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Tommy Helms
Tommy Vann Helms (May 5, 1941 – April 13, 2025) was an American professional baseball player and manager. Over a 14-year Major League Baseball (MLB) 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 won the 1966 National League Rookie of the Year Award, two Gold Glove Awards at second base, and he was twice an MLB All-Star. Helms also managed the Reds for parts of two seasons (1988–1989).
Helms was born May 5, 1941, in Charlotte, North Carolina, and was a 1959 graduate of West Mecklenburg High School, where he played baseball and basketball. In 1959, he signed as an amateur free agent with the Reds at age 18. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps beginning in October 1963.
In 1959-60, Helms played shortstop for the Palatka RedLegs of the Class-D Florida State League. In his only full season, 1960, he had a .292 batting average, but only a .918 fielding percentage, in 137 games. In 1961, he moved up to the Class-B Topeka Reds in the Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League (Triple-I League) again playing shortstop. He hit .277, and his fielding percentage improved to .936.
In 1962, he was promoted to the Single-A Macon Peaches. Again playing shortstop, Helms hit .340 with an OPS of .809. His fielding percentage improved to .953. In 1963, he was promoted to the San Diego Padres of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, where he played in 138 games. The Reds had him play some games at second base, while still playing the majority of his games at shortstop. His batting average fell to .225, but his fielding percentage at shortstop again rose (.963). His fielding percentage at second base was .933.
In 1964-65, he played the majority of his games with the Padres. In 1964, his batting average rose to .309, while playing all of his games at shortstop. In 1965, he played 93 games for the Padres, all at shortstop. His batting average rose again (.319), and he had a minor league career best .973 fielding percentage. He played in 21 games for the Reds that year, ending his minor league career.
Helms appeared briefly with the Reds in 1964, playing only in two games. He made his major league debut on September 23, 1964, against the Philadelphia Phillies with one plate appearance that year. He also had a short stint with the Reds in 1965, hitting .381 in 46 plate appearances. On September 1, 1965, playing in both games of a doubleheader, Helms batted 4-for-4 with two triples (including a pinch-hit triple in game 1).
Helms's first full season in the majors was 1966. A natural shortstop, Helms was ultimately moved to third base by the Reds his rookie season, with Leo Cárdenas firmly entrenched at short since 1962. Cardenas was second in the National League in fielding percentage among shortstops in 1965, and would lead the league in 1966. Helms originally played second base to start the season, where Pete Rose had played the previous three years, with Rose moving to third base. This did not work for Rose, so he returned to second base, with Helms moving to third base, where he had never played before. Helms clubbed nine home runs, batted .284, and provided sparkling defense at his new position. He was second in the NL among third basemen in fielding percentage, .961, just behind Bob Aspromote's .962 fielding percentage. Helms was selected as the 1966 National League Rookie of the Year.
In 1967, the Reds shuffled their line-up, moving budding superstar Tony Pérez to third, Helms to second, and Pete Rose from second base to left field. As a second baseman, Helms was a member of the National League All-Star Team in 1967 and 1968. In 1967, he was called up for U.S. Marines reserves duty during the summer, and had to get a furlough to participate in the 1967 All-Star Game. In 1968, he started the All-Star Game, with one hit and a base-on-balls in three at-bats. He was 25th in Most Valuable Player MVP voting in 1968.
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Tommy Helms
Tommy Vann Helms (May 5, 1941 – April 13, 2025) was an American professional baseball player and manager. Over a 14-year Major League Baseball (MLB) 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 won the 1966 National League Rookie of the Year Award, two Gold Glove Awards at second base, and he was twice an MLB All-Star. Helms also managed the Reds for parts of two seasons (1988–1989).
Helms was born May 5, 1941, in Charlotte, North Carolina, and was a 1959 graduate of West Mecklenburg High School, where he played baseball and basketball. In 1959, he signed as an amateur free agent with the Reds at age 18. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps beginning in October 1963.
In 1959-60, Helms played shortstop for the Palatka RedLegs of the Class-D Florida State League. In his only full season, 1960, he had a .292 batting average, but only a .918 fielding percentage, in 137 games. In 1961, he moved up to the Class-B Topeka Reds in the Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League (Triple-I League) again playing shortstop. He hit .277, and his fielding percentage improved to .936.
In 1962, he was promoted to the Single-A Macon Peaches. Again playing shortstop, Helms hit .340 with an OPS of .809. His fielding percentage improved to .953. In 1963, he was promoted to the San Diego Padres of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, where he played in 138 games. The Reds had him play some games at second base, while still playing the majority of his games at shortstop. His batting average fell to .225, but his fielding percentage at shortstop again rose (.963). His fielding percentage at second base was .933.
In 1964-65, he played the majority of his games with the Padres. In 1964, his batting average rose to .309, while playing all of his games at shortstop. In 1965, he played 93 games for the Padres, all at shortstop. His batting average rose again (.319), and he had a minor league career best .973 fielding percentage. He played in 21 games for the Reds that year, ending his minor league career.
Helms appeared briefly with the Reds in 1964, playing only in two games. He made his major league debut on September 23, 1964, against the Philadelphia Phillies with one plate appearance that year. He also had a short stint with the Reds in 1965, hitting .381 in 46 plate appearances. On September 1, 1965, playing in both games of a doubleheader, Helms batted 4-for-4 with two triples (including a pinch-hit triple in game 1).
Helms's first full season in the majors was 1966. A natural shortstop, Helms was ultimately moved to third base by the Reds his rookie season, with Leo Cárdenas firmly entrenched at short since 1962. Cardenas was second in the National League in fielding percentage among shortstops in 1965, and would lead the league in 1966. Helms originally played second base to start the season, where Pete Rose had played the previous three years, with Rose moving to third base. This did not work for Rose, so he returned to second base, with Helms moving to third base, where he had never played before. Helms clubbed nine home runs, batted .284, and provided sparkling defense at his new position. He was second in the NL among third basemen in fielding percentage, .961, just behind Bob Aspromote's .962 fielding percentage. Helms was selected as the 1966 National League Rookie of the Year.
In 1967, the Reds shuffled their line-up, moving budding superstar Tony Pérez to third, Helms to second, and Pete Rose from second base to left field. As a second baseman, Helms was a member of the National League All-Star Team in 1967 and 1968. In 1967, he was called up for U.S. Marines reserves duty during the summer, and had to get a furlough to participate in the 1967 All-Star Game. In 1968, he started the All-Star Game, with one hit and a base-on-balls in three at-bats. He was 25th in Most Valuable Player MVP voting in 1968.
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