An incredibly talented athlete, Todd Helton holds the title of the greatest player in Colorado Rockies history – he played all 17 major league seasons in Denver and hit over 2,500 hits.
He is the franchise’s all-time leader in games played, hits, runs, homers, RBI and Wins Above Replacements.
But another part of his legacy is that he conjures up such an intriguing “what if?”
A football and baseball star at the University of Tennessee, Helton moved up the depth chart to take on the starting quarterback role on the Volunteers his junior year. If it weren’t for a knee injury that turned the job over to a freshman named Peyton Manning, Helton might have set himself up for a professional career in the NFL rather than a career in the MLB.
Another twist of fate came when he was selected in the first round of the 1995 draft by the Rockies. Helton reached the major leagues two years later and never left Colorado until his retirement after the 2013 season.
He finished with a .316/.414/.539 streak, hit 369 homers with 1,401 runs scored and 1,406 RBI.
But would Hilton have been such a great player if he hadn’t played all of his home games at 5,280 feet above sea level? It certainly helped boost his numbers.
According to Baseball-Reference.comHelton’s 1,048 home OPS is the sixth best in history among players who have appeared in more than 1,000 major league games. On the trail, it put out a less impressive, but still respectable .855 OPS.
Therein lies the crux of the Hilton Hall of Fame affair. Was he a great player because of – or in spite of – his friendly home?
Why Hilton belongs in the hall
The left-swinging first baseman was an outstanding both at the plate and in the field.
He has career average and totals stats to support his inclusion at Cooperstown – with a career batting average above . 300, on-base percentage above . 400 and a slugging percentage above . 500. In addition, he has accumulated over 2,500 hits, 1,400 runs and RBIs, and 300 homers. than nine other players in MLB history To reach all of these seven signsOnly Manny Ramirez isn’t already in the Hall of Famer.
For five years from 2000-04, Helton was one of the absolute best catchers in baseball. He was named to the NL All-Star team each of those seasons — winning four silverware, three Gold Gloves, and a batting title along the way. His 37.5 wins above replacement during that span ranks third in the majors behind only Barry Bonds and Alex Rodriguez.
With a 61.8 career WAR, Helton falls just below the Hall of Fame’s 24 average, but ahead of recruits Harmon Killebrew, Bill Terry, and Hank Greenberg.
Where Hilton falls short
The most common argument against Helton is that Coors Field turned him from a good hitter into a great fielder. While he had much better stats at home—his 193-point home/road difference is among the highest in history—the constant adjustments players must make when going from elevation to sea level take a toll.
The peak of Helton’s career was also not as sustainable as many Hall of Famers’. Although he was runner-up (to Kerry Wood) in balloting for NL Rookie of the Year in 1998, Helton’s Silver Slugger and Gold Glove seasons centered between 2000 and 2004.
The lack of a postseason resume also works against Helton. The Rockies have only made the playoffs twice during his career—and in those games, he hit just . 211/. 303/. 281 with no home runs in 57 at-bats.
voting trends
Helton has made steady progress since becoming hall-eligible in 2019. He is currently above the 75% threshold of Ryan Thibodaux’s 167 ballots Hall of Fame tracker 79% supported.
- 2019: 16.5%
- 2020: 29.2%
- 2021: 44.9%
- 2022: 52.0%
Will Hilton be elected in the end?
Just like his career, Helton continues to build on some already impressive numbers. His total votes from last year was Second highest percentage among returning candidates. And from ballots already unearthed this year, Helton’s 27-vote increase from returning voters is more than anyone else’s.
