46 Facts About Todd Helton

1.

Todd Lynn Helton was born on August 20,1973 and is an American former professional baseball first baseman who played his entire 17-year career for the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball.

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2.

Todd Helton collected his 2,000th career hit against the Atlanta Braves on May 19,2009, and his 2,500th against the Cincinnati Reds on September 1,2013.

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3.

Todd Helton attended Central High School in Knoxville, Tennessee, and was a letterman in football and baseball.

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4.

Todd Helton was drafted in the 2nd round by the San Diego Padres during the 1992 MLB draft.

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5.

Todd Helton received an athletic scholarship from the University of Tennessee to play both football and baseball.

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6.

Todd Helton was named a Gatorade Player of the Year for football and baseball in Tennessee.

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7.

Todd Helton appeared in 12 games during his career with the Vols football team, completing 41 of 75 passes for 484 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions.

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8.

Todd Helton has the NCAA Division I record for most consecutive scoreless innings, at 47.

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9.

Todd Helton spent the summer of 1994 playing for the Orleans Cardinals of the Cape Cod Baseball League and was named a league all-star.

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10.

When Rockies first baseman Andres Galarraga went to the Atlanta Braves in 1998, Todd Helton became the full-time starter at first base for Colorado during the 1998 season.

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11.

Todd Helton finished second to Kerry Wood of the Chicago Cubs in the voting for National League Rookie of the Year.

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12.

Todd Helton hit 35 home runs and 113 RBI, while drawing 68 walks.

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13.

Todd Helton fell short of hitting a second cycle on four occasions during the 1999 season, which would have made him only the second player since 1900 to hit two cycles in one season.

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14.

Todd Helton became only the fourth player in National League history to lead the NL in both batting average and RBI.

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15.

Todd Helton became the first player in National League history and the fifth player in MLB history to have at least 200 hits, 40 home runs, 100 RBI, 100 runs, 100 extra base hits and 100 walks in one season.

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16.

Todd Helton was invited to his first career Major League Baseball All-Star Game in 2000.

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17.

Todd Helton was given the team-honored version of the Roberto Clemente Man of Year Award, for his community contributions to Eastern Tennessee.

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18.

Todd Helton 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.

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19.

Furthermore, Todd Helton attained 402 total bases, making him only the fourth player in MLB history to do so in consecutive seasons.

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20.

Todd Helton appeared in his second consecutive All-Star game in 2001 — his first as a starter.

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21.

Todd Helton won his first Gold Glove at first base and was a top candidate for MVP, but was overshadowed by Sammy Sosa and Barry Bonds.

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22.

Todd Helton became the first player in Rockies history to score at least 100 runs in four consecutive seasons.

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23.

Todd Helton was named to his third consecutive All-Star game — his second straight as a starter.

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24.

Todd Helton became the first player in MLB history to hit at least.

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25.

Todd Helton became only the third player in MLB history to accomplish that feat during any seven-year stretch in a career.

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26.

Todd Helton set a franchise record by hitting at least 30 home runs in six consecutive seasons.

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27.

Todd Helton was named to his team-record fifth consecutive All-Star game and won his third Gold Glove during the season.

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28.

In 2005, Todd Helton spent time on the disabled list for the first time in his career with a strained left calf muscle.

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29.

Todd Helton wasn't named to the National League All-Star team for the first time since 1999.

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30.

Todd Helton finished third on the Rockies roster in 2006 in runs, hits, doubles, total bases and multi-hit games.

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31.

Also in 2005, St Louis Cardinals radio broadcaster Wayne Hagin claimed manager Don Baylor said that Todd Helton had "tried the juice" in the 1990s, implying steroid use.

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32.

Todd Helton vehemently denied the allegation and considered legal action against Hagin.

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33.

Todd Helton became the first player to hit 300 home runs for the Colorado Rockies.

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34.

Todd 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.

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35.

Todd Helton hit a triple in the first pitch of his first career playoff at-bat in the opening game against the Phillies at Philadelphia.

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36.

Todd Helton became the 50th player in MLB history to hit 500 career doubles and the fastest to do since 1954.

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37.

On March 11,2010, Todd Helton signed a two-year contract extension through the 2013 season.

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38.

On February 15,2011, Todd Helton announced his intention to play baseball for three more years, preferably for the Rockies.

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39.

Todd Helton was healthier in 2013, playing in 124 games while hitting 15 home runs with 61 RBIs.

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40.

On September 14,2013, Todd Helton announced that he would be retiring at the conclusion of the 2013 season.

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41.

On September 25,2013, before his last game at Coors Field, Todd Helton was honored by the Rockies Organization in a pre-game ceremony.

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42.

Todd Helton is the first Rockies player to have his number retired in the team's twenty-six year history.

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43.

Todd Helton has appeared on balloting for the National Baseball Hall of Fame since 2019, when he received 16.

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44.

Todd Helton's jersey number, 17, is a tribute to former Chicago Cubs first baseman Mark Grace.

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45.

In 2013, Todd Helton was arrested in Colorado for driving under the influence of alcohol.

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46.

Todd Helton was fined $400, received a year of probation, and was ordered to undergo 24 hours of community service.

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