Expect Better Luck Next Year: Helton Falls 11 Votes Shy of Election to Baseball Hall of Fame

Todd Helton came close — but not close enough — to being elected to the Hall of Fame on Tuesday.

He came up seven votes shy of earning a spot alongside former third baseman Scott Rolen, a seven-time All-Star who earned eight gold gloves and was a seven-time All-Star.

Helton, who was a Rockies first-round draft choice when he came out of the University of Tennessee and spent his entire career with the Rockies, was 11 votes shy of the 75 percent support needed for being elected to the Hall of Fame. It was a major step forward from last year when he was named on 52 percent of the ballots.

Only one player has ever failed to eventually be inducted into the Hall of Fame after coming within 11 votes of election — former pitcher Curt Schilling . That bodes well for Helton, who would seem to be in line for election next year.

Schilling made a public scene, and announced he did not want to be on the ballot for a 10th year of eligibility. His name was still on the ballot, but after back-to-back years of 70 percent-plus support in his eighth and nine years of eiblity, only 58.6 percent of the voters had him on the ballot in his final year.

Helton received a vote on 72.2 percent of the 389 ballots from Baseball Writers’ Association of America voters -- a dramatic jump from last year’s 52 percent and just 11 votes shy of the 75 percent threshold necessary for induction. Helton still is in line to become the second player with the Rockies’ logo on his plaque. Larry Walker received 76.6 percent of the votes in 2020 and was enshrined in ’21.

Curt Schilling is the only player to have surpassed the 70 percent vote total in back-to-back year and not eventually been elected to the Hall of Fame. And he created his own headache when he made a public seen of not being inducted in Cooperstown, and in what his 10th and final year saw his support fall to 58.6 percent in his 10th and final year of eligibility.

That’s not the Helton way.

Helton, who spent his entire professional playing career in the Rockies organization, did not overlook the fact that he received support from 72.2 percent of the votes this year. Past history would indicate he will eventually enshrined.

“I’m thankful for the people that voted for me,” said Helton. “I don’t think I don’t think about it one way or the other. I just hope and ray for next year.”