Tommy Vann Helms (born May 5, 1941 in Charlotte, North Carolina) is a former Major League Baseball player and manager. Over a fourteen year career (1964 - 1977), Helms played for four different teams, including eight seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, four with the Houston Astros, and one apiece with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Boston Red Sox. He also managed the Cincinnati Reds for part of two seasons (1988 - 1989).
Though he appeared briefly with...
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Tommy Vann Helms (born May 5, 1941 in Charlotte, North Carolina) is a former Major League Baseball player and manager. Over a fourteen year career (1964 - 1977), Helms played for four different teams, including eight seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, four with the Houston Astros, and one apiece with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Boston Red Sox. He also managed the Cincinnati Reds for part of two seasons (1988 - 1989).
Though he appeared briefly with the Reds in 1964 and in 1965 on September 1st during a double header Helms goes 4-4 with two triples. Helms' first full season in the majors was 1966. A natural shortstop, Helms was moved to third base by the Reds his rookie season with Leo Cardenas firmly entrenched at short. Helms clubbed nine home runs, batted .284, and provided sparkling defense at his new position to earn the 1966 National League Rookie of the Year.
In 1967, the Reds shuffled their line-up—moving budding superstar Tony Pérez to third, Helms to second, and shifting Pete...
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