Tommy Helms, a key part of the Cincinnati Reds infield and the National League Rookie of the Year in 1966, passed away at 83.
According to the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum, Helms’s wife, Cathy, shared that he died on 13 April in Cincinnati.
Helms built his reputation on defense rather than offense, playing 14 seasons and appearing in 1,435 games.
He made the All-Star team in 1967 and 1968 and took home Gold Glove awards in 1970 and 1971 for his standout play at second base.
During those years, he teamed up with shortstop Dave Concepcion to form one of the best double-play duos in the league.
Initially viewed as a future shortstop for the team, his path changed as Leo Cárdenas became a star.
Helms instead found his spot at second base, where he made a lasting mark. He also had two brief turns as manager of the Reds later in his career.
A Lifelong Red: Tommy Helms’ Journey On And Off The Field, With Cathy By His Side
His wife, Cathy, shared that he wore his Reds cap until the end: a sign of how much the team meant to him.
Helms often expressed his pride in playing for the Reds, and being inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame was one of the greatest honors of his life.
Tommy is a Red to the core. Kept his Reds hat on through his last days. He was so proud to be in the Reds Hall of Fame and wore his Reds jacket with pride.
Cathy
In 1990, Tommy Helms went through some major personal changes. He divorced his first wife, Rita, on October 17.
Just a few months later, on December 23, he married Cathy Ann Giannini in Charlotte, North Carolina.
He was preceded in death by his sons, Tommy Jr. and Ryan, whom he shared with his late first wife, Rita.
After stepping away from playing, Helms returned to the game he loved- this time from the dugout.
In 1983, he returned to Cincinnati as an infield instructor and first base coach.
With his wife Cathy’s steady support, he stayed on the Reds’ coaching staff through managerial changes, serving under three managers between 1983 and 1989.
Helms twice stepped up as interim manager during difficult times for the team, involving his former teammate Pete Rose.
He first took over in 1988, when Rose was suspended for 30 games after an on-field incident with an umpire.
Then, in 1989, Helms again filled in as interim manager when Rose accepted a lifetime ban from baseball.
After leaving the Reds at the end of the ’89 season, Helms spent a year managing in the Cubs’ minor league system.
He returned to the dugout one last time in 2000 and 2001, working in the independent Atlantic League. Through it all, Cathy was by his side, cheering him on every step of the way.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Helms remained reliable at the plate and in the field during his next three seasons with the Houston Astros.
- He spent the final years of his playing career in a limited role, splitting time between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Boston Red Sox in 1976 and 1977.
- Across 1,435 games and 5,337 plate appearances, Helms finished with a career batting average of .269, an on-base percentage of .300, and a slugging percentage of .342.
