NewsHelton records 2,000th hit with Rockies
Colorado slugger singles in third inning against Braves
By Thomas Harding / MLB.com
05/20/09 12:03 AM ET
ATLANTA -- Rockies first baseman Todd Helton left no doubt about his official 2,000th hit Tuesday night.In the third inning of the Rockies' 8-1 loss to the Braves at Turner Field, Helton executed a deft hit-and-run by lining a single on an 0-2 pitch from Braves starter Jair Jurrjens into the vacated shortstop hole. Dexter Fowler was running on the play.
On Monday, Helton's ninth-inning, one-hop laser that eluded Braves shortstop Yunel Escobar was ruled an error. A meeting between Rockies manager Clint Hurdle and official scorer Jack Wilkinson did not produce a change.
The clear hit meant a clear celebration for Helton, his teammates and some 15-20 family members who were in attendance. The Braves acknowledged the accomplishment on the scoreboard and over the public-address system. Rockies teammates applauded Helton from the top of the dugout steps.
"That was the best part," Helton said. "In the grand scheme of things, all that matters is what they think and what kind of teammate you are. That probably meant the most to me."
It was fitting that the feat occurred against the Braves.
Helton became the 255th player to reach 2,000, and the fourth active player to reach that milestone with one club. Two of the others were at Turner Field in Braves uniforms -- Garret Anderson, who had 2,368 hits for the Angels, and Chipper Jones, who has 2,312 for the Braves. The active leader for one team is Derek Jeter, who has 2,578 hits for the Yankees.
"It's big," Jones said before the game. "It means you've been in one place a long time, and you've played some good baseball. Todd's been an elite hitter for a long time. It was just a matter of time before he gets into the club.
Rocky mountain high | ||
| Most hits in Colorado Rockies history | ||
Player | Years | Hits |
| Todd Helton | 1997-present | 2,000 |
| Larry Walker | 1995-2004 | 1,361 |
| Dante Bichette | 1993-99 | 1,278 |
| Vinny Castilla | 1993-99, 2004, '06 | 1,206 |
| Matt Holliday | 2004-08 | 848 |
"I think Todd is of the mind-set, because he watches the same guys I did growing up like [Tony] Gwynn and [Cal] Ripken. Whenever people think about the Colorado Rockies, the first guy they're going to think about is Todd Helton, because he's been there the longest."
Helton's hit total far outdistances that of Larry Walker, who had 1,361 from 1995 to 2004. Behind Helton and Walker are Dante Bichette (1,278), Vinny Castilla (1,206), Matt Holliday (848), Andres Galarraga (843), Neifi Perez (769) and the highest-ranking teammate on the list, Garrett Atkins (737).
Rockies right fielder Brad Hawpe, who entered Tuesday hitting .346 (the only average better than Helton's .336), considers Helton a mentor and the player for anyone who wears the Rockies' uniform to follow.
"I think what's more impressive about Todd that what he's done is the way he carries himself in success and in failure," Hawpe said. "The game is full of it all, but you've got to carry yourself like a man. That's what he's done."
Thomas Harding is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
