Former Tennessee baseball and football player Todd Helton has been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Helton is the first former Vol to be elected to the Hall and the second-ever SEC alum (Frank Thomas).

He spent 17 years in the MLB all with the Rockies. In this time, he hit for a .316 average and mashed 369 home runs and 1,406 RBI.

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He was elected to the All-Star game five times, won three Gold Gloves and four Silver Slugger Awards throughout his professional career. His No. 17 was ultimately retired by the Rockies, as well.

“We are elated by Todd’s induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame and extend our heartfelt congratulations to Todd and his family,” said Rockies Owner/Chairman & CEO Dick Monfort. “We had a front row seat to the greatest of Todd Helton for all 17 years of his career, and finally the entire sports world can join us in recognizing one of the best first basemen in the history of the game. Todd is a true Colorado sports icon, and we all look forward to his induction in late July and another Rockies celebration in Cooperstown.”

While at Tennessee, Helton was the winner of the Dick Howser Trophy given to the best player in the country. In three seasons, he recorded a .370 batting average, 38 home runs and 238 RBI.

He also contributed on the mound while hurling 193 innings and recording an ERA of 2.24, striking out 172 batters and registering 23 saves.

The former two-way star set the NCAA Division I record of 47 consecutive scoreless innings on the mound while at Tennessee to go along with a number of school records.

He led the Vols to the College World Series as a junior, as well.

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Helton also played football in his time in Knoxville. As a freshman and sophomore, he backed up Heath Shuler at quarterback. As a junior in 1994, he was the reserve signal caller for Jerry Colquitt but was ahead of Peyton Manning who was a a true freshman.

He would start in replacement of an injured Colquitt but was replaced by Manning after suffering an injury of his own.

On the 1994 season, Helton produced 406 passing yards and two touchdowns with three interceptions on 54.5% passing.

Helton was a native of Knoxville while attending Central High School. He posted a .622 batting average and mashed 12 home runs as a senior on the diamond while leading the football team at quarterback.

He was picked in the second round of the MLB draft but elected to head to Tennessee instead.

Helton will be officially inducted to the Hall of Fame in July.

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