Todd Helton has become the 50th player to hit 500 doubles, driving one off the right-field scoreboard in the third inning of Colorado’s game today against Arizona.
The Rockies first baseman received an ovation and the game was halted briefly as a team employee ran out to remove the bag as a memento. Helton’s hit off Jon Garland drove in Seth Smith.
Later, Helton hit a solo home run in the eighth inning that gave the Rockies a 4-3 lead.
Helton is the 19th player in major league history to have 500 or more doubles with the same team and the 16th left-handed hitter overall to reach the mark. He’s the quickest to reach the mark since 1954.
Helton joined Stan Musial, Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth and Ted Williams as the only players with 500 doubles, 320 homers and a .325 batting average since 1900.
It was the second major milestone for Helton this season. May 19 at Atlanta, he singled to become the 255th big league player with 2,000 hits.
He got his 800th extra-base hit, 1,000th walk and 1,100th RBI last season.
The fastest hitters to reach 500 double since 1954:
Todd Helton … 1,749 games played
Edgar Martinez … 1,942
Jeff Kent … 2,038
Wade Boggs … 2,059
Garrett Anderson … 2,067
Doubles by first basemen:
1. Rafael Palmeiro … 585
2. Eddie Murray … 560
3. Lou Gehrig … 534
4. Cap Anson … 528
5. Mark Grace … 511
6. Tony Perez … 505
7. Todd Helton … 500
7. John Olerud … 500
9. Bill Buckner … 498
10. Mickey Vernon … 490
500 doubles with the same team:
Stan Musial, St. Louis … 725
Craig Biggio, Houston … 668
Ty Cobb, Detroit … 666
George Brett, Kansas City … 665
Carl Yaztrzemski, Boston … 646
Cal Ripken, Baltimore … 603
Pete Rose, Cincinnati … 601
Hank Aaron, Atlanta … 600
Robin Yount, Milwaukee … 583
Charlie Gehringer, Detroit … 574
Paul Waner, Pittsburgh … 559
Honus Wagner, Pittsburgh … 556
Tony Gwynn, San Diego … 543
Lou Gehrig, N.Y. Yankees … 534
Cap Anson, Chicago Cubs … 530
Ted Williams, Boston … 525
Edgar Martinez, Seattle … 514
Willie Mays, San Francisco … 504
Todd Helton, Colorado … 500
All time doubles leaders:
1. Tris Speaker … 792
2. Pete Rose … 746
3. Stan Musial … 725
4. Ty Cobb … 724
5. Craig Biggio … 668
6. George Brett … 665
7. Nap Lajoie … 657
8. Carl Yastrzemski … 646
9. Honus Wagner … 640
10. Hank Aaron … 624
