Hurdle On Helton’s Hall Of Fame Future

When his former manager and Manatee County resident Clint Hurdle crunches the numbers, Colorado Rockies legend Todd Helton ends up with a plaque in Cooperstown.

Throughout his all-star MLB career, Helton felt pressure to perform. Whether it was when chasing battling titles, collecting Gold Glove Awards patrolling first base, taking part in a World Series, or putting on the spikes when the stakes were at the highest, Helton found a way to push through all the noise. More times than not, he came out the winner.

Coming up shortly, on January 24, once again, baseball pressure will surround the former 17-year pro. During a live scheduled telecast on MLB Network from Cooperstown, New York, the results of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America Hall of Fame vote will be announced.

Ten years into retirement from a decorated 17-season career (all with Colorado), Helton is a favorite to receive the necessary 75% vote that will welcome him into the game’s ultimate fraternity.

In 2022, Helton’s fifth year on the ballot, the 2000 MLB Batting Champion received 52% of the BBWAA vote.  

When reviewing Helton’s on-field accomplishments, Hurdle not only sees his former first baseman collecting the necessary votes to welcome him to Cooperstown but at the same time, he also wonders why the wait has continued.

“You can’t punish someone because they played in Coors Field,” said Hurdle earlier this week while returning home from a Rockies’ scouting department meeting in Denver. “His (Helton) numbers on the road are electric. Just looking at his six or seven best seasons on the road should put him in the Hall of Fame.”

Hurdle, who skippered the Rockies for eight seasons (2002-2009), believes that there are baseball people, fans, and those in the game, that see where Helton played home games as an added advantage that others may not have had.  With a reputation as a hitter’s park due to Denver’s high elevation, Helton clubbed a home batting average of .332, and .285 on the road.

“He had more bat than Keith Hernandez, who is the gold standard for me as far as first basemen go”, tells Hurdle, currently a special assistant to Rockies General Manager Bill Schmidt. “Todd always worked hard on his defense and hitting.  He just had that attitude that he was going to get better.”

When building his case for Helton, who was a member of the Rockies’ 2007 National League pennant-winning club, Hurdle draws a comparison to two former teammates (and future hall of famers) from his playing days.  During parts of 10 MLB seasons, as an infielder/outfielder with four different clubs, Hurdle saw a lot of George Brett and Ozzie Smith’s work ethic in how Helton went about his career.

As for what type of leader was Helton, be it in the clubhouse or in the dugout, Hurdle recalls a TV commercial from the 1970s. Investment company E.F. Hutton’s ad stated that when the company talks, people listen. He remembers his four-time Silver Slugger Award (the top offensive player at each position in each league) winner as not being vocal every day. But, when Helton had something to contribute, teammates took notice.

With his actions speaking long and loud, Hurdle proudly remembers his time together with Helton as witnessing a “blue-collar kid” who punched the clock each day he came to the ballpark.  

Just how much will Helton’s hard work be remembered by BBWAA voters later this month? One of three candidates who received at least 50% of the vote in 2022, if elected to the Class of 2023, Helton would be in ‘Baseball Town’ for induction on July 23.