Todd Helton is a former American professional baseball player who spent his entire career with the Colorado Rockies. He was born on August 20, 1973, in Knoxville, Tennessee, and attended the University of Tennessee, where he played both football and baseball.
Helton was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the first round of the 1995 MLB draft and made his debut with the team in 1997. He quickly established himself as one of the best hitters in the league, finishing his rookie season with a .315 batting average, 25 home runs, and 97 RBIs.
Over the course of his career, Helton was known for his consistency at the plate. He finished his career with a .316 batting average, 369 home runs, and 1,406 RBIs. He also had a keen eye for the strike zone, drawing 1,335 walks and finishing with a career on-base percentage of .414.
Helton was a five-time All-Star and won three Gold Glove Awards for his defensive play at first base. He also won four Silver Slugger Awards, which are given to the best offensive players at each position.
One of Helton's most memorable seasons came in 2000, when he hit .372 with 42 home runs and 147 RBIs. He finished second in the National League MVP voting that year, behind only Barry Bonds.
Despite his individual success, Helton's teams never won a World Series during his career. The Rockies made the playoffs just three times during his tenure, in 1995, 2007, and 2009. In 2007, Helton helped lead the Rockies to their first-ever National League pennant, but they were swept by the Boston Red Sox in the World Series.
Helton retired after the 2013 season, having played 17 seasons in the major leagues, all with the Rockies. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in franchise history and was inducted into the team's Hall of Fame in 2019.
Off the field, Helton has been involved in a number of charitable endeavors. He and his wife, Christy, founded the Todd Helton Foundation, which supports a variety of causes, including childhood cancer research and education initiatives.
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