Books and articles about Tommy Helms

The NL Rookie of the Year Award in 1966 as a third baseman, Helms became one of the best second basemen of the 1960s. The excellent fielder led the NL in fielding percentage and double plays three times. Noted more as a hit-and-run man than a power hitter, he hit the first HR by a Red at Riverfront Stadium. Helms went to Houston with Lee May in the blockbuster November 1971 trade that brought Joe Morgan, Jack Billingham, and Cesar Geronimo to Cincinnati.

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A longtime Reds coach, Helms filled in for manager Pete Rose during Rose's 30-day suspension in 1988 and replaced him after Rose was banned in 1989. (GEB)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » November 25, 1966: Cincinnati IF Tommy Helms is voted National League Rookie of the Year. » June 9, 1969: After President Johnson declares this a national day of mourning in memory of the assassinated Robert Kennedy, the Reds' players threaten to boycott today's doubleheader with the Cardinals. Led by Milt Pappas and Vada Pinson, the team, by a slim majority, votes not to play. A very upset GM Bob Howsam and manager David Bristol call for nine volunteers to play. Pete Rose, Tommy Helms, and Jim Maloney leave the clubhouse and shortly afterwards the rest of the team follows. The Reds take an 8–0 lead after four innings before the Birds lay 10 runs in the 5th to complete the scoring. It's a reverse in the nitecap as the Cards take a 6–1 lead, and the Reds score five in the 5th to tie, and once in the 12th inning to win, 7–6. » September 12, 1969: Juan Marichal (18-10) pitches a one-hitter, as the Giants beat the Reds 1–0, but Atlanta takes the National League West lead by beating Houston 4–3. Tommy Helms' 3rd-inning single is the only hit in what Marichal calls "my best game ever." » July 1, 1970: The Reds top the Braves, 9–2, as Tommy Helms becomes the first Red player to go deep at Riverfront Stadium. Helms' homer, which hits the LF pole just above the wall, is his only homer of the year. » September 22, 1970: The Reds score six runs in the 8th to beat Houston, 6–5. Tommy Helms drives in the last two runs with a single. » June 29, 1971: At Montreal, the Reds roll over the Expos, 14–0, and Tony Cloninger pitches his first complete game since 1969. The Reds collect 23 hits, led by Tommy Helms' four. » November 29, 1971: In three blockbuster deals, the Cubs trade P Ken Holtzman to the A's for OF Rick Monday; the Giants trade P Gaylord Perry and SS Frank Duffy to the Indians for P Sam McDowell; and the Reds trade 1B Lee May, 2B Tommy Helms, and OF Jimmy Stewart to the Astros for 2B Joe Morgan, OF Cesar Geronimo, and P Jack Billingham. This trade, criticized in the Cincinnati press, is one of the best in Reds history, and puts the wheels on the big Red Machine, as future Hall of Famer Morgan will win two MVPs. » April 16, 1972: Hitting for the cycle, Dave Kingman drives in six runs to lead the Giants to a 10–6 win over the Astros. The third sacker makes out in his final at bat after clouting a 3-run homer in the 7th. Sudden Sam McDowell, making his NL debut, pitches five 2/3 inning for the win despite allowing 3-run homers to Bob Watson and Tommy Helms. » March 15, 1977: The Pirates trade outfielders Tony Armas and Mitchell Page, and four pitchers, including Rick Langford, to the A's for 2B Phil Garner, IF Tommy Helms, and P Chris Batton. » June 21, 1977: Behind Luis Tiant's 2-hitter, the Red Sox pummel the O's, 7–0. Jim Rice and George Scott bang homers. The Sox also sign Tommy Helms, released by the Pirates, and waive Doug Griffin. » August 27, 1977: Continuing the theme of the day, Boston DH Tommy Helms and 3B Butch Hobson hit back-to-back home runs in a 7–5 win over the Twins. It is the 15th time this year that Sox hitters have homered consecutively, tying a ML record. Montgomery and Scott also homer for the Hubmen. » August 24, 1989: After weeks of legal wrangling, Commissioner Bart Giamatti permanently bans Pete Rose from baseball for his alleged gambling on ML games. Although the 5-page document signed by both parties includes no formal findings, Giamatti says that he considers Rose's acceptance of the ban to be a no-contest plea to the charges. Coach Tommy Helms is named Rose's interim replacement as Cincinnati manager.