Major League Baseball All-Star first baseman Todd Helton currently plays for the Colorado Rockies. He was named the Sporting News Rookie of the Year during his 2005 rookie season. He is widely regarded as one of the best pure hitters in the game with five straight All-Star appearances from 2000-2005, and four straight Silver Slugger awards from 2000-2004.
Early Life
Todd Lynn Helton was born in Knoxville, Tennessee on August 20, 1973. He attended high school at Central High School in Tennessee. He established himself as a premiere high school baseball prospect earning the Baseball America All-American honor. Helton was also the high school quarterback for the school and he would garner interest from top universities as a football player. He attended the University of Tennessee where he played football and baseball. At Tennessee he played with eventual football superstar Peyton Manning. In baseball Helton would earn the Dick Howser Trophy and garner the attention of Major League Baseball scouts.
Pro Career
Helton was drafted with the eighth pick in the 1995 Major League Baseball Draft by the Colorado Rockies. He made his Major League Baseball debut with the Rockies on August 2, 1997. He established himself as an everyday player and in 1998 would be named the starting first baseman. He finished his rookie season second in National League Rookie of the Year voting to Kerry Wood. In 2000, he won the National League Batting Title hitting .372 and led the league in Runs Batted In with 147. He would also be voted onto his first of five straight National League All-Star teams and receive his first of four straight Silver Slugger Awards. In 2007, he led the young Rockies to their first ever World Series appearance where they lost to the eventual champion Boston Red Sox.
Todd Helton Timeline
- 1973: Born on August 20
- 1995: Sporting News Rookie of the Year with the Colorado Rockies
- 2000: MLB Batting Champion
- 2001: Wins Hank Aaron Award
- 2000- 2004: Gold Glove winner
- 2000-2004: Silver Slugger Winner
Todd Helton Vital Stats
- Mahalo's Guide to the Colorado Rockies
- ESPN.com: Career Stats
- Height: 6-2
- Weight: 210
- Rookie Year: 1995
