The Toddfather is headed to Lubbock, Texas.
On Thursday, the National College Baseball Hall of Fame announced that Todd Helton, a former baseball star at the University of Tennessee, would be inducted with the 2021 Class.
As a Volunteer, Helton was, arguably, the best two-way collegiate player ever. A career .370 hitter, Helton still holds the University of Tennessee’s record for home runs (38), RBI (238), walks (147), and saves (23).
As a pitcher, Helton’s ERA in 1994 was 0.89. In 1995, his junior year and final season of collegiate baseball, he went 8-2 with an ERA of 1.66 and 74 strikeouts in 76 innings.
In 1995, he led the Vols to an SEC championship and their first College World Series appearance in 44 years. During his time in Knoxville, Helton won the 1995 National Player of the Year awards from the American Baseball Coaches Association, Baseball America, and Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. He was the 1995 SEC Player of the Year and a first-team All-American in 1995-95.
Following his career in Tennessee, the Rockies drafted Helton eighth overall in the 1995 draft. “The Toddfather” remains one of the all-time-great Rockies as a five-time MLB All-Star (2000-04), three-time Gold Glove (2001, 2002, 2004) winner, and four-time Sliver Slugger Award (2000-2003) winner.
He also helped lead the 2007 Rockies to their first and only World Series appearance.
Because it’s always a good day to watch the Rockies walk-off the Dodgers, here’s Todd Helton on September 18, 2007:
Currently, Helton is on the ballot for induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. He most recently appeared on 44.9% of all ballots, showing steady progress toward Cooperstown.
He is one of 14 players being inducted into the National College Baseball Hall of Fame.
The ceremony will take place on June 26.
Congrats, Todd!