From Tennessee to Colorado Rockies: A timeline of Todd Helton's Hall of Fame career

Todd Helton has made it into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

The Colorado Rockies first baseman was announced as one of the three inductees for the 2024 class Tuesday. Helton, a Tennessee baseball great from Knoxville, was voted into the hall in his sixth year on the ballot and is the first UT player in the hall of fame.

Here's a timeline of Helton's career and milestones.

June 1, 1995 – Colorado Rockies draft Todd Helton

Helton was the No. 8 overall pick of the 1995 MLB Draft. The Knoxville Central High graduate became a first-round pick after playing both baseball and football at Tennessee.

He ended his college career as the 1995 National Collegiate Baseball Player of the Year and SEC Athlete of the Year. Helton's No. 3 jersey was retired by Tennessee in 2008.

Aug. 1, 1995 – Todd Helton signs with Rockies

Helton signed with the Rockies on Aug. 1, 1995. He started his career in the minor leagues with the Asheville Tourists, which was Colorado's Class A affiliate at the time.

1996 – Todd Helton promoted twice in second season

Helton was promoted to Colorado's Double-A affiliate, then the New Haven Ravens, to start the 1996 season. Helton was promoted again after he appeared in 93 games. He hit .332, scored 46 runs and recorded 51 RBIs, 24 doubles and seven home runs.

Helton finished the summer by playing in 21 games with with Colorado's Triple-A affiliate, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox.

Aug. 2, 1997 – Todd Helton makes major league debut

Helton played 99 games for the Sky Sox in 1997 before he was called up to the Rockies on Aug. 2, 1997.

Helton started in left field in a 6-5 road loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. He went 2-for-4 with a walk, a single and a solo home run.

1998 – Todd Helton has breakout rookie season

Todd Helton's first full season with the Rockies earned him recognition from several publications. Baseball America, Baseball Digest and Topps all named Helton to All-Rookie teams and Sporting News named him the Rookie of the Year in 1998.

Helton started in 134 of his 152 appearances that season, and recorded a .315 batting average, .530 slugging percentage and a .910 OPS. He scored 78 runs, hit 25 home runs, drove in 97 runs and had 281 total bases.

2000 – Todd Helton wins Hank Aaron Award

Helton had his best season in the majors in 2000 when he won the Hank Aaron Award, which is awarded annually to the best overall offensive performer in each league.

He led the league in batting average (.372), RBIs (147), doubles (59), total bases (405), slugging percentage (.698) and OPS (1.161). He was the fifth player in MLB history to have at least 200 hits, 40 home runs, 100 RBI, 100 runs, 100 extra-base hits and 100 walks in one season. Helton was a top candidate for MVP.

2001 – Todd Helton wins first Gold Glove Award

Helton started 157 games at first base in 2001 when he won his first of three Gold Glove Awards. He recorded 1,303 putouts and only made two errors for a .999 fielding percentage.

Helton was a top candidate for the National League MVP award for the second season with almost identical offensive stats to his 2000 season, which included a career-high 49 home runs. Helton won the Gold Glove Award again in 2002 and 2004.

Sept. 18, 2007 – Todd Helton hits walk-off home run on way to first postseason

The Rockies were down to their last strike when Helton crushed a walk-off two-run homer. It was his 301st career home run, and the 9-8 win kept Colorado in the in the National League wild-card chase.

The Rockies eventually clinched the wild card, giving Helton his first playoff appearance. Colorado went on to sweep the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL Division Series.

Oct. 16, 2007 – Todd Helton, Colorado Rockies make first trip to World Series

The Rockies swept the Arizona Diamondbacks in four games to earn their first trip to the World Series in franchise history. They only lost one game in the 22 games leading up to the World Series berth.

The Rockies were swept by the Boston Red Sox in the World Series. In the 2007 postseason, Helton had a .220 batting average, six runs, two RBIs, two doubles and a triple.

Sept. 25, 2013 – Todd Helton homers in final home game of his career

Helton announced on Sept. 14, 2013 that he would retire at the conclusion of the season.

In the Rockies' final home game of the 2013 season, Helton was honored pregame for his 17 seasons with the organization. Helton hit his 369th home run – the final homer of his career – and drove in three runs in his final game at Coors Field.

Aug. 17, 2014 – Colorado Rockies retire Todd Helton's No. 17 jersey

Colorado retired Helton's No. 17 jersey almost a year after his final game for the Rockies. He was the first player in Rockies history to have his number retired.

Helton hit 227 of his home runs at Coors Field, and he hit .345 with a .441 on-base percentage and .607 slugging percentage in 4,841 home plate appearances.

Jan. 23, 2024 – Todd Helton voted into Baseball Hall of Fame

In his sixth year on the ballot, Helton was announced as a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame 2024 class.

He's the first Tennessee player to be voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame and only the Rockies' second player to be inducted.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Todd Helton's Hall of Fame career from Tennessee to the Colorado Rockies