(Cooperstown) The biggest moment of Scott Rolen’s 17-year-old career didn’t come in the 2006 World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals or his first full season in the Majors in 1997 with the Philadelphia Phillies, when he was unanimously named Nationals Rookie of the Year.
For Rolen, one of two players inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday, the honor was reserved for an unexpected time with his parents, after he was called up to play his first major league game in 1996.
“Watching my mom and dad walk to their seat from my third-base position was a feeling unmatched in my 17 professional years,” Rolen said during his 16-minute speech.
It took six attempts, but Rolen’s parents, Ed and Linda, were finally able to see their son earn his bronze Hall of Fame plaque. He was joined by Fred McGriff, who was unanimously elected by members of the Contemporary Era Committee in December, after missing his last chance at the reporters’ ballot in 2020.
Rolen was the only player to receive more than 75% of the votes needed to be inducted. It received 297 votes (76.3%) from the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) in January. The previous year, he had obtained 63.2% of the votes.
“I’m grateful for this great gesture,” Rolen said. At no point in my life did I think I would be standing on that stage. »
Rolen, a multi-sport athlete in high school in Indiana, received an offer to play college first division basketball before the Phillies selected him straight from his school in the second round of the 1993 draft.
The third baseman spent six of his 17 seasons with the Cardinals, earning four of his seven All-Star selections and three of his eight Gold Gloves.
Rolen hit .281 with 316 home runs and 1,287 RBI in 2,038 games. He had a team-best .421 in the 2006 World Series, helping the Cardinals defeat the Detroit Tigers in five games.
Rolen gave credit to his parents for the values they instilled in him.
“I wasn’t raised to be a Major League Baseball player,” he said. I was raised to be honest, to work hard, to be responsible for my words and actions, and to treat people with kindness and respect. »
McGriff, who joined Rolen on stage, made sure to shake hands with virtually all 50 Hall of Famers who greeted him.
“I’m humbled and honored to stand before you and now be a part of this brotherhood,” McGriff said during his 20-minute speech. When your career is validated by former players and former managers who have seen you play, you couldn’t ask for more. »
The lanky first baseman was selected in the ninth round by the New York Yankees in the 1981 draft.
McGriff hit .284 with 493 homers and 1,550 RBI in 2,460 games over 19 major league seasons. He played for six teams, was a five-time All-Star selection and helped the Atlanta Braves win the 1995 World Series.
Columnists’ Poll players to have come up short this year include Todd Helton (72.2%), Billy Wagner (68.1%), Andruw Jones (58.1%), Gary Sheffield (55%), Carlos Beltrán (46.5%), Jeff Kent (46.5%), Alex Rodriguez (35.7%), Manny Ramirez (33.2%), Omar Vizquel (19.5%), Andy Pettitte ( 17%), Bobby Abreu (15.4%), Jimmy Rollins (12.9%), Mark Buehrle (10.8%), Francisco Rodriguez (10.8%) and Torii Hunter (6.9%).
Three other people were honored during the Hall of Fame weekend. Former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Carl Erskine received the Buck O’Neil Trophy for lifetime achievement. Longtime Tigers reporter John Lowe got his hands on the BBWAA Lifetime Achievement Trophy as Chicago Cubs radio reporter Pat Hughes picked up the Ford C. Frick Trophy.