Tommy Helms
| Tommy Helms | ||
|---|---|---|
Runs batted in | 477 | |
| Managerial record | 28–36 | |
| Winning % | .438 | |
| Teams | ||
As player
As manager | ||
| Career highlights and awards | ||
| ||
Tommy Vann Helms (born May 5, 1941) is an American former professional baseball player and manager. Over a 14-year Major League Baseball career (1964–1977), Helms played for four teams, including eight seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, four with the Houston Astros, and one each with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Boston Red Sox. He also managed the Reds for part of two seasons (1988–1989).
MLB career
He appeared briefly with the Reds in 1964, making his major league debut on September 23, 1964, against the
In
During his Gold Glove season of 1971, Helms set a Reds record turning 130 double plays. He led National League second basemen in double plays in 1969 and 1971, fielding percentage in 1970, 1971 and 1974 and assists in 1972.[1]
In his autobiography, Charlie Metro shares this anecdote about Morganna "The Kissing Bandit" and Helms: "At first the players were shy and would kind of run. But after a while, heck, the guys all loved it. One time in Cincinnati, she ran out there toward Tommy Helms. She ran right out beyond the infield, and Tommy was the type of guy who wouldn't run from her. He just opened up his arms and said, 'Come here, baby.'"[2]
On November 29, 1971, Helms was part of a blockbuster trade that brought
Shortly after reacquiring him, the Pirates released Helms. He signed with the Boston Red Sox for the remainder of the 1977 season, serving primarily as a designated hitter before calling it a career. During his 14 years in a major league uniform, Helms struck out only 301 times in almost 5,000 at bats. Former Reds closer Clay Carroll was once asked, "Who would you want at second base when the game was on line?" He promptly responded, "Two words, Tommy Helms."
Career statistics
In 1435 games over 14 seasons, Helms compiled a .269
Managerial career
Helms served on Pete Rose's coaching staff when Rose was named manager of the Reds in
On August 24, 1989, following accusations that he had
Personal life
Helms was born May 5, 1941, in
After retirement he lived in North Carolina and later in Cincinnati.[citation needed] From 1990 to 1992, his son Tommy Helms Jr. played in the Chicago Cubs organization, and his son Ryan Helms played in 1994 and 1995 in the Chicago White Sox organization.[6]
In 2013, Tommy Helms was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame.[7]
References
- ^ a b "Tommy Helms Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2017-07-05.
- ISBN 0-8032-8281-8.
- ^ "Pirates, A's Swap 9 Players; Garner and Medich Key Men". The New York Times. Associated Press. March 17, 1977. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-01-31. Retrieved 2009-08-16.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "MLB legend, former Observer columnist headline N.C. Sports Hall of Fa…". Archived from the original on 2013-07-12. Retrieved 2013-07-11.
- ^ "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Google News Archive Search".
- ^ "Tommy Helms started with a dream, ended in N.C. Sports Hall of Fame |…". Archived from the original on 2013-07-12. Retrieved 2013-07-11.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
- Tommy Helms managerial career statistics at Baseball-Reference.com
- Tommy Helms at the SABR Baseball Biography Project
- Tommy Helms at Pura Pelota (Venezuelan Professional Baseball League)