Todd Helton – 1st year on ballot
How much does Coors Field factor into the voting process for the MLB Hall of Fame? We will find out with Todd Helton.
Once the backup quarterback to Peyton Manning at the University of Tennessee, Helton found success on the diamond. He was a five time All Star and a four time Silver Slugger, winning the batting title in 2000. Helton had six seasons of 30 or more homers, and drove in over 100 runs five times. He was also excellent defensively, winning three Gold Glove awards, leading the league in runs saved at first four times, and is second all time with 106 runs saved.
Not only was he one of the best defensive first basemen in the history of the game, but his career numbers at the plate were impressive as well. Helton produced a .316/.414/.539 batting line, hitting 366 homers and 592 doubles. His .953 OPS is the 19th best mark in baseball history, showing that helton was a stellar all around player during his career.
The Hall of Fame monitor and Standards agree. While the average Hall of Famer has a 100 on the monitor score, Helton is in at 175. Likewise, he surpasses the average Hall of Famer in the standards rating, with his 59 above the average of 50. Helton ranks ahead of players like Hank Greenberg, George Sisler, and Harmon Killebrew in terms of WAR at first base. But, you know, Coors Field and the thin air inflating offensive totals….
Todd Helton would be a deserving Hall of Famer if he was inducted. Chances are, the stigma of Coors Field will work against him.