It seems inevitable that Major League Baseball will expand to 32 teams. When it does, Nashville has a good chance of landing one of the new teams. Tennessee’s baseball history runs deep and the addition of a MLB team would further that legacy. The Volunteer State has sent 405 players to the Major Leagues. The greatest pitcher born in Tennessee is Tommy Bridges. His 51.62 career WAR is the 27th highest among state and territory pitching leaders. The greatest position player from the Volunteer State is Todd Helton. His 61.78 career WAR is the 32nd highest among state and territory position player leaders. Combined Tennessee has 113.40 WAR, ranking the Volunteer State 32nd in the United States of Baseball. 

Tommy Bridges was born in Gordonsville and found baseball success in Detroit. The Right Hander attended the University of Tennessee, but left to pursue baseball. He played 16 seasons with the Detroit Tigers (1930-1943, 1945-1946). Despite a small build, Bridges gave opposing batters stomach ulcers with his curveball and fastball combination. Making his Major League debut on August 13, 1930 at Yankee Stadium, Bridges was immediately put to the test. The first batter he faced was Babe Ruth, who popped out to Third. Next, Tony Lazzeri Singled. Bridges then struck out Lou Gehrig. Finally, Harry Rice grounded out to Second. The first three batters of his career were Hall of Famers, two of which are among the greatest ever. After escaping the Bronx, Bridges pitched in 424 career Games, made 362 Starts, with 47 Games Finished, 200 Complete Games, including 33 Shutouts, in 2,826.1 Innings Pitched, allowed 2,675 Hits, 1,321 Runs, 1,122 Earned Runs, 181 Home Runs, 1,192 Walks, 1,674 Strikeouts, posted a 194-138 record, 3.57 ERA, 1.368 WHIP, and 126 ERA+. He was a six time All Star. 

Bridges fell one out short of a Perfect Game on August 5, 1932. The Tigers were dismantling the Washington Senators at Navin Field in Detroit. Leading 13 to 0 with two outs in the 9th Inning, Senators Manager Walter Johnson sent Dave Harris to Pinch Hit for Pitcher Bobby Burke. Harris Singled to break up the Perfecto. Bridges composed himself and induced a groundout from Sam Rice. He narrowly missed pitching the sixth Perfect Game in MLB history. It took nearly a quarter century until Don Larsen threw the next Perfect Game in the 1956 World Series. 

Despite his success, Bridges’ number would have been better had he not spent the 1944 season in the Army during World War II. In 1949, he declined an offer from the Yankees choosing to continue pitching for the Minor League Portland Beavers. 

The best season of Bridges’ career was 1936. He pitched in 39 Games for the Tigers, made 38 Starts, with 1 Game Finished, 26 Complete Games, including 5 Shutouts, in 294.2 Innings Pitched, allowed 289 Hits, 141 Runs, 118 Earned Runs, 21 Home Runs, 115 Walks, 175 Strikeouts, posted a 23-11 record, with a 3.60 ERA, 1.371 WHIP, and 137 ERA+. Bridges led the Junior Circuit in Starts, Wins, and Strikeouts. He set career bests in Games Pitched, Starts, Complete Games, Shutouts, Innings Pitched, Hits allowed, Runs, Earned Runs, Strikeouts, and Wins. He was an All Star and finished ninth in the American League MVP voting. 

Detroit was excellent throughout Bridges’ career. The Tigers appeared in the Fall Classic four times: 1934, 1935, 1940, and 1945. They won twice, in 1935 and 1945. In the World Series, Bridges pitched in 7 Games, made 5 Starts, threw 4 Complete Games, in 46.0 Innings Pitched, allowed 52 Hits, 22 Runs, 18 Earned Runs, 2 Home Runs, 9 Walks, 27 Strikeouts, posted a 4-1 record, with a 3.52 ERA, and 1.326 WHIP. Bridges’ success in the Regular Season carried into October. He appeared on the Hall of Fame ballot for seven years, peaking with 7.5% in 1964. 

Todd Helton has lived every kid’s dream. The Knoxville native was drafted in the 2nd Round of the 1992 MLB Draft by the Padres, but chose to accept a football scholarship from the University of Tennessee and walked on the baseball team. Helton played 12 games for the Volunteers at Quarterback before an injury allowed Peyton Manning to replace him. Helton turned his attention to the diamond. He played Firstbase and was the Closer. He won the 1995 Dick Howser Trophy as the National Collegiate Baseball Player of the Year. The same year, the Rockies selected Helton with the 8th overall pick in the MLB Draft. 

After spending just two seasons in the Minor Leagues, Helton was called up. He spent his entire 17 season career with the Colorado Rockies (1997- 2013). He played in 2,247 career Games, scored 1,401 Runs, collected 2,519 Hits, including 592 Doubles, 37 Triples, 369 Home Runs, 1,406 RBI, 37 Stolen Bases, drew 1,335 Walks, 1,175 Strikeouts, with a .316 BA, .414 OBP, .539 SLG, .953 OPS, and 133 OPS+. Helton was a five time All Star, won three Gold Gloves, four Silver Sluggers, and the 2000 National League Batting Title. He finished second behind Kerry Wood for the 1998 National League Rookie of the Year Award. Helton is the first player to collect 100 extra base hits in back to back seasons, 2000 and 2001. He is also the first player to hit 35 Doubles in 10 consecutive seasons. He was inducted into the Arizona Fall League Hall of Fame in 2003 and the University of Tennessee Hall of Fame in 2017. Helton is Colorado’s all time Home Run leader. He was the first Rockie to have his number retired, when Colorado retired his #17 in 2014. Helton has appeared on the Hall of Fame ballot for five years. In 2023, he received 72.2% of the vote, falling just 11 votes short of induction. Helton appears headed to Cooperstown in 2024.

The best season of Helton’s career came in 2000. He played in 160 Games, scored 138 Runs, collected 216 Hits, including 59 Doubles, 2 Triples, 42 Home Runs, 147 RBI, with 5 Stolen Bases, 103 Walks, 61 Strikeouts, .372 BA, .463 OBP, .698 SLG, 1.162 OPS, and 163 OPS+. He led the National League in Hits, Doubles, RBI, Batting Average, On-Base Percentage, Slugging, and OPS. His 59 Doubles were the most in the Senior Circuit since Joe Medwick’s record 64 Doubles in 1936. Helton’s 103 Extra Base Hits were the second highest single season total in National League history, and the fourth highest in MLB history. He set career bests in Games Played, Runs scored, Hits, Doubles, RBI, Batting Average, Slugging, and OPS. Helton flirted with hitting .400 into August. He was an All Star, won the Silver Slugger, the Hank Aaron Award, and finished fifth in the National League MVP voting.  

It took 10 seasons before Helton reached the Postseason. They reached the 2007 Postseason after defeating the San Diego Padres in a winner take all play-in tiebreaker to determine the National League Wild Card. The Rockies then swept the Phillies and Diamondbacks to reach their first World Series. The quick work left Colorado ideal for over a week between clinching the National League pennant and the start of the World Series. The Red Sox swept the Rockies to win the Fall Classic. Helton returned to October in 2009 as the Rockies lost in the Divisional Series to the Phillies. In 15 Postseason Games, Helton scored 11 Runs, collected 12 Hits, 2 Doubles, 1 Triple, 4 RBI, 8 Walks, 11 Strikeouts, with a .211 BA, .303 OBP, .281 SLG, and .584 OPS. He did not play his best, but the Postseason is a small sample size even for great players. 

Tennessee has two Hall of Famers in Lee MacPhail (Executive) and Turkey Stearnes. Todd Helton should join them in 2024. He will not be the last from the Volunteer State to reach Cooperstown. Next, the United States of Baseball heads west to the Lone Star State. Texas is next.

DJ