CINCINNATI -- Tommy Helms, the 1966 National League Rookie of the Year for the Reds, has died at 83. The Reds Hall of Fame, which inducted Helms as a member in 1979, announced his passing on Sunday afternoon, but the cause of death is unknown.
Primarily a second baseman, and a two-time All-Star and NL Gold Glove winner, Helms had a 14-year Major League career with the Reds, Astros, Pirates and Red Sox from 1964-77. He batted .269 lifetime with 34 home runs.
With Cincinnati from 1964-71, Helms was part of a blockbuster offseason trade that sent Lee May and Jimmy Stewart to the Astros for future Hall of Famer Joe Morgan along with Cesar Geronimo, Jack Billingham, Ed Armbrister and Denis Menke.
During the 1980s, Helms returned to the Reds as a first base coach and infield instructor. He twice served as an interim manager for the club in place of Pete Rose. In 1988, he managed 27 games while Rose served a 30-day suspension for shoving an umpire.
In 1989, Helms took over in August through the rest of the season after Rose received a lifetime suspension from baseball for betting on games. He did not get the permanent job that went to Lou Piniella ahead of the 1990 season and moved on to coach or manage in the Minor Leagues for other organizations. Helms' nephew, Wes Helms, had a 13-year big league career as well.