Top 10 moments in Helton's HOF career

DENVER -- Todd Helton was the Rockies’ unchanging face. In the best of times, he embodied who they were. During down periods, Helton was who the Rockies wanted to be.

And as of 2024, he will forever be a Hall of Famer. Helton was inducted to Cooperstown as a member of the Class of 2024 after being included on 79.7% of ballots from the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

Without further ado, let's take a look at 10 golden moments from Helton’s Hall of Fame career.

1. Anything -- yes, anything -- is possible

When Helton stepped to the plate in the bottom of the ninth against Dodgers closer Takashi Saito on Sept. 18, 2007, he and the Rockies had little more than belief. Since debuting in 1999, Helton had experienced two winning seasons (83-79 in 1997 when he debuted and appeared in 35 games, and 82-80 in 2000). As Helton came to bat, the Rockies had experienced exactly one hit off Saito all season -- Matt Holliday's soft single, which had just occurred.

All Helton did was change everything. His homer to right field gave the Rockies a 9-8 win to sweep a doubleheader. It turned out to be the second victory in the 14-of-15 run to end the regular season and 21-of-22 march that landed the Rockies in the World Series.

Fans and the rest of the baseball world had to wait to understand the moment’s significance. But teammates who had leaned on Helton through almost exclusively lean years already knew.

When Helton entered the clubhouse after obligatory interviews, his teammates greeted him with a standing ovation. Many more were coming for the ’07 Rox.

2. The face of the franchise

Helton never made a big deal about doing his job. And, really, this moment was simply a man doing his job.

But sometimes a simple task is worthy of being frozen in time, through video, iconic photographs and (hint, hint) someday a statue.

On Oct. 15, 2007, Helton simply caught shortstop Troy Tulowitzki's throw, something he’d done to put away outs all his life. But as he clutched the ball above his head, with the D-backs’ Eric Byrnes behind Helton’s feet after his futile head-first slide, Helton’s goateed face broke into an unforgettable smile. The Rockies were going to the World Series.

3. Rare air

No one has finished a season with a .400 batting average since Ted Williams (.406) in 1941. Count Helton as having at least reached the magic number late in a season. On Aug. 21, 2000, through his sixth-inning single off the Braves’ Kevin Millwood in his 532nd plate appearance, Helton’s batting average sat at an even .400.

It was as close to the end of the season as anyone had come with an average that high since Hall of Famer George Brett was at .400 on Sept. 19, 1980, with far fewer plate appearances -- 460.

Helton finished the year with the National League batting title and a .372 average. He also led the NL in hits (216), doubles (59), RBIs (147), on-base percentage (.463), slugging percentage (.698), OPS (1.162) and total bases (405).

The most puzzling number? He finished fifth in NL Most Valuable Player voting.

4. Can’t say he didn’t warn us

The 1997 Rockies had Andres Galarraga, the team’s first star, and John Vander Wal, a productive veteran. There wasn’t a screaming need for a first baseman. Nonetheless, Helton -- the team’s first-round selection out of the University of Tennessee in 1995 -- was ready.

Called up on Aug. 2 at Three Rivers Stadium against the Pirates, and placed in left field, Helton flied out in his first plate appearance.

But the next time up he drew a walk from Francisco Cordova, and his third plate appearance resulted in a home run off Marc Wilkins.

Patience plus Power. Helton would display those traits repeatedly over 17 seasons.

5. Three times the thunder

Helton had finished April of his magical 2000 season with a .337 batting average, and those who were paying attention understood something special was happening.

On May 1, he caught the attention of a greater audience with a three-homer game against the Expos in a 15-8 Rockies victory at Coors Field. The ball was flying during this game. Rockies teammate Jeffrey Hammonds went deep twice, and future Hall of Famer Larry Walker homered. The Expos also hit five homers, two by Chris Widger.

But Helton, having already homered twice off Dustin Hermanson, topped everyone with a seventh-inning feat of strength against reliever Anthony Telford. He broke his bat, yet sent the ball into the Rockies’ bullpen in right. Helton was well on his way to a career-high 49 homers.

Helton would turn in another three-homer game on May 29, 2003, against the Dodgers.

6. Great time for a big night

The Rockies 9-8, 13-inning victory over the Padres in the famed Game 163 on Oct. 1, 2007 that sent them to the postseason is remembered for Holliday’s epic, disputed slide into home plate for the winning run. It’s also remembered for another controversy -- Garrett Atkins' seventh-inning drive to left field that the Rockies thought was a home run but ended up being ruled a double. Yes, it was the pre-replay era.

But dig through the game and you’ll see Helton was a forceful presence, even when he didn’t swing.

Helton went 1-for-4, but was in the middle of some key moments. His sacrifice fly in the first inning drove in the team’s first run. His lone hit was a third-inning home run off Jake Peavy that cut the Padres’ lead to 5-4.

And the key reason Helton didn’t win the game for the Rockies was the Padres didn’t let him. After Holliday tied the game with a one-out triple, the Padres walked Helton intentionally. Jamey Carroll would drive in Holliday on a sacrifice fly, and Helton could celebrate going to the postseason.

7. More than just numbers

A lower back injury had reduced Helton’s effectiveness and curtailed his participation in 2008, when the Rockies suffered a dramatic fall from their magical 2007.

But in ’09, Helton provided a veteran backbone to a club that once again pushed into the postseason. Appearing in 151 games, Helton batted .302 with a .904 OPS.

In addition to a return to success, Helton reached a pair of milestones – his 2,000th career hit on May 19 at Atlanta, and his 500th double on July 22 at home against the D-backs. Helton became the 50th player to reach 500 doubles, and the fastest to do so since 1954.

8. 2K sign-off

The Braves were still the NL’s most potent force in 2000. But Helton popped their pomposity in the final regular-season game on Oct. 1.

In the top of the ninth, the Rockies had two on but trailed, 5-4. Feared closer John Rocker had Helton down to his last strike.

All Helton did was launch his 49th homer -- a blast to right field that drew a collective gasp from the Turner Field crowd. The Rockies chased Rocker, and walked away with a 10-5 victory. The deflated Braves would be swept by the Cardinals in the NL Division Series, and would wait another 21 years to win a World Series.

9. Baseball is a brainy game

In his final season, Helton pulled his slickest move.

With two out and the Cardinals at bat in the first inning on Sept. 19, 2013, pitcher Roy Oswalt made what seemed to be a routine pickoff move at first base with Matt Carpenter aboard.

Helton faked his return throw, then tagged Carpenter as he wandered from the bag to dust off his uniform to end the inning.

Oh, yeah, Helton also homered in the ninth inning to tie the game. The Rockies would win in 15 innings, 7-6.

10. Into the sunset

Sept. 25, 2013, began gloriously. The Rockies commemorated Helton’s 1,141st and final game at Coors Field with an on-field ceremony. Helton threw the ceremonial first pitch to his older daughter, Tierney Faith. His younger daughter, Gentry Grace, and wife, Christy, and his good friend, football hero Peyton Manning, were on the field, also. The left-field fence opened, and out marched a present perfect for happy trails.

The ceremony ended. The game began. Then Helton kept the celebration going in his first at-bat by launching a solo home run off Peavy (then with the Red Sox) -- the last of his 369 career homers.