Rick Helling
Encyclopedia
Richard Allen Helling is a former Major League Baseball
pitcher
.
for three years, before graduating from Shanley High School
in Fargo, North Dakota
. He was a letterman in football
, basketball
, and baseball
. In football, he was a three-time All-Conference honoree.
Helling played college ball at Stanford University
and was selected by the Texas Rangers
in the 1st round of the 1992 Major League Baseball Draft.
Helling was a member of two World Series
Championship teams: the 1997 World Series
Champion Florida Marlins
and the 2003 World Series
Champion Florida Marlins. Despite being traded to the Texas Rangers
earlier in the 1997 season which meant he did not participate in the Marlins' World Series win that year he was still awarded a W.S. Ring by his former teammates because of his 1/2 season contribution.
In 1998 he won five straight games on the road; no Texas pitcher matched that accomplishment again until Scott Feldman
surpassed it in 2009. Helling had his best season by far in going 20-7, tying for the American League
lead in wins with David Cone
and Roger Clemens
. His 11 road victories in 1998 set a club record, later matched by Vincente Padilla (2008) and surpassed by Scott Feldman
(2009).
In , Helling broke a dubious 30-year-old record by giving up 66 doubles
. One year later, he broke his record by allowing 68 doubles.
On June 20, , Helling struck out
three batters on nine pitches — Curtis Granderson
, Plácido Polanco
and Iván Rodríguez
— in the first inning of a 10-1 loss to the Detroit Tigers
. Helling became the 38th pitcher in major league history to throw an immaculate inning.
On February 5, , he announced his retirement to spend more time with his family.
, Donald Fehr
.
He currently resides in the Twin Cities of Minnesota
.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
.
High school and college
Helling attended Lakota High School in Lakota, North DakotaLakota, North Dakota
Lakota is a city in, and the county seat of, Nelson County, North Dakota in the United States. The population was 672 at the 2010 census. Lakota was founded in 1883.-Geography:...
for three years, before graduating from Shanley High School
Shanley High School
Shanley High School, once called Sacred Heart Academy, is a Catholic high school located in Fargo, North Dakota. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fargo. It currently serves about 380 students and is a member of the Fargo Catholic Schools Network...
in Fargo, North Dakota
Fargo, North Dakota
Fargo is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Cass County. In 2010, its population was 105,549, and it had an estimated metropolitan population of 208,777...
. He was a letterman in football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, and baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
. In football, he was a three-time All-Conference honoree.
Helling played college ball at Stanford University
Stanford Cardinal baseball
The Stanford Cardinal baseball team represents Stanford University in NCAA Division I college baseball. Along with most other Stanford athletic teams, the baseball team participates in the Pacific-10 Conference. The Cardinal play their home games on campus at the Sunken Diamond, and they are...
and was selected by the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
in the 1st round of the 1992 Major League Baseball Draft.
Baseball career
Helling was an early critic of performance enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball, warning the Players Union as early as 1998 that drugs were a problem in the sport; he served as a Union Executive Board Member from 1999-2007.Helling was a member of two World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
Championship teams: the 1997 World Series
1997 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 18, 1997 at Pro Player Stadium in Miami Gardens, FloridaThe first World Series game in the state of Florida, Game 1 featured a youngster and a veteran facing each other on the mound...
Champion Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
and the 2003 World Series
2003 World Series
The 2003 World Series marked the 99th baseball World Series event. The Florida Marlins defeated the New York Yankees in six games, 4–2.-Background:...
Champion Florida Marlins. Despite being traded to the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
earlier in the 1997 season which meant he did not participate in the Marlins' World Series win that year he was still awarded a W.S. Ring by his former teammates because of his 1/2 season contribution.
In 1998 he won five straight games on the road; no Texas pitcher matched that accomplishment again until Scott Feldman
Scott Feldman
Scott Feldman was a news anchor for News 12 Long Island for 22 years.-Early life:Feldman was born in St. Louis, Missouri, graduated from the University of Denver in 1971. He served in the U.S. Army Reserves and National Guard....
surpassed it in 2009. Helling had his best season by far in going 20-7, tying for the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
lead in wins with David Cone
David Cone
David Brian Cone is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. During a 17-year baseball career, he pitched from 1986-2003 for six different teams. Cone pitched the sixteenth perfect game in baseball history. He also set the MLB record for most years between 20-win seasons. He was a member of five...
and Roger Clemens
Roger Clemens
William Roger Clemens , nicknamed "Rocket", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who broke into the league with the Boston Red Sox, whose pitching staff he would help anchor for 12 years. Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards, more than any other pitcher. He played for four different teams over...
. His 11 road victories in 1998 set a club record, later matched by Vincente Padilla (2008) and surpassed by Scott Feldman
Scott Feldman
Scott Feldman was a news anchor for News 12 Long Island for 22 years.-Early life:Feldman was born in St. Louis, Missouri, graduated from the University of Denver in 1971. He served in the U.S. Army Reserves and National Guard....
(2009).
In , Helling broke a dubious 30-year-old record by giving up 66 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
. One year later, he broke his record by allowing 68 doubles.
On June 20, , Helling struck out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
three batters on nine pitches — Curtis Granderson
Curtis Granderson
Curtis Granderson is an American Major League Baseball player for the New York Yankees. Before joining the Yankees in 2010, he played with the Detroit Tigers . A center fielder, Granderson is known for being a five-tool player...
, Plácido Polanco
Plácido Polanco
Plácido Enrique Polanco is a Major League Baseball player who plays for the Philadelphia Phillies and has also played for the St. Louis Cardinals and Detroit Tigers. He is a third baseman, but in the past has played second base and shortstop...
and Iván Rodríguez
Iván Rodríguez
Iván Rodríguez Torres , nicknamed "Pudge" and "I-Rod", is a Major League Baseball catcher...
— in the first inning of a 10-1 loss to the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
. Helling became the 38th pitcher in major league history to throw an immaculate inning.
On February 5, , he announced his retirement to spend more time with his family.
Post-baseball life
On March 17, 2009, he was hired as a special assistant to the head of the Major League Baseball Players AssociationMajor League Baseball Players Association
The Major League Baseball Players Association is the union of professional major-league baseball players.-History of MLBPA:The MLBPA was not the first attempt to unionize baseball players...
, Donald Fehr
Donald Fehr
Donald M. Fehr is the executive director of the National Hockey League Players Association. He previously served as the executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association from 1986-2009....
.
He currently resides in the Twin Cities of Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball wins champions
- List of Texas Rangers Opening Day starting pitchers
- Pitchers who have struck out three batters on nine pitches