TODD HELTON HALL OF FAME SPEECH
Commissioner John “Stray” Corrado’s Introduction Speech for Todd Helton:
Born Todd Lynn Helton, nickname: The Toddfather.
Played 18 Seasons in the Mid-West Baseball League for six different franchises. Virginia 1997 – 2008, Chicago 2008 & 2010, Buffalo 2009, Tempe 2011, Baystate 2011, Elyria 2012 – 2014.
Drafted only once in MWBL – 1997 Inaugural Formation Draft by Virginia.
Traded six times from Virginia to Chicago, Chicago to Buffalo, Buffalo back to Chicago, Chicago to Baystate, Baystate to Tempe & Tempe to Elyria.
Seven time All-Star, 1999 American League Rookie of the Year Award, 2002 American League Most Valuable Player, 2319 Hits, .303 Career Batting Average, .398 Career On Base Percentage.
It is with great honor that I present you with the Mid-West Baseball newest member of the 2018 Mid-West Baseball League Hall of Fame, Todd Helton.
Todd Helton’s Speech:
Thank you, Mr. Commissioner. It is an honor to be standing here with these great and legendary ballplayers seated behind me. As I took a seat on this stage a few minutes ago, I looked around and had to pinch myself. It all seems so unreal. Who would have thought that a young, football wannabe player from Knoxville, Tennessee would ever make it to the Baseball Hall of Fame? Yet, here I am. I am truly humbled to be included within this honored group.
I am also honored to be entering the Hall with the likes of these great players; Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter, Greg Maddux, Larry Walker, and Carlos Delgado. Talk about a good start for an All-Time Team. Here it is. (Helton waves his arm in an inclusive motion as the crowd claps and cheers).
Thank You’s; Where do I start? I guess it should be with the owner and general manager who started it all Mr. Paul Roe, Hall of Famer and owner of the Virginia Sluggers. After I injured my knee playing football in my junior year at Tennessee, baseball became my fallback option and I put all my efforts into it. But I knew to make it, someone would have to take a chance on me. Mr. Roe took that chance. 1997 – 37th Round – Pick #666. My good friend Peyton Manning, who took over at quarterback for me when I got hurt at Tennessee, told me it didn’t matter where I got picked, just that I got the opportunity, and I made the best of it. Just like he did. I thank Mr. Roe for believing in me and for putting a team together that allowed me to play in five Division Series and two World Series while with Virginia.
I also want to thank Commissioner Stray Corrado, who brought me to Chicago to help that team make it to another World Series and extend my career. Last, but not least, I thank Brian Mazurek of Elyria for my final three years of playing with a first-place team.
Not to be remiss, I want to acknowledge and thank my former teammates. All the great players that took the field with me and gave their all each and every game. Through their hard work and dedication, it inspired me to elevate my game and become a better player. Without their help and without the bonds we formed, I would not be here. I hope you had as much fun as I did, guys. Thank you. I will miss you all.
And, of course, I thank my family (Helton choking back tears). My lovely wife Christy and my two beautiful daughters, Gentry Grace and Tierney Faith. They have stood behind me, supported me, encouraged me, and given me their unconditional love through each season. No matter where we have gone in this crazy world of baseball, they have been there with me and endured all the hardships of being a baseball family and never complained. They are what grounds me. And to my parents, thank you, thank you. You raised a good young man. I may not have been the easiest child to raise, but you did a great job. Your guidance and love brought me here today. I love you.
I have been a lucky man. Lucky in life, lucky in love, and lucky in baseball. I may have gotten to the party late, but I sure enjoyed it once I got there. To be here today, on this stage, with these players, is a humbling experience I will never forget. As my old teammate and fellow hall-of-famer, Jim Thome said in his speech last year, “Playing in front of fans of those great franchises in Virginia, Chicago, & Elyria with all my great teammates, it was an honor and a pleasure every day to lace up those spikes and put on those uniforms.”
Thank you, Thank you everyone. (Waves and smiles)