - particularly breaking balls, such as sliders and curve balls - since those pitches act differently at Coors Field than on the road.[29]

Statistics

Regular season

Year Team G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS BA OBP SLG TB SF SH HBP IBB GIDP
1997 COL 35 93 13 26 2 1 5 11 8 11 0 1 .280 .337 .484 45 0 0 0 0 1
1998 COL 152 530 78 167 37 1 25 97 53 54 3 3 .315 .380 .530 281 5 1 6 5 15
1999 COL 159 578 114 185 39 5 35 113 68 77 7 6 .320 .395 .587 339 4 0 6 6 14
2000 COL 160 580 138 216 59 2 42 147 103 61 5 3 .372 .463 .698 405 10 0 4 22 12
2001 COL 159 587 132 197 54 2 49 146 98 104 7 5 .336 .432 .685 402 5 1 5 15 14
2002 COL 156 553 107 182 39 4 30 109 99 91 5 1 .329 .429 .577 319 10 0 5 21 10
2003 COL 160 583 135 209 49 5 33 117 111 72 0 4 .358 .458 .630 367 7 0 2 21 19
2004 COL 154 547 115 190 49 2 32 96 127 72 3 0 .347 .469 .620 339 6 0 3 19 12
2005 COL 144 509 92 163 45 2 20 79 106 80 3 0 .320 .445 .534 272 1 1 9 22 14
2006 COL 145 546 94 165 40 5 15 81 91 64 3 2 .302 .404 .476 260 6 0 6 15 10
2007 COL 154 557 86 178 42 2 17 91 116 74 0 1 .320 .434 .494 275 7 0 2 16 15
Totals: 1,578 5,663 1,104 1,878 455 31 303 1,087 980 760 36 26 .332 .430 .583 3,304 61 3 48 162 136

Postseason

Year Team G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS BA OBP SLG TB SF SH HBP IBB GIDP
2007 COL 11 41 6 9 2 1 0 2 5 9 0 0 .220 .298 .317 13 1 0 0 0 0
Totals: 11 41 6 9 2 1 0 2 5 9 0 0 .220 .298 .317 13 1 0 0 0 0

Quotes

I don't try to be a Christian to be a better baseball player. I try to be a Christian to be a better person and father. I struggle with it every day, like everyone else in the world. I want to be a better person, like everybody else. We're dirtbags, like 99 percent of the world. Maybe worse, because we are baseball players. Some guys are Christians and some guys aren't.[30]

— when discussing the 2006 controversy over Christian rules within the Rockies organization.

I have no idea; I have no idea how we just won that ballgame.[1]

— when asked on ESPN how the Rockies managed to beat the San Diego Padres in the 2007 National League wild card tie-breaker game using 10 pitchers.

You know, if Peyton played first base, he'd be my backup.[31]

— after being asked about being the backup quarterback of Peyton Manning while attending the University of Tennessee.

Accomplishments

  • 5-time All-Star (2000-2004)
  • 4-time Silver Slugger (2000-2003, most out of all MLB first basemen)
  • 4-time National League Player of the Month (May 2000, August 2000, May 2002, April 2003)
  • 3-time National League Gold Glove winner (2001, 2002, 2004)
  • 2-time Colorado Rockies-honored Roberto Clemente Man of the Year Award (2000, 2002)
  • National League Batting Champion (2000)
  • National League Slugging Percentage leader (2000)
  • National League RBI leader (2000)
  • National League Doubles leader (2000, Helton hit 59 doubles during the season, which tied Chuck Klein for the third-highest single-season doubles total in NL history.)
  • National League Hits leader (2000)
  • National League On-Base Percentage leader (2000, 2005, 2007)
  • National League Total Bases leader (2000)
  • National League Extra Base Hits leader (2000)
  • Dick Howser Trophy (Best National College Baseball Player, 1995)
  • The Sporting News Rookie of the Year Award (1998)
  • Topps All-Star Rookie Team (1998)
  • Baseball Digest All-Star Rookie Team (1998)
  • Hit for the cycle (June 19, 1999)
  • Walter Fenner "Buck" Leonard Legacy Award (2000)
  • National League Hank Aaron Award (2000)
  • Percentage triple crown (2000)
  • The Associated Press Major League Baseball All-Star Team (2000)
  • The Associated Press Major League Baseball Player of the Year (2000)
  • Baseball Digest Major League Baseball Player of the Year (2000)
  • USA Baseball Alumni Player of the Year (2000)
  • The Sporting News National League Player of the Year (2000)
  • No. 10 in Major League Baseball history in On-base percentage (.430)
  • Helton is the only player in MLB history to have 100-plus extra base hits in consecutive seasons: 103 in 2000, and 105 in 2001.[13] The only others to do it twice in their careers, but not consecutively, were Lou Gehrig [1927 (117), 1930 (100)] and Chuck Klein [1930 (107), 1932 (103)].
  • Helton is one of only four players in MLB history (Klein in 1929 and 1930, Jimmie Foxx in 1932 and 1933, along with Gehrig in 1930 and 1931) to have reached 400 total bases in consecutive seasons (405 in 2000, 402 in 2001).[13] Gehrig reached 400 total bases in four seasons (1927, 1930, 1931, 1934), and Klein did so once more (1932). The other players to reach 400 total bases twice in a career, but not consecutively, were Babe Ruth (1921, 1927), Rogers Hornsby (1922, 1929) and Sammy Sosa (1998, 2001).
  • Helton is one of only five players in MLB history (the first ever in the National League) to have at least 200 hits, 40 home runs, 100 RBI, 100 runs, 100 extra-base hits and 100 walks in one season (2000).[10] The others to do so were Babe Ruth (1921), Lou Gehrig (1927, 1930), Jimmie Foxx (1932) and Hank Greenberg (1937).
  • Helton is one of only three first baseman in MLB history (Gehrig and Bill Terry are the others) to have at least a .315 batting average in eight consecutive seasons (1998-2005).[17]
  • Among active players with at least 4,000 at bats, Helton is currently: second in batting average (.3316) to Ichiro Suzuki (.333), with Albert Pujols (.3315) nipping at Helton's heels, second (10th all-time) in on-base percentage [(.430), behind Barry Bonds (.445)], fourth (10th all-time) in slugging percentage [(.583), behind Pujols (.620), Bonds (.607) and Manny Ramírez (.593)] and third (eighth all-time) in on-base plus slugging [(1.0138), behind Bonds (1.0512) and Pujols (1.0402)].
  • Colorado Rockies career leader in on-base percentage (.430), games played (1,578), at bats (5,663), plate appearances (6,758), runs (1,104), hits (1,878), total bases (3,304), doubles (455), home runs (303), RBI (1,087), walks (980), singles (1,089), runs created (1,459), extra-base hits (789), times on base (2,906), sacrifice flies (61) and intentional walks (162).
  • Hit 3 home runs against the Montreal Expos on May 1, 2000 and against the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 29, 2003.
  • Only player in MLB history to hit 35 or more doubles in at least 10 consecutive seasons (1998 - Present).

Personal life

Helton's number 17 jersey number is in tribute to former Chicago Cubs first baseman Mark Grace.[32] Incidentally, Grace wore 17 because former New York Mets first baseman Keith Hernandez wore 17. Hernandez wore 17 with the Mets because he could not wear number 37, his number with the St. Louis Cardinals, since 37 was retired in honor of former player/manager Casey Stengel. Hernandez wore both 37 and 17 to honor former New York Yankees center fielder Mickey Mantle, whose number was 7.

Helton and his family - wife Christy and daughter Tierney Faith (born September 24, 2002) - reside in Brighton, Colorado.[1]

As stated earlier, Helton was the backup quarterback to Peyton Manning, while at the University of Tennessee. Coincidentally, his current Rockies teammate, Seth Smith, was the backup to Manning's younger brother, Eli Manning, while at the University of Mississippi. Furthermore, former Tennessee offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe was Helton's quarterback coach at Tennessee and Smith's head coach at Ole Miss.[33]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player_career.jsp?player_id=115732
  2. ^ a b c "Todd Helton Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2007-10-19.
  3. ^ "ESPN - Todd Helton Stats, News, Photos - Colorado Rockies - MLB Baseball". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2007-10-19.
  4. ^ "All-Time Batting Average Leaders (Top 50)". Major League Baseball. Retrieved 2007-11-16. Gwynn is 15th all-time and Helton 21st. The only player above them in batting average who played after World War II was Ted Williams, whose career began in 1939, before the U.S. entered the war.
  5. ^ a b c d http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player_career.jsp?player_id=115732&y=1997
  6. ^ http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PIT/PIT199708020.shtml
  7. ^ a b c The Official Site of The Colorado Rockies: Team: Player Information : Biography and Career Highlights
  8. ^ a b c d http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/stats?playerId=3709
  9. ^ a b http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player_career.jsp?player_id=115732&y=1999
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n The Official Site of The Colorado Rockies: Team: Player Information : Biography and Career Highlights
  11. ^ http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/stats/batting?sort=avg&split=0&league=mlb&season=2000&seasonType=2&type=reg&ageMin=17&ageMax=51&minpa=0&hand=a&pos=all
  12. ^ RINGOLSBY: Team-by-team report : Rockies : The Rocky Mountain News
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player_career.jsp?player_id=115732&y=2001
  14. ^ a b c d e http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player_career.jsp?player_id=115732&y=2002
  15. ^ a b http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player_career.jsp?player_id=115732&y=2003
  16. ^ a b c d http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player_career.jsp?player_id=115732&y=2004
  17. ^ a b c http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player_career.jsp?player_id=115732&y=2005
  18. ^ a b c http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player_career.jsp?player_id=115732&y=2006
  19. ^ http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=270620127
  20. ^ http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=270909127
  21. ^ http://www.denverpost.com/rockies/ci_6847420
  22. ^ http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=270916127
  23. ^ http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20070916&content_id=2211951&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=col
  24. ^ http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=270918327
  25. ^ http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=271001127
  26. ^ http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=271003122
  27. ^ http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=271015127
  28. ^ "Todd Helton's career split stats". Yahoo! Sports. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  29. ^ ESPN - Coors Field a truly unique environment - MLB
  30. ^ Rockies: Hey, we aren't the angels : Rockies : The Rocky Mountain News
  31. ^ The Official Site of Major League Baseball: News: Major League Baseball News
  32. ^ http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE6DF1E3FF936A2575BC0A9669C8B63&fta=y
  33. ^ Lindsey Korsick (July 26, 2007). "Player Profile - Seth Smith". Colorado Springs Sky Sox. Retrieved 2007-10-19.
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