PITTSBURGH, PA — Tommy Helms, who played for the Pirates during his 14-year major league career, died on Sunday. He was 83.
Helms played primarily for the Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros, as well as the Boston Red Sox. The Pirates acquired the infielder in a December 1975 trade with the Astros that sent Art Howe to Houston.
In 1976, Helms appeared in 62 games and batted .276. The Pirates sold him to the Oakland Athletics following the season, but reacquired him in a March 1977 trade with the A's along with Phil Garner and Chris Batton in exchange for Dave Guisti, Doc Medich, Doug Bair, Rick Langford, Tony Armas and Mitchell Page.
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Helms hit just .225 in 36 games with the Bucs in 1977 before the team released him in June.
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