Rick Helling
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| Rick Helling | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pitcher | |||||||||||||||
| Born: December 15, 1970 Devils Lake, North Dakota, U.S. | |||||||||||||||
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |||||||||||||||
| MLB debut | |||||||||||||||
| April 10, 1994, for the Texas Rangers | |||||||||||||||
| Last MLB appearance | |||||||||||||||
| September 9, 2006, for the Milwaukee Brewers | |||||||||||||||
| MLB statistics | |||||||||||||||
| Win–loss record | 93–81 | ||||||||||||||
| Earned run average | 4.68 | ||||||||||||||
| Strikeouts | 1,058 | ||||||||||||||
| Teams | |||||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||
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Medals
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Ricky Allen Helling (born December 15, 1970) is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher.
High school and college
Helling attended Lakota High School in Lakota, North Dakota for three years, before graduating from Shanley High School in Fargo, North Dakota. He was a letterman in football, basketball, and baseball. In football, he was a three-time All-Conference honoree. In basketball, he led the state in scoring.[1]
Helling accepted a scholarship to play
Writer Chuck Klosterman describes Rick Helling as his personal archenemy.[3]
Baseball career
Helling was an early critic of
Helling was a member of two
On August 13, 1996, Helling pitched a
In 1998 he won five straight games on the road; no Texas pitcher matched that accomplishment until Scott Feldman surpassed it in 2009.[6] Helling had his best season in 1998 going 20–7, tying for the American League lead in wins with David Cone and Roger Clemens. His 11 road victories in 1998 set a club record, later matched by Vicente Padilla (2008) and surpassed by Feldman (2009).[7][8][9]
In 1999, Helling started 35 games for the Rangers, going 13-11 while leading the majors with 41 home runs allowed.
In 2000, Helling broke a 30-year-old record by giving up 66 doubles. One year later, he broke his record by allowing 68 doubles.
In 2001, Helling led the majors in hits allowed (256), earned runs (124) and home runs allowed (38).
Helling signed a one-year deal with the Diamondbacks in 2002.[10][11][12] In his lone season with Arizona, Helling went 10–12 in 30 starts. After the season, Helling signed with the Baltimore Orioles.[13][14]
Helling spent half the season in Baltimore before being traded back to the
Helling did not pitch in 2004 due to injury. On June 20,
On February 5, 2007, he announced his retirement to spend more time with his family.[15]
Post-baseball life
On March 17, 2009, he was hired as a special assistant to the head of the Major League Baseball Players Association, Donald Fehr.[16]
He currently resides in Minneapolis–Saint Paul. He also coaches football at Minnetonka High School. Notable former players include K'Andre Miller of the New York Rangers in the NHL. K'Andre considers Helling as a mentor.[17]
See also
- List of Major League Baseball annual wins leaders
- List of Texas Rangers Opening Day starting pitchers
References
- ^ a b Ferguson, John A. (17 June 1993). "A Prep Wonderboy, Helling Is Riding Baseball to Future". Tulsa World. p. B-3. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
- ^ DeVillers, Greg (11 June 1992). "Helling took long road to first round". The Bismarck Tribune. p. 2D. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
- ^ Klosterman, Chuck (29 January 2007). "The Importance of Being Hated". Esquire. Hearst Corporation. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
- ^ Helling Named Assistant to Fehr NY Times, March 18, 2009
- ^ "Sounds are Victims of a Perfect Game". The Tennessean. Nashville. August 14, 1996. p. 3C. Retrieved February 13, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- The Miami Herald, 8/23/09, accessed 8/23/09
- ^ Palmer, Matt, "Rangers roll, trim Wild Card deficit to two: Feldman stifles Orioles for 11th road victory, 15th overall", MLB.com, 9/4/09, accessed 9/4/09
- ^ Ginzburg, David, "Feldman, Cruz lead Rangers over Orioles 5-1", Associated Press, 9/4/09, accessed 9/4/09
- ^ Wilson, Jeff (2009-09-09). "Texas Rangers find good vibe with sweep of Tribe, 10-0". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 2009-09-27.
- ^ "BaseballDIAMONDBACKS: Signed P Rick Helling to one-year". 20 January 2002.
- ^ "Lakeland Ledger - Google News Archive Search".
- ^ http://lubbockonline.com/stories/012002/pro_0120020130.shtml [bare URL]
- ^ "Hargrove Picks Helling as Fifth Starter".
- ^ "Helling accepts Orioles' pitch, signs contract". 11 February 2003.
- ^ Helling to retire after 12 seasons
- ^ Helling, Myers added to MLBPA staff
- ^ Wheeler, Scott. "Behind the scenes with the Wisconsin Badgers' future NHL stars". The Athletic. Retrieved 2021-02-20.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)