1966 Tommy Helms

Tommy Helms was the 1966 NL Rookie of the Year. He played for the Reds until the 1972 season when he was traded for the 1965 NL Rookie of the Year runner-up, Joe Morgan. Seemed like an even trade. Before the trade both players had 2 All Star selections. For Morgan both times were as a reserve and only seeing action in one game. Helms had one game as a starter and one as a reserve. Helms also had 2 Gold Gloves. Morgan provided more speed on the basepath and hit more homers. In the 8 seasons following the trade, Morgan would appear in all 8 All Star games, starting in 7 of them. He would also win 5 Gold Gloves and 2 MVPs.

After the trade Helms would not appear in another All Star game or win another Gold Glove. He played 4 years in Houston then finished out his playing career with short stints in Pittsburgh and Boston. He would return to the Cincinnati Reds as a coach in 1983. Eventually he would be the replacement manager for Pete Rose in 1988 when Rose was suspended 30 games for pushing an umpire. Then again in 1989 when Rose was banned for gambling on baseball. In all Helms would manage 64 games in 1988 and 1989 with a 28-36 record. In 1990 he was replaced by Lou Piniella and the Reds would sweep the A's in the 1990 World Series.