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Helton's Career Day and Why He's a Future Hall Of Famer

by Behbigben15

created July 23, 2009

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Wednesday July 22, 2009 is a day Todd Helton may never forget.

The 35-year old first baseman for the Colorado Rockies accomplished a feat that only four other Major League Baseball players have done in the history of the game. Helton went three-for-four with a double and a home run, which just so happened to be the eventual game-winner for the 52-43 Rockies. His third inning RBI double off Arizona's starting pitcher Jon Garland was the 500th of his 13-year career. This put him in a very exclusive group, making him the 50th player in the history of the game to do so.

The double put him in an even more exclusive group. Helton joined Stan Musial, Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, and Ted Williams as the only players with 500 doubles, 320 homers and a lifetime .325 batting average or better. As expected, the team gave Helton, on the spot, a standing ovation, video tribute and even handed him second base and the game ball after the W was all wrapped up.

However, Helton was not finished after his milestone double in the third. In the eighth inning, with the game tied at three runs a piece, Helton belted a homer to right-center field off reliever Scott Schoeneweis. The solo shot gave the Rockies a one-run lead as Huston Street closed the deal with his 24th save of the season.

What really baffles me is why more people aren't talking about this. I mean, this guy has been one of the most underrated baseball players in the past ten years or so. Not only has this fella managed to stick with one team for 10+ seasons (13, to be exact), but he has also put the bat on the ball consistently, and hasn't missed an outrageous amount of games in his career either. Yes, he has missed a few recently (missed seven so far this year and half the season last year). But overall, Helton has been on the field and playing. From 1998-2007, Helton played in at least 140 games with the Rockies and Colorado hasn't even really been that great a place for Todd.

In the Helton era, Colorado has had nine losing seasons, making the playoffs just one time, which was in 2007 when they had their one-and-done run all the way to the World Series only to get swept in the World Series. The five-time All-Star has been very loyal to the Rockies, minding his own business and just hitting the ball hard. Never once have I heard a negative thing come out of Helton's mouth in front of the press. This very reason, though, could be why he has been under the radar for a good majority of his career.

In his prime (1999 to '04-'05), Helton could out-hit just about anyone, and his five All-Star appearances and four Silver Slugger awards were proof. The guy had five straight seasons of 30+ HR's and 100+ RBI's and came very close a few other seasons. In just two seasons Helton had under a .300 batting average and those seasons just so happened to be his rookie year in 1997 and last year, which was littered with injury.

Why, yes, Coors Field is a great hitter's park, but I am so tired of that lame excuse. A great hitter's park will get you a few extra home runs, that's true. But that does not explain Helton's 2,000 hits, 500 doubles and .328 lifetime batting average. Helton can add three Gold Glove awards and .996 career fielding percent on to his HOF resume, too. Which brings me to my next point.

Helton has been one of the best first basemen in the game, for years. There is no comparison, even to a guy like Albert Pujols. Pujols has a career 58 errors at first base (in nine seasons), while Helton totals 63... in 13 seasons. Very tough to argue against, if I do say so myself.

Point here is, Helton is the definition of a great ballplayer and has put up Hall of Fame numbers throughout his prolonged career. If I had a vote, I would, without a doubt, vote this guy into Cooperstown once he's eligible.

Also published at Bleacherreport.com (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/222505-heltons-career-day-and-why-hes-a-future-hall-of-famer).

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RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer

128 days ago

Score 2

Hitting in the PED era diminishes every hitter's accomplishments, be they clean or dirty. Playing half his games in Coors Field really dulls the luster of his stats, though.

Helton turns 36 in August, so maybe he has 4 or so years of accumulating numbers left. He's at 320 career homeruns, which hardly impresses these days. And he hasn't hit 20 HRs in a season since 2005, so he might be fortunate to finish his career around 400. He'll also be fortunate to reach 3,000 hits.

If he does play long enough to attain those milestones, then he'll likely see his Avg, OBP, and SLG drop just a bit.

I don't know if Helton is in or out. I'm kinda leaning toward out. It depends on what he does to close out his career.

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RomiezzoLegend

128 days ago

Score 0

Helton was one of my favorite players growing up, and he still is. 500 doubles is one heck of an accomplishment, even if it's in the PED era; it's not like everyone can hit 500 doubles. He complied 5 great seasons as a first baseman from 2000-2004, and finished in the top 10 in the MVP voting 3 of those 5 years. He also won the Silver Slugger award over first basemen like Jeff Bagwell and Mark McGwire from '00-'03. A .328 career batting average so far and a career .427 OBP (tied with Albert Pujols for first amongst all active players and 13th all time). He's also ranked 4th active in slugging percentage (13th career). Once he got injured, his power numbers diminished, but he can still hit for average, as stated, and he has 2,059 hits. No doubt in my mind he'll make 2,500 if he stays healthy.

(Not to mention he's a 3x Gold Glove winner, as well)

Todd Helton, you are the man! Congratulations on a milestone that hasn been achieved only 50 times in MLB history.

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RomiezzoLegend

128 days ago

Score 0

Future Hall of Famer? My vote will be yes if he adds a couple more decent years to his career (which I think he will).

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CheezerAll-Star

128 days ago

Score 2

"Helton joined Stan Musial, Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, and Ted Williams as the only players with 500 doubles, 320 homers and a lifetime .325 batting average or better." --This seems relevant even during the PED era. If it were so easy, more modern players would have accomplished the same thing

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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

128 days ago

Score 2

Let's be obvious: Helton does not REALLY belong in the same sentence with those guys.

If you raise ANY of those numbers even a tad Helton is out.

When you need to make an argument for the guy being in, perhaps he isn't really a HoFer?

Helton gets in and then you can start making serious arguments for such Colorado guys like Larry Walker and Andres Galarraga or even Dante Bichette. And that moves on to other 500+ doubles guys like Luis Gonzalez, Mark Grace etc and so forth

This being said, nice article! Keep up the good work, old man.

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RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer

128 days ago

Score 1

Yeah, there's no way in hell Helton catches Gehrig, Ruth, Musial or Williams in HRs. Those four are still in the 475 HR + 500 2B + .325 BA club, which Helton needs a miracle to be in.

It's not easy to hit .325, nor is it easy to hit 500 doubles, and 300 HRs. But you don't get to Cooperstown just because you did something that wasn't easy.

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RomiezzoLegend

128 days ago

Score 3

Stiles, let's be real here.

When you think of the Colorado Rockies (as a franchise), who's the first person that come to mind? I know that Helton hasn't led his team anywhere (hell, he didn't even lead his team to the playoffs the only time the Rockies made the playoffs when he was around, in 2007). Let's look at the Keltner List, shall we?

He was considered one of the best in baseball back in the beginning of the new millennium. In 2000, he led the league in hits, doubles, RBIs, batting average, OBP, SLG, and [obviously] OPS. He had great seasons from 1999 until 2003/2004ish.

He was definitely the best player on his team for quite some time. It's a shame that so much competition at first base at the time. Helton was crazy in the beginning of the new millennium. A gold glove winner, a silver slugger... you could make an argument that he was the best first baseman at one point.

He wasn't really in many pennant races, but heck... neither was Tony Gwynn (I know, Tony Gwynn is a different case... because he's just an amazing hitter), or Andre Dawson (since he's not in the Hall of Fame)... but come on. Helton (even offense) can't win all ball games. Just ask the Yankees last year...

His best seasons came came from 1999-2002, so I believe he continued to play well (offensively and defensively) past his prime.

He's not the best player in baseball history who is not in the Hall of Fame.

Players who have comparable career statistics are in the Hall of Fame, or are argued to become HOFers: look at Johnny Mize, Chuck Klein, and Hank Greenberg (all brought to you by Baseball Reference's similarity scores if you scroll down).

I definitely think that Helton's numbers will match up to HOF standards. Heck, in BBB15's articles, he's in a list with Stan Musial, Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, and Ted Williams... all LEGENDS. Now, Helton may not be a legend, but being in that category definitely shows that he's worth mentioning in a HOF debate.

Is there any evidence to suggest that the player was significantly better or worse than is suggested by his statistics?
Once he got injured, his numbers went down radically. However, it looks like he's bouncing back; already past 100 hits... and about 70 or so games left to play.

Is he the best player at his position who is eligible for the Hall of Fame but not in?
He could be, by the end of his career.

How many MVP-type seasons did he have? Did he ever win an MVP award? If not, how many times was he close?
He hasn't won the MVP award in his career, nor will he ever by the time his career ends (just an assertion). However, when you're in the steroid era, you're asking for too much when you're asking a question like that.

How many All-Star-type seasons did he have? How many All-Star games did he play in? Did most of the other players who played in this many go to the Hall of Fame?
He's a 5 time all-star... and guys like Albert Pujols, Jeff Bagwell, and Mark McGwire are at least getting recognition.

His team has only won the pennant once, and his numbers were horrific in that one playoff run.

What impact did the player have on baseball history? Was he responsible for any rule changes? Did he introduce any new equipment? Did he change the game in any way?
No. He was just a good offensive and defensive player, just like most guys...

Did the player uphold the standards of sportsmanship and character that the Hall of Fame, in its written guidelines, instructs us to consider?
Absolutely. He's a very optimistic person with a tremendous amount of sportsmanship. He's a class act.

Conclusion: He has the potential to be a HOFer. He's not in if retires right now, but one could make an argument that he could be...

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