July 21st 2024.
On a beautiful Sunday afternoon in Cooperstown, New York, baseball legend Todd Helton took the stage at the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Surrounded by 54 fellow hall of famers and watched by millions on TV, Helton was faced with a daunting task: talking about himself and his career.
But for Helton, who spent 17 seasons with the Colorado Rockies and became the face of the franchise, it was just another challenge to conquer. He was used to making big plays on the field, like smashing a run-scoring double into the gap or picking a low throw out of the dirt at first base. But speaking in front of a large crowd about himself? That was a different ballgame.
With the help of his wife, Christy, who helped him write his acceptance speech, Helton delivered a home run at the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Dressed in a stylish gray suit with a purple tie, he was both funny and emotional. He joked about his infamous superstitions and referred to his ranch in northeast Colorado as a "Redneck Disneyland."
But he also took a moment to express his gratitude and love for his family, especially his daughters Tierney Faith and Gentry Grace. He said, "The pure tenderness of your heart, in each of you, blows me away at every turn. You both mean the world to me."
Helton was inducted into the hall of fame along with three other baseball greats: Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer, Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre, and manager Jim Leyland. Helton was the first to speak, and he was thankful for the opportunity. He began his 14-minute speech by acknowledging that he's not used to talking about himself and jokingly said, "Those of you who know me, know I would be more comfortable doing anything other than standing up here talking about myself. I’m just a ballplayer."
But Helton was more than just a ballplayer. He was now a baseball immortal, joining the ranks of only 273 players to be enshrined in Cooperstown. His former teammate and the Rockies' first hall of famer, Larry Walker, put Helton's career into perspective during a video tribute before his speech. He said, "Todd Helton is the greatest of the Colorado Rockies, and he’s the greatest player who has ever played there, and he will probably be the greatest player who ever plays there."
For fans like Denver resident Rob Rosen, who sported his purple Rockies jersey to the induction ceremony, Helton's speech was "awesome." He said, "But I expected it to be shorter because that’s just who Todd is. But I loved it. It was so heartfelt."
During his speech, Helton thanked numerous people who played a role in his career, including his late father Jerry, who passed away in 2015, and his mom Martha, who was in attendance. He also gave a special shout-out to his long-time friend and team trainer Keith Dugger, affectionately known as "Doogie." He joked, "People who know me know that it takes a while for me to trust people. I’ve known 'Doogie' for 30 years and I’ve trusted you for 29 ½ of those years."
Helton's quirks and superstitions were well-known during his playing career, and he made sure to include some of them in his speech. He joked about his routines and how they didn't make sense to anyone but himself. He even shared a story about getting three speeding tickets on his way to Triple-A games in Colorado Springs, and how he took it as a sign to continue his routine because he got three hits each time.
But amidst the jokes and lighthearted moments, Helton also took a moment to acknowledge the impact of his career and the support of Rockies fans. He said, "I did my best competing on the baseball field. It was where I thought I belonged. It was my church and where I felt the most comfortable."
As he stood on stage, surrounded by his fellow hall of famers, Helton finally felt like he belonged among the elite group. And as he prepared to attend the players-only dinner later that night, he knew that it would be another moment where he felt like he truly belonged. After all, he was now a Hall of Famer, one of the greatest players to ever play the game.
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