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Long-time Rockies first baseman Todd Helton is going to call it a career after the 2013 season, he told The Denver Post Saturday.
"Yes, this is it. It just seems like it's time. It's a young man's game. I am 40 years old. I am looking forward to doing something else besides baseball. Whatever that may be. I am not sure yet," said Helton, sitting next to his wife, Christy. "I am going to start a new chapter not only in my life but our lives. It will be different. It will be difficult, but it will be exciting."
Helton will go down as the best player in the history of the young Rockies' franchise for the time being. The Rockies have only been around for 21 seasons, and Helton has been a part of the big-league club for 17 of those seasons.
Heading into Saturday's action, Helton authored a very solid career slash line of .317/.415/.539. On Saturday, he clubbed his 586th career double, good to move him ahead of Rafael Palmeiro and into sole possession of 16th all time.
The five-time All-Star also has 2,505 hits, 367 homers, 1,397 RBI, 1,394 runs, three Gold Gloves and four Silver Sluggers.
Helton's been part of two of the Rockies' three playoff teams, including the 2007 team -- which is the only Rockies team to ever win a playoff series and get to the World Series.
Helton was a first-round pick -- eighth overall -- out of the University of Tennessee in 1995. He was the Rockies' fourth first-round pick in franchise history, after John Burke, Jamey Wright and Doug Million.
