Legendary Third Baseman Scott Rolen Finally Inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame
After several years biding his time on the ballot, Scott Rolen is finally a hall of famer.
The third baseman was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday, six months after the Baseball Writers Association of America voted to put him there. It was Rolen's sixth year on the ballot, and he made it with 76.3% of the vote.
Rolen was inducted alongside first baseman Fred McGriff, who was unanimously selected by the Contemporary Era Committee in December.
Both Rolen and McGriff gave their acceptance speeches Sunday afternoon in Cooperstown, with McGriff taking the stage first.
Rolen stepped up to the podium following a highlight reel and video introduction from Albert Pujols, who was teammates with Rolen on the St. Louis Cardinals from 2002 to 2007.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred then read aloud Rolen's newly-minted plaque, which features him in a Cardinals hat. The plaque read as follows:
SCOTT BRUCE ROLEN
Philadelphia, N.L. 1996-2002; St. Louis, N.L. 2002-07; Toronto, A.L. 2008-09; Cincinnati, N.L. 2009-12
Paired elite glovework with formidable bat to become a dominant two-way threat at third base, never appearing at another position in his big league career. Followed unanimous 1997 N.L. Rookie of the Year season in Philadelphia with first of his eight Gold Glove awards in 1998. Blasted three home runs in N.L.C.S to help Cardinals win the 2004 pennant and two years later led St. Louis to the World Series title, batting .421 in the five-game set. Seven-time All-Star and intelligent baserunner retired as one of only three third basemen with 300 home runs, 500 doubles and 100 stolen bases.
When he began his speech, Rolen thanked each of the teams he played for, as well as the voters, his family, friends, teammates, coaches, support staff and more. He detailed how his parents coming to his major league debut on Aug. 1, 1996, was one of the best moments of his career, while striking out to end a playoff game against the San Francisco Giants on Oct. 11, 2012, was one of the worst.
Rolen shared emotional stories about his parents and kids, from getting high school basketball advice from his father to creating signals for his family in the stands.
Across 17 seasons in the majors, Rolen racked up 2,077 hits, 316 home runs, 517 doubles and 118 stolen bases with a .281 batting average and .855 OPS. Rolen made six All-Star teams and won NL Rookie of the Year in 1997, in addition to eight Gold Gloves, a silver slugger and the 2006 World Series.
Rolen's plaque will be placed inside the hall of fame museum Sunday evening.
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