KNOXVILLE — Time will tell when Todd Helton will make it to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
The former Colorado Rockies first baseman, who was the face of the franchise for 17 years, will be inducted into the Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame in July.
The induction ceremony will be held virtually on July 21 and telecast on WBXX-TV.
Helton, a graduate of Knoxville Central High School, went on to the University of Tennessee after helping the Bobcats win a TSSAA state championship.
He was a two-sport athlete for the Volunteers, playing baseball and football for the Big Orange between 1993-95.
Helton helped Tennessee, then coached by Rod Delmonico, make a trip to the College World Series in 1995. That year, he won the Dick Howser Trophy, which goes to the Collegiate Baseball Player of the Year.
With the Rockies, he had a lifetime batting average of .316. He clubbed 369 home runs, drove in 1,406 runs and had 2,519 career hits.
Helton was a five-time All-Star, a three-time Gold Glove Award winner and a four-time Silver Slugger.
He led the National League in runs batted in in 2000. That same year, he won the NL batting title.
His No. 17 is retired by the Rockies and his No. 3 is retired at UT.