Peyton Manning made sure to show some respect to another former Tennessee Volunteer who is now a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Todd Helton was elected to Cooperstown on Tuesday after a 17-year Major League Baseball career that began and ended in Denver.
Manning, who was teammates with Helton on the 1994 Tennessee football team, made sure to congratulate him on social media.
“It was an honor to be your replacement, an honor to be your fan and it’s an honor to be your friend. Congratulations on HOF Todd, so well deserved,” Manning wrote.
Helton was briefly the Volunteers’ starting quarterback in 1994 after freshman Jerry Colquitt suffered a knee injury in the season opener.
Todd Helton hands the ball to NFL quarterback Peyton Manning for the ceremonial first pitch before the 2021 MLB All-Star Baseball Game. PA
The future baseball star completed 36 of 66 passes for 406 yards and two touchdowns in three starts that season before an injury of his own led Manning to take over at QB.
And as they say, the rest is history.
Both had successful careers in their respective sports, with Helton receiving 79.7 percent of the vote to earn his way to Cooperstown.
Manning was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021.
Helton played from 1997-2013 for the Rockies and slashed .316/.414/.539 with 369 home runs and 1,406 RBIs.
Todd Helton led the majors in batting in 2000. PA
His resume also included five trips to the All-Star Game, four Silver Slugger awards, three Gold Gloves and a batting title (2000).
Manning, who had a 17-year NFL career, worked alongside Helton in Denver for two seasons when the legendary quarterback played for the Broncos in 2012 and 2013.
Former Colorado Rockies first baseman Todd Helton visits the Pat Summitt exhibit at the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday, May 17, 2014, in Nashville, Tennessee. P.A.
Manning also released a congratulatory video made by the Rockies.
“Seventeen years, every single day dedicated to one team, one city, one fan base,” Manning said in the video posted on social media. “And now, finally, a Hall of Famer. Todd, congratulations on your induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Congratulations, buddy.
Helton will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on July 21 along with third baseman Adrian Beltre and catcher Joe Mauer.
2024-01-24 06:09:02
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