It rained all day. The occasion, in a twisted way, seemed perfect. Pete Rose was just exiting the Cincinnati Reds building in August of 1989 when the skies—like a toddler throwing a tantrum—started relinquishing its anger with more disdain. For a moment, Rose thought he’d wait, let the rain pass. But with a career that just met an unceremonious end beyond imagination, nothing really mattered. He stepped out, washing away his sorrow, his regret, and a managerial career that could’ve become iconic if not for a recently acquired permanent ineligibility owing to gambling charges. Some time later, a phone call reached his best friend Tommy Helms.

Helms, who used to work under manager Rose as a coach, picked up the call ready to apologize and clear up any misunderstandings. Instead, he was greeted with Rose’s gentle voice on the other end, saying, “Take the job…You will do a good job.” Though uncomfortable with the prospect of replacing his former teammate and colleague, Rose’s advice is one Helms took to heart. In September that year, the former Reds second baseman presided over an introductory press conference, as the new Cincinnati Reds manager—a day he had dreamed of throughout his 21-season long playing career.

As he fielded questions from reporters that day, one common theme dominated. “No one can compare to Pete. Hell, he’s a monument as far as baseball is concerned. I just have to be myself and do what I think is right. If I don’t do things my own way, then I would be trying to compare myself to him. I don’t want that,” he had cleared out. Unfortunately, though, Helms was forced to end his stint one year later (again, unceremoniously and while alleging that he was unfairly replaced by Lou Piniella).

Yet, in that short time, the veteran left an indelible mark that many take years to build. “He’s always been good with the players. The young ones and the old ones. Some people would change on a dime after becoming the manager. But he hasn’t,” outfielder Ken Griffey, a 17th season veteran had said about his former manager and coach. And that’s exactly the kind of person Tommy Helms was. Kind, compassionate and a great lover of the game. And perhaps that’s the reason it hit us a little harder when RedsMuseum took to X on April 12 to announce, “We are saddened to hear of the passing of Reds Hall of Fame second baseman Tommy Helms. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.” He was 83.

Helms, inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame in 1979, has been a significant part of the team’s history and will continue to be. He was a major part of the squad that dominated baseball in the 1970s. In 1970, Helms played a crucial role in helping the Reds clinch the NLCS pennant. His steady defense and timely hitting were key factors in their dominant victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. His work with the glove and the bat made him stand out during a series that eventually became part of a dominant setup. This setup monopolized baseball and was called the “Big Red Machine.” 

Fanduel Sports Network’s John Sadak, Barry Larkin and Jim Day also remembered the Hall of Famer during Sunday’s broadcast. “Tough news to share. Reds Hall of Famer Tommy Helms has passed away. Lost at the age of 83. National League Rookie of the Year, two-time All-Star. 1979 Reds Hall of Fame inductee. Lost today. Information shared by his surviving wife, Cathy, who said that ‘Tommy is a Red to the core. Kept his Reds hat on through his last days. He was so proud to be in the Reds Hall of Fame and wore his Reds jacket with pride.’ The Reds plan to honor Tommy and his passing this homestand. Our condolences to his family,” Sadak said.

Day then added, “He could light up any room. I mean he was just one of those funny guys and just a pleasure to be around. Any room he was in he just uplifted the spirits,” to which Larkin responded, “Good, great man. … Tommy would light up a room. Always smiling, joking. Great man.”

Tom Hume, a fellow MLB player and friend, on the other hand, expressed his condolences in an X post. With a heavy heart, he penned, “I’m so sad to hear about the passing of my friend and great baseball player, Tommy Helms. He was such a great person!” Both of them shared some time together with the Reds. Helms showed what it meant to be a Reds player and Hume carried the torch forward, becoming one of the best relief pitchers for the Reds.

A man who once effortlessly turned double plays has now closed a storied chapter in Reds history. Helms wasn’t just a player—he was the kind of baseball guy who made you believe in glove-first grit and old-school hustle. In an era of launch angles and bat flips, we just lost a true second baseman.

Legends like him aren’t made anymore—they’re remembered.

More than a second baseman: The Reds legacy of Tommy Helms

He didn’t hit 500 home runs. He wasn’t the face on a Wheaties box. But Tommy Helms did something far more subversive—he made second base look cool without making it look easy. While Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, and Pete Rose hogged the headlines, Helms quietly built a legacy that still haunts the Reds’ dugout—in the best possible way. Some ghosts wear gold gloves instead of chains.

This is what we mean when we say gone but never forgotten. The standards he set for the Reds from a defensive perspective can never be changed. Even today, the Reds prioritize their defense showing the value he adds to the field.

Helms was one of the major players who set the foundation for the “Big Red Machine” to dominate baseball. He laid the foundation that allowed legends like Joe Morgan, Johnny Bench, and Pete Rose to thrive and shine. His early influence shaped a culture of excellence that pushed those greats to reach their fullest potential.

And while the stars got their spotlight, Helms handed them the script. Without his groundwork, the Big Red Machine might’ve stalled at the start. Now, as the Reds chase greatness in a flashier era, they’re still haunted by the quiet excellence of a man who made fundamentals feel like flair. Tommy Helms didn’t need fanfare—he left behind something better: A standard.