Great read on Todd Helton

[Freak]

Spending his entire career with the Colorado Rockies, Todd Helton has become an icon in the Rocky Mountains region. Although he didn't begin his professional baseball career when the franchise entered the National League in 1993, he has played for every Rockies manager. He has been an offensive leader in baseball, and he has won three National League Gold Glove Awards. At 37, Helton is still one of the better first basemen in baseball and appears to have the rare opportunity to play with one organization for his entire career.

Sarah's Take: Helton deserves to be in Hall | MLB.com: News

 

[jeblevins]

I remember skipping afternoon classes on nice days to go watch him play when I was in school. Also ran in to him once at Charlie Pepper's. lol

 

[sdowell]

my favorite vol baseballer of all time. got his autograph at elizabethon in 1992 after a game with e t s u. signed without a problem and talked a little. he was the type of person who didn't like to talk about himself. i always liked that in todd. he'll go to the hall. it might not be on the first ballot, though. that is very hard to do in baseball for some stupid reason. nice guy

 

[fryeguy93]

my favorite vol baseballer of all time. got his autograph at elizabethon in 1992 after a game with e t s u. signed without a problem and talked a little. he was the type of person who didn't like to talk about himself. i always liked that in todd. he'll go to the hall. it might not be on the first ballot, though. that is very hard to do in baseball for some stupid reason. nice guy

I was at that game. I believe Rodney Bonds pitched for the Vols.

That park was packed as ETSU was playing there because Cardinal Park was being refurbished. I remember the basketball goal hanging on the right-field wall.

Now that I think about it, that was actually 1994? Todd was in high school in 1992.


Unfortunately, in this day and time the HOF is difficult to predict. Baseball writers have always viewed themselves as impresarios of the game. He played during the steroid/liveball/bad pitching era and plays in a stadium that is given far too much credit as a hitters park.

Unfortunately, Todd has sometimes been wrongfully hinted at as a PED user which is laughable. With all this considered, I don't think Todd can get into the hall. Because first base in the NL was so packed I don't think he was ever an All-Star Game starter.

If he gets in, I think it will be quite a way down road and possibly the veterans committee. These last few years will be very important. He needs to stay healthy and start reaching some milestones. If he played in a big market I think his chances would be far better.

He needs 722 hits for 3,000. At 100 hits/season that's obviously 7 more season. I don't think T-Hel wants or can play that much longer. He has 339 career HRs. Don't think he has any chance to get to 500.

His career BA is still high at .324 as he has to have it remain over .300.

He has 3 gold gloves but none since 2004. 4 Silver sluggers (last in 2003). Never finished higher than 5th in MVP balloting.Pujols has dominated the NL 1B awards since those days and he may be unfortunately compared to Pujols when it comes time of consideration.

 

[Arenafanatic]

I think he will get a nice run at the HOF. (id like him to get it) Love that he has been with one team his whole career.

 

[Scotty's Flat Top]

Love Helton. Hope he makes it in... with the roid speculation I think it will be 50/50.

 

[jsc1973]

Bill James is on record as supporting his candidacy. In this era of baseball, that's a huge plus.

I think he needs to stay effective until he turns 40, which would put him easily past 2,500 career hits. When he's healthy, he can hit .300 in his sleep, even now. There's no way he'll drop from .324 to below .300 for his career.

 

[tigervol9802]

Im torn on his hof worthiness. I want him in for sure, but im just not sure he'll do it.
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[volfanjo]

I was at that game. I believe Rodney Bonds pitched for the Vols.

That park was packed as ETSU was playing there because Cardinal Park was being refurbished. I remember the basketball goal hanging on the right-field wall.

Now that I think about it, that was actually 1994? Todd was in high school in 1992.


Unfortunately, in this day and time the HOF is difficult to predict. Baseball writers have always viewed themselves as impresarios of the game. He played during the steroid/liveball/bad pitching era and plays in a stadium that is given far too much credit as a hitters park.

Unfortunately, Todd has sometimes been wrongfully hinted at as a PED user which is laughable. With all this considered, I don't think Todd can get into the hall. Because first base in the NL was so packed I don't think he was ever an All-Star Game starter.

If he gets in, I think it will be quite a way down road and possibly the veterans committee. These last few years will be very important. He needs to stay healthy and start reaching some milestones. If he played in a big market I think his chances would be far better.

He needs 722 hits for 3,000. At 100 hits/season that's obviously 7 more season. I don't think T-Hel wants or can play that much longer. He has 339 career HRs. Don't think he has any chance to get to 500.

His career BA is still high at .324 as he has to have it remain over .300.

He has 3 gold gloves but none since 2004. 4 Silver sluggers (last in 2003). Never finished higher than 5th in MVP balloting.Pujols has dominated the NL 1B awards since those days and he may be unfortunately compared to Pujols when it comes time of consideration.

I was at this game as well. Did he by chance hit for the cycle that game? I seem to remember that but I am not sure.

The other thing I remember about that game is he was literally a man among boys. It was one of those rare occasions where you see someone who clearly over-matches everyone else on the field. And he absolutely punished the ball at the plate. Helluva player.

 

[CAVPUT]

Great player and a UT legend but HOF? I'm not sure about that.

 

[JTrainDavis]

Great hitter for sure, but the Coors factor will kill him, seeing as how his home average is 60 points higher than on the road, with 70 more HR.

Playing in a strictly offensive position, I'm not sure that I would vote for him with the numbers he's put up, Coors or not.

However, he did get jobbed out of the 2000 MVP, he should have finished much higher if not won it, one of the greatest offensive season ever statistically.

 

[dougvolfan]

I was there for most of his home games and all eastern tournys and regionals. I was there to see the grand slam by Helton in the 9th to tie the arrogant bastards at Arizona in 1994 regional and saw their jaws drop. I was on the field post Ok St victory for CWS berth 1995 and got Helton / Ra Dickey /Scotty V/ Delmonico and more signatures on my ticket stubb. Great great times I will always cherish.
Todd is one upstanding man!!!!!