Today's Veterans Day activities include free stew at multiple local veterans' posts, presentations and performances by Red River Valley Veterans Concert Band
A University of North Dakota football recruit, Helling missed most of UND’s two-a-day football workouts while playing in the 1989 American Legion World Series. When he finally reported to camp in Grand Forks, he was redshirted by UND coach Roger Thomas.
“I had a full ride to play linebacker,” Helling said. “That was the plan, I was going to be a football player. Baseball kind of screwed it up and it worked out for me.”
Without that first World Series, Helling may never have become a 20-game winner for the Texas Rangers in 1998, led the American League in games started twice (35 in 1999 and 2000), pitched an immaculate inning (3 strikeouts on nine pitches) or earned two World Series rings (Florida Marlins, 1997 and 2003).
Small-town North Dakota native tells big-league stories dailyherald.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from dailyherald.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.