(Photo Credit: Gazette.com)
The outcome of last night’s game did not matter. It would have been nice if the Rockies won in Todd Helton’s final home game, but that was not the case as the Red Sox celebrated a 15-5 blowout victory over the home team. That should not take away the memories of what took place last night.
The Rockies honored Helton in style by giving him a horse as a gift for his service as a Rockie. There were testimonials from his former teammates and peers throughout the game last night. They let Helton give the lineup card to the umpire, and they let his daughter throw the first pitch to him. He even walked to first base all by himself while his teammates and the Red Sox were cheering him on in the dugout.
This is well-deserved for a guy who gave the Rockies so many great years in his prime. This is fitting for a guy who has played for one team in his great career. This is a moment Helton worked hard for.
It was a night Rockies fans will remember for the rest of their lives. It was a night Helton will never forget for the rest of his life. He probably is still soaking all of this in. How could he not?
Helton appreciated the organization giving him the royal treatment. He knows they valued him as a great employee. It’s something players don’t get, and he wasn’t going to take that for granted.
Helton appreciated the fans enjoying his work going back to 1997 as a rookie. He has been a fan favorite for such a long time. He was the reason to watch Rockies baseball despite the team stinking. He could put on a great show just by hitting home runs and saving runs at first base. He was a highlight reel. He was a guy Rockies fans related with after he was portrayed as a blue-collar worker. He was the best player the Rockies ever had.
Helton has a robotic personality, but last night, he could not hide his emotions. It’s hard to when everyone is showing their love for what he has meant to Colorado.
The Rockes first baseman had a night to remember at the plate as he homered, doubled and drove in three runs.
Jake Peavy has been known to give up easy home runs to guys such as Barry Bonds, so it wasn’t surprising he gave an easy pitch for Helton to hit a home run in the second inning.
Peavy was generous in giving up a home run in the second inning, but he wasn’t going to let Helton hit a grand slam off him in the third inning. His job is to win games, so he did his job by getting the Rockies first baseman out. Still, Helton was able to get a RBI sac fly that cut the Rockies’ deficit to 4-3 in that inning.
Helton had a RBI double in the fifth inning, and he capped off his night by striking out in the seventh inning.
After the game was over, Helton took one last victory lap on the field. He did it to acknowledge the fans who have supported him all these years.
As much as it means a lot to Helton, it means a lot to the Rockies fans. It’s rare a player stays with the Rockies for that long. In fact, no player stays with a team for a very long time. This is why nights like this is something no one is going to forget.
Who knows if the Rockies will again have a star stay forever? Everyone thought Matt Holliday was going to be a Rockie for life, but he wanted to play for a championship contender.
It remains to be seen if Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez are going to be with the Rockies forever. Both could be traded. Tulowitzki could be available if teams are desperate to have him, and Gonzalez could be gone if he is about to be a free agent soon. Who knows if Nolan Arenado will stay for life?
Helton wanted to be the solution for the Rockies. He wanted to play for a team when they turned it around. He wasn’t one of those guys who wanted to bail. That’s why this meant a lot to the Rockies and their fans. This also meant a lot for the Rockies first baseman than people realize.
Helton played in the playoffs in 2007 and 2009, and he played in the World Series in 2007. Those are big moments, but last night was the best of all for him. Nothing replaces pageantry.
Memories are something everyone will cherish for the rest of their life, and that’s why last night will always be special for Helton.
Leslie Monteiro
Leslie is a contributor for Lightning Rod Sports. He covered high school sports in Bergen County out in North Jersey, and has written op-ed columns on sports such as Bleacher Report and NY Sports Digest.
