-
Albert Pujols
José Alberto Pujols Alcántara (born January 16, 1980), better known as Albert Pujols (), is a professional baseball player who has played his entire career in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals. Currently a first baseman, Pujols is well-known for his all-around ability as a player to hit for both average and power, plus his base-running and fielding excellence. His consistency over his ten years in the Major Leagues has earned him the reputation as one of the best players in the game today and the most feared hitter in baseball, according to a poll of all 30 MLB managers in 2008. Since his MLB debut in 2001, Pujols has been selected as an All-Star nine times, has won the National League Most Valuable Player Award three times, and won a World Series title in 2006.
http://wn.com/Albert_Pujols -
Alex Rodriguez
Alexander Emmanuel "Alex" Rodriguez (born July 27, 1975) is an American Major League Baseball third baseman for the New York Yankees. He previously played shortstop for the Seattle Mariners and the Texas Rangers.
http://wn.com/Alex_Rodriguez -
Andrés Galarraga
Andrés José Padovani Galarraga (; born June 18, 1961 in Caracas, Venezuela) is a former Major League Baseball first baseman who played for the Montreal Expos (– and ), St. Louis Cardinals (), Colorado Rockies (–), Atlanta Braves (, ), Texas Rangers (), San Francisco Giants (2001 and ) and Anaheim Angels (). He batted and threw right-handed.
http://wn.com/Andrés_Galarraga -
Babe Herman
:For the American boxer of the same name, see Babe Herman (boxer)
http://wn.com/Babe_Herman -
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. (February 6, 1895 – August 16, 1948), best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935. Ruth originally broke into the major leagues with the Boston Red Sox as a starting pitcher, but after he was sold to the New York Yankees in 1919, he converted to a full-time right fielder and subsequently became one of the league's most prolific hitters. Ruth was a mainstay in the Yankees' lineup that won seven pennants and four World Series titles during his tenure with the team. After a short stint with the Boston Braves in 1935, Ruth retired. In 1936, Ruth became one of the first five players elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
http://wn.com/Babe_Ruth -
Barry Bonds
Barry Lamar Bonds (born July 24, 1964) is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. Bonds played from 1986 to 2007, for the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants. He is the son of former major league All-Star Bobby Bonds. He debuted in the Major Leagues with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1986 and joined the San Francisco Giants in 1993, where he stayed through 2007.
http://wn.com/Barry_Bonds -
Bill Terry
William Harold Terry (October 30, 1898 – January 9, 1989) was a Major League Baseball first baseman and manager. Considered one of the greatest players of all time, Terry was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1954. In 1999, he ranked number 59 on The Sporting News list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, and was a nominee for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. The Giants retired Terry's uniform no. 3 in ; it is posted on the facade of the upper deck in the left field corner of AT&T; Park. Nicknamed "Memphis Bill", he is most remembered for being the last National League player to hit .400, a feat he accomplished by batting .401 in .
http://wn.com/Bill_Terry -
Brian Daubach
Brian Michael Daubach (born February 11, 1972 in Belleville, Illinois) is a retired Major League Baseball player and current minor league baseball manager. During his playing career Daubach served as a first baseman, outfielder, and designated hitter. He currently is the manager of the Pittsfield Colonials of the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball.
http://wn.com/Brian_Daubach -
Buck O'Neil
'''John Jordan "Buck" O'Neil''' (November 13, 1911 – October 6, 2006) was a first baseman and manager in Negro league baseball, most notably in the Negro American League with the Kansas City Monarchs. After his playing days, he became the first African American coach in Major League Baseball, and also worked as a scout. In his later years he became a popular and renowned speaker and interview subject, helping to renew widespread interest in the Negro leagues, and played a major role in establishing the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri.
http://wn.com/Buck_O'Neil -
Chipper Jones
Larry Wayne "Chipper" Jones, Jr. (born April 24, 1972, in DeLand, Florida) is a Major League baseball player for the National League's Atlanta Braves. Although initially a shortstop, he has spent most of his career as the starting third baseman for the Braves. In and , Jones primarily played left field, before returning to third base in 2004.
http://wn.com/Chipper_Jones -
Chuck Klein
Charles Herbert "Chuck" Klein (October 7, 1904 – March 28, 1958) was a Major League Baseball outfielder who played for the Philadelphia Phillies (1928–33, 1936–39, 1940–44), Chicago Cubs (1934–36) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1939).
http://wn.com/Chuck_Klein -
Derek Jeter
Derek Sanderson Jeter (; born June 26, 1974) is an American professional baseball player. He is a Major League Baseball (MLB) shortstop who has played his entire career for the New York Yankees. He has served as the Yankees' team captain since 2003. Jeter's presence in the Yankees' lineup, highlighted by his hitting prowess, played an instrumental role in the team's late 1990s dynasty.
http://wn.com/Derek_Jeter -
Dmitri Young
Dmitri Dell Young (born October 11, 1973 in Vicksburg, Mississippi) is a former Major League Baseball first baseman. Young is 6'2" and 300 pounds. On March 18, 2010, he was introduced as the Vice President and Senior Advisor of Baseball Operations and Special Hitting and Fielding Instructor of the Oakland County Cruisers minor league baseball team; Young announced his retirement the same day.
http://wn.com/Dmitri_Young -
Hank Greenberg
Henry Benjamin "Hank" Greenberg (January 1, 1911 – September 4, 1986), nicknamed '''"Hammerin' Hank,"''' was an American professional baseball player in the 1930s and 1940s.
http://wn.com/Hank_Greenberg -
Heath Shuler
Joseph Heath Shuler (born December 31, 1971) is a businessman, politician and former American football player. He is currently a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, representing ([http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/preview/congdist/nc11_109.gif map]) since 2007. The district includes the Blue Ridge Mountains in western North Carolina. The largest city in the district is Asheville.
http://wn.com/Heath_Shuler -
Ichiro Suzuki
, often known simply as , nicknamed "Ichi" & "The Hits Man", (born October 22, 1973, in Kasugai, Nishikasugai, Aichi Prefecture, Japan) is a Major League Baseball right fielder for the Seattle Mariners. Ichiro has established a number of batting records, including the sport's single-season record for base hits with 262. He has had ten consecutive 200-hit seasons, the longest streak by any player, surpassing Wee Willie Keeler's streak of eight. Pete Rose, who had ten non-consecutive 200-hit seasons, is the only player with the same amount as Ichiro.
http://wn.com/Ichiro_Suzuki -
Jeff Kent
Jeffrey Franklin Kent (born March 7, 1968 in Bellflower, California) is a retired Major League Baseball second baseman. Kent won the National League Most Valuable Player award in 2000 with the San Francisco Giants, and is the all-time leader in home runs among second basemen. He drove in 90 or more runs from 1997 to 2005, a streak of run production unprecedented for a second baseman, a position typically known for its defense. Kent is a five-time All-Star and his 560 career doubles put him tied for 21st on the all-time doubles list.
http://wn.com/Jeff_Kent -
Jerry Colquitt
Jerry Colquitt (born June 28, 1972) is a former American football player and coach.
http://wn.com/Jerry_Colquitt -
Jorge Posada
Jorge Rafael Posada Villeta (born August 17, 1971 in Santurce, Puerto Rico) is a Major League Baseball catcher who plays for the New York Yankees. He is a switch hitter, and has been on five All-Star teams over his 15-year career.
http://wn.com/Jorge_Posada -
Kerry Wood
Kerry Lee Wood (born June 16, 1977) is an American Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the New York Yankees. Wood recorded over 200 strikeouts in four out of his first five seasons, with a high of 266 in 2003.
http://wn.com/Kerry_Wood -
Larry Walker
Larry Kenneth Robert Walker (born December 1, 1966 in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada) is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball. From 1989 through 2005, Walker played for the Montreal Expos (1989–1994), Colorado Rockies (1995–2004), and St. Louis Cardinals (2004–2005). He announced his retirement after Game 6 of the 2005 National League Championship Series.
http://wn.com/Larry_Walker -
Lou Gehrig
Henry Louis "Lou" Gehrig (June 19, 1903 – June 2, 1941) was an American baseball player in the 1920s and 1930s, chiefly remembered for his prowess as a hitter, his consecutive games-played record and its subsequent longevity, and the pathos of his farewell from baseball at age 36, when he was stricken with a fatal neurological disease. Popularly called "The Iron Horse" for his durability, Gehrig set several major league records. He holds the record for most career grand slams (23).
http://wn.com/Lou_Gehrig -
Manny Ramírez
http://wn.com/Manny_Ramírez -
Mariano Rivera
Mariano Rivera (born November 29, 1969) is a right-handed baseball pitcher who has spent his entire Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the New York Yankees. Nicknamed "Mo", Rivera has served as a relief pitcher for most of his career, and since 1997, he has been the Yankees' closer. His presence in the late innings of games to record the final outs has played an instrumental role in the Yankees' success, particularly the team's late 1990s dynasty. He has won five World Series championships as a Yankee.
http://wn.com/Mariano_Rivera -
Mark Grace
Mark Eugene Grace (born June 28, 1964 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina) is a former Major League Baseball player for 16 seasons with the Chicago Cubs and Arizona Diamondbacks. His defensive position was first base. He batted left-handed and wore jersey number 17.
http://wn.com/Mark_Grace -
Mark McGwire
Mark McGwire (born October 1, 1963), nicknamed "Big Mac", is a former Major League Baseball player who played his major league career with the Oakland Athletics and the St. Louis Cardinals. He replaced Hal McRae as the for the St. Louis Cardinals for 2010.
http://wn.com/Mark_McGwire -
Peyton Manning
Peyton Williams Manning (born March 24, 1976) is an American football quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. Considered one of the best quarterbacks of all time, Manning holds the record for most NFL MVP awards with four. He was drafted by the Colts as the first overall pick in 1998 after a standout college football career with the Tennessee Volunteers. He is the son of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning and the older brother of current New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning.
http://wn.com/Peyton_Manning -
Richard Hidalgo
Richard José Hidalgo [ee-DAHL-go] (born June 28, 1975 in Caracas, Venezuela) is a former Major League Baseball right fielder. He played with the Houston Astros (1997–2004), New York Mets (2004), and the Texas Rangers (2005). He batted and threw right-handed.
http://wn.com/Richard_Hidalgo -
Roberto Clemente
Roberto Clemente Walker (August 18, 1934 – December 31, 1972) was a Puerto Rican professional baseball player and a Major League Baseball right fielder. He was born in Carolina, Puerto Rico, the youngest of seven children. On November 14, 1964, he married Vera Zabala at San Fernando Church in Carolina. The couple had three children: Roberto Jr., Luis Roberto and Enrique Roberto. He began his professional career playing with the Santurce Crabbers in the Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League (LBPPR). While he was playing in Puerto Rico, the Brooklyn Dodgers offered him a contract to play with the Montreal Royals. Clemente accepted the offer and was active with the team until he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the Major League Baseball draft that took place on November 22, 1954.
http://wn.com/Roberto_Clemente -
Rogers Hornsby
Rogers Hornsby (April 27, 1896 – January 5, 1963), nicknamed "The Rajah", was a Major League Baseball second baseman and manager. He spent the majority of his playing career with the St. Louis Cardinals, though after a falling out with Cardinals management he played for and or managed the Chicago Cubs, the Boston Braves, and the New York Giants. He ended his career as the player-manager of the St. Louis Browns.
http://wn.com/Rogers_Hornsby -
Sammy Sosa
Samuel Peralta "Sammy" Sosa (born November 12, 1968) is a retired Major League Baseball right fielder.
http://wn.com/Sammy_Sosa -
Scott Rolen
Scott Bruce Rolen (born April 4, 1975 in Jasper, Indiana) is a Major League Baseball third baseman for the Cincinnati Reds. He is a seven-time Gold Glove winner. Rolen was a multi-sport athlete at Jasper High School Wildcats; participating in basketball and baseball.
http://wn.com/Scott_Rolen -
Stan Musial
Stanley Frank "Stan" Musial ( or ; born November 21, 1920) is a retired Polish-American professional baseball player who was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969. Nicknamed "Stan the Man", Musial played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1941 to 1963. A 24-time All-Star selection, Musial accumulated 3,630 hits and 475 home runs during his career, was named the National League's (NL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) three times, and was a member of three World Series championship teams.
http://wn.com/Stan_Musial -
Takashi Saito
is a Japanese professional baseball player. He is a Major League relief pitcher for the Atlanta Braves. His nicknames include "Sammy", bestowed upon him by outfielder Andre Ethier, and "The Mole", due to the holes he digs in the pitcher's mound using his cleats.
http://wn.com/Takashi_Saito -
Ted Williams
Theodore Samuel Williams (August 30, 1918 – July 5, 2002) was an American left fielder in Major League Baseball. He played 21 seasons with the Boston Red Sox, twice interrupted by military service as a Marine Corps pilot. Nicknamed The Kid, the Splendid Splinter, Teddy Ballgame, and The Thumper, he is widely considered one of the greatest hitters ever.
http://wn.com/Ted_Williams -
Vladimir Guerrero
Vladimir Guerrero (born February 9, 1975, in Don Gregorio, Nizao, Dominican Republic) (known in his native Dominican Republic as Miquéas, Spanish for Micah) is a Major League Baseball right fielder and designated hitter for the Texas Rangers. In , he was voted the American League MVP. He helped lead the Angels to five American League West championships (2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009), and was voted as one of the most feared hitters in baseball in a 2008 poll of all 30 major league managers.
http://wn.com/Vladimir_Guerrero
-
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is also the largest city in East Tennessee. As of the 2000 United States Census, Knoxville had a total population of 173,890; the July 2007 estimated population was 183,546. Knoxville is the principal city of the Knoxville Metropolitan Statistical Area with a metro population of 655,400, which is in turn the central component of the Knoxville-Sevierville-La Follette Combined Statistical Area with 1,029,155 residents.
http://wn.com/Knoxville_Tennessee
- Albert Pujols
- Alex Rodriguez
- Andrés Galarraga
- Arizona Diamondbacks
- Asheville Tourists
- Associated Press
- at bats
- athletic scholarship
- Atlanta Braves
- Babe Herman
- Babe Ruth
- Barry Bonds
- Baseball America
- Baseball Digest
- Baseball-Reference
- Batting average
- Bill Terry
- Brian Daubach
- Brian Jordan
- Buck O'Neil
- Chicago Cubs
- Chipper Jones
- Chuck Klein
- closer (baseball)
- Colorado Rockies
- Coors Field
- Derek Jeter
- Dick Howser Trophy
- Dmitri Young
- Don Baylor
- Double (baseball)
- First baseman
- Florida Marlins
- Francisco Cordova
- Gold Glove
- Hank Aaron Award
- Hank Greenberg
- Heath Shuler
- Hit (baseball)
- hit for the cycle
- Home run
- Ichiro Suzuki
- ileitis
- Indianapolis Colts
- Jeff Kent
- Jerry Colquitt
- Jimmie Foxx
- Jorge Posada
- Kerry Wood
- knee
- Knoxville, Tennessee
- Larry Walker
- left field
- left fielder
- ligament
- Los Angeles Dodgers
- Lou Gehrig
- Manny Ramírez
- Mariano Rivera
- Mark Grace
- Mark McGwire
- MLB.com
- National League
- National League West
- New Haven Ravens
- New York Yankees
- On-base percentage
- Peyton Manning
- Pittsburgh Pirates
- Player of the Month
- Preston Wilson
- quarterback
- Richard Hidalgo
- Roberto Clemente
- Rogers Hornsby
- Run batted in
- Sammy Sosa
- San Diego Padres
- San Francisco Giants
- Scott Rolen
- Silver Slugger Award
- slugging percentage
- St. Louis Cardinals
- Stan Musial
- Takashi Saito
- Ted Williams
- The Denver Post
- The Sporting News
- UCLA Bruins football
- Vladimir Guerrero
- walk-off home run
- Wild card (sports)
- World Series
Helton, Todd Filmography
- 2007 World Series: Boston Red Sox vs. Colorado Rockies (2007) (actor, plays Himself 1B for Colorado Rockies)
- (2006-05-25) (2006) (actor, plays Himself)
- DHL Presents Major League Baseball Hometown Heroes (2006) (actor, plays Himself)
- 2004 MLB All-Star Game (2004) (actor, plays Himself - NL First Baseman: Colorado Rockies)
- 2003 MLB All-Star Game (2003) (actor, plays Himself - NL Starting First Baseman: Colorado Rockies)
- 2002 MLB All-Star Game (2002) (actor, plays Himself - NL Starting First Baseman: Colorado Rockies)
- 2001 MLB All-Star Game (2001) (actor, plays Himself - NL Starting First Baseman, Colorado Rockies)
- 2000 MLB All-Star Game (2000) (actor, plays Himself - NL First Baseman: Colorado Rockies)

- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 1:22
- Published: 05 Oct 2007
- Uploaded: 26 Sep 2011
- Author: coloradowindsor

- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 4:03
- Published: 23 Aug 2009
- Uploaded: 24 Oct 2011
- Author: acmurphy2009

- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 2:35
- Published: 31 Jul 2010
- Uploaded: 07 Jun 2011
- Author: sub2for800M

- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 0:23
- Published: 12 Apr 2011
- Uploaded: 17 Apr 2011
- Author: homebodywithalaptop

- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 2:55
- Published: 06 Jul 2009
- Uploaded: 27 Aug 2010
- Author: NMEurobiker

- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 1:12
- Published: 27 Apr 2011
- Uploaded: 18 Jul 2011
- Author: TheKCHitter

- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 1:10
- Published: 05 Nov 2011
- Uploaded: 05 Nov 2011
- Author: AllThingsRockies

- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 0:26
- Published: 02 Jun 2011
- Uploaded: 02 Jun 2011
- Author: hellsredsled

- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 2:53
- Published: 04 Apr 2011
- Uploaded: 04 Apr 2011
- Author: MizunoBrand

- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 0:23
- Published: 20 Aug 2011
- Uploaded: 21 Aug 2011
- Author: Rockiesphan17

- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 0:28
- Published: 15 Jun 2010
- Uploaded: 25 Aug 2010
- Author: mhalltheway13

- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 2:53
- Published: 28 Sep 2011
- Uploaded: 28 Sep 2011
- Author: MrMONSTERAIRSOFT

- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 10:59
- Published: 24 Oct 2011
- Uploaded: 24 Oct 2011
- Author: wojdacness95




- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 1:02
- Published: 21 Jul 2011
- Uploaded: 21 Jul 2011
- Author: dawaasawae

- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 0:24
- Published: 07 Jul 2011
- Uploaded: 04 Sep 2011
- Author: SuperColoradorockies


- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 5:14
- Published: 07 Jul 2010
- Uploaded: 04 Nov 2011
- Author: RidingWithBigBrown

- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 9:25
- Published: 08 Jul 2011
- Uploaded: 11 Nov 2011
- Author: MakeAWishFoundation


-
Iran files complaint over purported US drone Al Jazeera
-
Euro crisis summit: The night Europe changed BBC News
-
Before Voting, If Only Death Had Been Before Their Own Eyes WorldNews.com
-
UK isolated in Europe after summit veto Sydney Morning Herald
-
Israeli airstrikes hit Gaza civilians Sydney Morning Herald
- 2007 World Series
- Albert Pujols
- Alex Rodriguez
- Andrés Galarraga
- Arizona Diamondbacks
- Asheville Tourists
- Associated Press
- at bats
- athletic scholarship
- Atlanta Braves
- Babe Herman
- Babe Ruth
- Barry Bonds
- Baseball America
- Baseball Digest
- Baseball-Reference
- Batting average
- Bill Terry
- Brian Daubach
- Brian Jordan
- Buck O'Neil
- Chicago Cubs
- Chipper Jones
- Chuck Klein
- closer (baseball)
- Colorado Rockies
- Coors Field
- Derek Jeter
- Dick Howser Trophy
- Dmitri Young
- Don Baylor
- Double (baseball)
- First baseman
- Florida Marlins
- Francisco Cordova
- Gold Glove
- Hank Aaron Award
- Hank Greenberg
- Heath Shuler
- Hit (baseball)
- hit for the cycle
- Home run
- Ichiro Suzuki
- ileitis
- Indianapolis Colts
- Jeff Kent
- Jerry Colquitt
- Jimmie Foxx
- Jorge Posada
- Kerry Wood
- knee
- Knoxville, Tennessee
- Larry Walker
- left field
- left fielder
- ligament
- Los Angeles Dodgers
- Lou Gehrig
- Manny Ramírez
- Mariano Rivera
size: 2.1Kb
size: 3.0Kb
size: 4.9Kb
size: 3.9Kb
size: 6.0Kb
size: 5.4Kb
size: 3.5Kb
size: 9.1Kb
size: 4.1Kb
name | Todd Helton |
---|---|
width | 275 |
team | Colorado Rockies |
number | 17 |
position | First baseman |
birth date | August 20, 1973 |
birth place | Knoxville, Tennessee |
bats | Left |
throws | Left |
debutdate | August 2 |
debutyear | 1997 |
debutteam | Colorado Rockies |
statyear | August 30, 2011 |
stat1label | Batting average |
stat1value | .323 |
stat2label | Home runs |
stat2value | 347 |
stat3label | Runs batted in |
stat3value | 1,307 |
stat4label | Hits |
stat4value | 2,361 |
stat5label | Doubles |
stat5value | 554 |
stat6label | On-base percentage |
stat6value | .422 |
teams | |
awards |
As of the end of the 2010 season, among all active players, Helton was second in on-base percentage (.424), third in doubles (527), fifth in intentional walks (178), and seventh in slugging percentage (.555).
Helton holds the Colorado Rockies club records for hits (2,361), home runs (347), doubles (554), walks (1,254), runs scored (1,328), RBIs (1,307), on-base percentage (.422), games played (2,049), total bases (4,026) and other categories. Helton hit his 2,000th career hit against the Atlanta Braves on May 19, 2009.
As of the 2011 season, Helton was the fifth-most senior active MLB player to have spent his entire career with one club, behind Chipper Jones, Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera.
Before turning pro
High school years
Helton attended Central High School in Knoxville, Tennessee and was a letterman in football and baseball. 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.
University of Tennessee
Helton received an athletic 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 at Tennessee. As a freshman and sophomore, he backed up Heath Shuler at quarterback. Entering his junior season in 1994, he was the back-up to Jerry Colquitt and ahead of Peyton Manning. After Colquitt tore knee ligaments in the season opener at UCLA, Helton took over as the starter. Three weeks later against Mississippi State, he suffered a knee injury himself and was replaced by Manning. Manning went on to break several records and eventually be drafted first overall by the Indianapolis Colts. He did, however, win the Dick Howser Trophy as National Collegiate Baseball Player of the Year following his junior baseball season. He is also a member of the Phi Gamma Delta "FIJI" Fraternity.
MLB career
Draft and debut
Helton was drafted in the first round, eighth overall, in the 1995 Major League Baseball Draft by the Colorado Rockies. He was signed on August 1, 1995. Helton spent the next couple of years playing for the class-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 1, 1997, in a 6-5 road loss against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Helton started in left field and flied out in his first at-bat. He recorded his first hit, a single, in his second at-bat off Francisco Cordova. Helton also hit his first home run, a solo shot, that day off Marc Wilkins.
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. 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). 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). Helton finished second to Kerry Wood of the Chicago Cubs in the voting for National League Rookie of the Year. The Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame named Helton its 1998 Professional Athlete of the Year.In 1999, Helton had a .320 batting average, .395 on-base percentage and .587 slugging percentage. He also hit 35 home runs and 113 RBI, while drawing 68 walks. On June 19, 1999, in a 10-2 Rockies home win over the Florida Marlins, Helton hit for the cycle. 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.
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). 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). Helton's MLB-leading 103 extra base hits tied for the fourth most in MLB history and the second most in NL history. His National League-leading numbers in on-base percentage, slugging percentage and batting average gave him the "percentage triple crown." Helton became the second Rockies player (Larry Walker in 1999) to accomplish that feat. Helton and Walker made the Rockies the first team in MLB history to record percentage triple crowns in consecutive seasons with different players. Helton became only the fourth player in National League history to lead the NL in both batting average and RBI. 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.Helton was invited to his first career Major League Baseball All-Star Game in 2000. 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. Buck O'Neil and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum presented Helton with the Walter Fenner "Buck" Leonard Legacy Award. Helton was also given the team-honored version of the Roberto Clemente Man of Year Award, for his community contributions to Eastern Tennessee. 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 2001 that took effect in 2003.
The following season, Helton posted a career-high 49 home runs (22 of them occurred away from Coors Field). The 49 home runs tied teammate Larry Walker for the most home runs ever by a Colorado Rockies player in a single season. Additionally, Helton averaged a .336 batting average, .432 on-base percentage and .685 slugging percentage. 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. Furthermore, Helton attained 402 total bases, making him only the fourth player in MLB history to do so in consecutive seasons (Chuck Klein, Gehrig and Foxx are the others).
Helton appeared in his second consecutive All-Star game in 2001 - his first as a starter. 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, 98 walks, 107 runs, .577 slg % and 319 total bases. He became the first player in Rockies history to score at least 100 runs in four consecutive seasons. 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. Helton was named to his third consecutive All-Star game - second straight as a starter. He also received his second consecutive Gold Glove.
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. 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. 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. He became only the third player in MLB history to accomplish that feat during any seven-year stretch in a career (Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth are the others). He set a franchise record by hitting at least 30 home runs in six consecutive seasons. Helton was named to his team-record fifth consecutive All-Star game and won his third Gold Glove during the season.
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. He hit .320 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. 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.
thumb|left|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. He hit .302 with 15 home runs, 81 RBI, 40 doubles, 91 walks and a .404 on-base percentage for the season. 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. Helton finished third on the Rockies roster in 2006 in runs (94), hits (165), doubles (40), total bases (260) and multi-hit games (42).
Also in 2005, St. Louis Cardinals radio broadcaster Wayne Hagin claimed manager Don Baylor said that Helton used creatine in the 1990s.
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 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 fifth active player to have 1,000 career hits in one ballpark.
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 (1998–2007).
Helton hit his 300th career home run on September 16, 2007, in a 13-0 home win over the Florida Marlins. 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 Dodgers closer Takashi Saito. 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. 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. 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.
In August 2008, Helton was diagnosed with a degenerative back condition, putting his health and ability to continue play in question. On May 19, 2009, Helton got his 2,000th hit, a single, as part of a 8-1 road loss to the Atlanta Braves. On July 22, 2009, Helton hit his 500th career double in a 4-3 home victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. He became the 50th player in MLB history to hit 500 career doubles and the fastest to do since 1954. Helton also joined Babe Ruth, Stan Musial, Lou Gehrig and Ted Williams as the only players in MLB history to have at least 500 doubles, 320 home runs and a .325 batting average for a career. On March 11, 2010, Helton signed a two-year contract extension through the 2013 season. The extension for 2012 and 2013 will be worth a total of $9.9 million.
As noted above Helton has a degenerative back condition and for much of July, 2010 has been on disabled list due to problem with his low back. Helton returned from the DL in August and hit .256, with 8 HR, and 37 RBI for the season. After the 2010 season Helton said he would return to the Rockies in 2011 following rumors of a possible retirement. On February 15, 2011 Helton said that he wants to play baseball for three more years and he would prefer to stay on the Rockies. On June 30 he played his 2000th career game with the Rockies against the Chicago White Sox, the Rockies lost that game 6-4 in 10 innings.
Accomplishments
Personal life
Helton's jersey number, 17, is a tribute to former Chicago Cubs first baseman Mark Grace.Helton is married to Christy. They have two daughters, Tierney Faith and Gentry Grace.
See also
References
External links
}} | after =Barry Bonds}}
Category:1973 births Category:Living people Category:Colorado Rockies players Category:American football quarterbacks Category:Baseball players from Tennessee Category:Major League Baseball first basemen Category:National League All-Stars Category:National League batting champions Category:National League RBI champions Category:People from Denver, Colorado Category:People from Knoxville, Tennessee Category:Tennessee Volunteers football players Category:Tennessee Volunteers baseball players Category:Asheville Tourists players Category:New Haven Ravens players Category:Colorado Springs Sky Sox players Category:Casper Ghosts players
fr:Todd Helton ko:토드 헬튼 ja:トッド・ヘルトン pt:Todd Helton zh:陶德·希爾頓This text is licensed under the Creative Commons CC-BY-SA License. This text was originally published on Wikipedia and was developed by the Wikipedia community.