Todd Helton celebrates the Rockies win in Game 4 of the National League Championship series between the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field in Denver on Oct. 15, 2007. (Photo by John Leyba/The Denver Post)
Tennessee first baseman Todd Helton signs his contract with the Colorado Rockies Saturday, July 1, 1995, in Knoxville, Tenn. Seated with Helton is Rockies senior vice president/general manager Bob Gebhard. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Colorado Rockies manager Jim Leyland, left, instructs first baseman Todd Helton, Monday, Feb. 22, 1999, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Robet F. Bukaty)
Denver Post filePrior to the game Rawlings presented Todd Helton and Larry Walker with their 2002 Gold Glove Awards at home plate. Helton with his third consecutive award and Walker with his third consecutive and seventh overall. (Denver Post file)
Colorado Rockies' Vinny Castilla (R) shares a laugh with Todd Helton during pregame festivities at Coors Field in 2004. The Colorado Rockies played host to the Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field. (Photo by John Leyba/The Denver Post)
Standing from left front, Colorado Rockies' Juan Uribe, Justin Speier and Larry Walker (33) welcome teammate Todd Helton, back to camera, as he crosses home plate after hitting a solo home run in the ninth inning off Florida Marlins' Braden Looper to give the Rockies a 5-4 victory in Denver on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2003. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Todd Helton of the Colorado Rockies in the 4th inning sunshine that hit first base side during a game against the Cincinnati Reds at Coors Field in Denver on June 1, 2007. (Photo by Cyrus McCrimmon/The Denver Post)
Rockies firstbaseman Todd Helton is ecstatic after getting Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Stephen Drew out at first base to clench the win and to forced a tie-breaking game for the wildcard slot for the playoffs against the San Diego Padres. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)
Colorado Rockies first baseman Todd Helton smiles in the dugout during a short interview with ESPN Radio after warm-ups before the tie breaker game for the National League West wild card playoff spot at Coors Field in Denver on Monday, Oct. 1, 2007. (Glenn Asakawa / The Denver Post)
Todd Helton celebrated his game-winning home run as he rounded third base after he hit the ninth-inning dinger off Dodger reliever Takashi Saito. The Colorado Rockies beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-8 on Sept. 18, 2007, at Coors Field in the second game of a doubleheader. (Photo by Karl Gehring/The Denver Post)
Fans hold out baseballs for Rockies first baseman Todd Helton to sign before the start of game three of the National League Division series between the Colorado Rockies and Philadelphia Phillies at Coors Field in Denver on Oct. 6, 2007. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)
Todd Helton pumped his fist in the air after watching his ninth-inning homer clear the fence to win the game on Sept. 18, 2007. The Colorado Rockies beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-8 at Coors Field in the second game of a doubleheader. The Rockies won both games. (Photo by Karl Gehring/The Denver Post)
Todd Helton celebrates the win with his teammates in game Four of the National League Championship series between the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field on Oct. 15, 2007. (Photo by John Leyba/The Denver Post)
Todd Helton watches as the Rockies lose to the Red Sox 13-1 Game one of the World Series between the Colorado Rockies and Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Oct. 24, 2007. (Photo by John Leyba/The Denver Post)
Todd Helton fan Nick Besman, 10, of Highlands Ranch is waiting the opening of the gate for the first home game of Colorado Rockies against Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Filed on Friday, April 4, 2008. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)
Todd Helton takes a swing as the Colorado Rockies take on the Arizona Diamondbacks in their home opener at Coors Field in Denver on April 4, 2008. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)
Colorado Rockies Todd Helton (17) heads out to first base for the start of their game against the Houston Astros on June 10, 2010, at Coors Field. (Photo by John Leyba/The Denver Post)
Colorado Rockies Todd Helton (17) pops up to St. Louis Cardinals Albert Pujols (5) in the first inning at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on April 1, 2008. (Photo by John Leyba/The Denver Post)
Todd Helton rounds first base after hitting a solo home run against the San Francisco Giants in the sixth inning at Coors Field during a game on June 4, 2009. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Colorado Rockies first baseman Todd Helton (17) takes the field against the Houston Astros during the second game of a Memorial Day doubleheader at Coors Field in Denver on May 28, 2012. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Todd Helton during spring training at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, Arizona on Feb. 28, 2012. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Yorvit Torrealba (8) congratulates Todd Helton (17) of the Colorado Rockies on his 2,500th career hit after the seventh inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds at Coors Field on Sept. 1, 2013. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
Fans point their cameras toward home plate as Todd Helton of the Colorado Rockies attempts to reach 2,500 career hits in the second inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds at Coors Field on Sept. 12, 2013. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
Todd Helton smiles at the fans before taking the field for the 2010 Colorado Rockies home opener against the San Diego Padres at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Todd Helton takes the field before the Colorado Rockies home opener against the San Francisco Giants at Coors Field on April 9, 2012. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Todd Helton of the Colorado Rockies watches his 3-run home run ball hit off of Los Angels Dodgers pitcher Chad Billingsley in the 3rd inning of a game at Coors Field on Wednesday, April 6, 2011. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)
Colorado Rockies great Todd Helton walks to the mound for the ceremonial first pitch with his daughters, Gentry Grace (jumping), and Tierney Faith during a retirement ceremony for his number 17. Helton, who played 17 season with the Rockies and holds records for many of the organizations career statistics, was honored on Sunday, Aug. 17, 2014. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Todd Helton (17) of the Colorado Rockies signs autographs for fans in his last game Sept. 25, 2013, at Coors Field in Denver. Helton will retire at the end of the season after 17 years with the club. (Photo By John Leyba/The Denver Post)
Todd Helton kisses his wife Christy and their two daughters as the Colorado Rockies hosted the Boston Red Sox and said farewell to longtime first baseman Todd Helton, who announced his retirement following the season, on Sept. 25, 2013 at Coors Field in Denver. (Photo by John Leyba/The Denver Post)
Todd Helton hits a homerun off of Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Jake Peavy the start of action in Denver on Sept. 25, 2013. The Colorado Rockies hosted the Boston Red Sox and said farewell to longtime first baseman Todd Helton, who had recently announced his retirement following the season. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
A fan wears a mohawk paying homage to Todd Helton before the start of action in Denver on Sept. 25, 2013. The Colorado Rockies hosted the Boston Red Sox and said farewell to longtime first baseman Todd Helton, who recently announced his retirement following this season. (Photo by John Leyba/The Denver Post)
Fans await the seventh-inning at-bat for Todd Helton (17) of the Colorado Rockies against the Boston Red Sox during the action in Denver on Sept. 25, 2013. The Colorado Rockies hosted the Boston Red Sox and said farewell to longtime first baseman Todd Helton, who had recently announced his retirement following the season. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Todd Helton (17) of the Colorado Rockies acknowledges the crowd with a wave of his hat after taking a lap around the field at the end of the game against the Boston Red Sox Sept. 25, 2013 at Coors Field. Helton will retire at the end of the season after 17 years with the club. (Photo By John Leyba/The Denver Post)
Colorado Rockies great Todd Helton stands with a replica of his retired number 17 as he jokes with owner Charlie Monfort during a retirement ceremony held in his honor. Helton, who played 17 season with the Rockies and holds records for many of the organizations career statistics, was honored on Sunday, Aug. 17, 2014. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Todd Helton, who played his entire 17-year career for the Colorado Rockies, coaches during the MLB All-Star celebrity softball game at Coors Field on July 11, 2021 in Denver. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)
Colorado Rockies head groundskeeper Mark Razum pulls down a base in his office at that was signed by former Colorado Rockies first baseman Todd Helton at Coors Field June 21, 2018. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Colorado Rockies great Todd Helton walks onto the field during a retirement ceremony for his number 17 on Aug. 17, 2014. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Todd Helton speaks with Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) before the start of a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver on Oct. 13, 2013. The Broncos honored recently retired Helton with a Broncos jersey before the game. (Photo by John Leyba/The Denver Post)
Todd Helton prepares to do an interview with former teammate Ryan Spilborghs, with Root Sports, at Helton's ranch. Former Colorado Rockies first baseman Todd Helton was photographed at his ranch near Kersey, Colo. on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2014. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Todd Helton sits on the the patio at his ranch during his first year of retirement from the Colorado Rockies. Former Colorado Rockies first baseman Todd Helton was photographed at his ranch on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2014. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Retired Colorado Rockies first baseman Todd Helton, left, jokes with former teammate and third baseman Vinny Castilla as they watch batting practice during picture day for the Rockies before a baseball game against the Miami Marlins Saturday, June 23, 2018, in Denver. (Photo by David Zalubowski/Associated Press)
Major League Baseball authenticator Todd Fuller applies identifying stickers on the back of a cutout of former Colorado Rockies player Todd Helton before the Rockies home opener against the San Diego Padres at Coors Field July 31, 2020. All the cutouts will be auctioned off at the end of the season. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Former Colorado Rockies Todd Helton, left, escorts former Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning for Manning's opening pitch for the All-Star Game at Coors Field in Denver on Tuesday, July 13, 2021. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)
Retired Colorado Rockies first baseman Todd Helton talks to reporters before a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
A poster of Todd Helton wearing a white cowboy hat is seen behind fencing in a place where the Colorado Rockies store novelties deep within Coors Field on Sept. 13, 2023, in Denver. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)
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Todd Helton celebrates the Rockies win in Game 4 of the National League Championship series between the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field in Denver on Oct. 15, 2007. (Photo by John Leyba/The Denver Post)
ExpandBy The Denver Post | newsroom@denverpost.com | The Denver Post
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:
Getting your player ready...
Todd Helton was already a Rockies icon, but Tuesday he became a baseball immortal.
The first baseman, who played all 17 seasons of his career in Colorado, was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He awaited word with his family by his side at his home in his native Knoxville, Tenn. as the announcement came shortly after 4 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024.
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