Todd Helton capped one of the finest wire-to-wire campaigns in major league baseball history when the Associated Press named him the Major League Player of the Year for 2000. The Knoxville, Tennessee native, and former University of Tennessee baseball and football great, earned his first career all-star appearance, an invitation from NL manager Bobby Cox. In addition, he won his first career batting title, by 17 points, leading the majors with a .372 average. Helton commanded the National League leaders over the season’s final 127 days, from May 28-October 1…in 2000 alone, he improved his career average 19 points (.315 to .334). Helton led the majors with 147 RBI and also led the National League with a 3.9 AB/RBI. He also led the National League with 63 multi-hit games, including his career high five hits, on May 3 against Montreal. Selected in the first round of the 1995 draft…in pro sports history, few athletes have consistently improved their level of play and statistics as Todd Helton has over their first three seasons. He is truly one of the game’s most focused players. This is the second time in three years that Helton has been selected Professional Male Athlete of the Year by the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame.
