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In his sixth year of eligibility, former Cincinnati Reds third baseman and eight-time Gold Glover Scott Rolen finally made it into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He’ll be inducted into the hall during a July 23 ceremony alongside Fred McGriff, who played 19 seasons during the 1980s, 19902 and early 2000s and was added by the Contemporary Baseball Era Players Committee in December.
Rolen punched his Cooperstown ticket on Jan. 24, 2023 with 297 votes, or 76.3% of the vote, from eligible members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA). For induction, players must receive at least 75% of that year’s vote . In 2022, Rolen received 63.2%.
Rolen ended his Major League Baseball career in Cincinnati after the 2012 season but also played for the Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals and Toronto Blue Jays. He spent a total of 17 seasons in the majors after being drafted by Philadelphia in 1997 and has been lauded as one of the best third basemen to play the game. Read CityBeat‘s story about Rolen’s stats and milestones.
Rolen’s former teams plus fans, coaches and players in Cincinnati and beyond had plenty of memories to share once he was announced as Cooperstown’s sole elected inductee. Scroll down to relive the memories.
Love you 3 prayers 🙏🏾🙏🏾❤️ stay strong got your back always— Tyler Boyd (@boutdat_23) January 3, 2023Thank you Cincinnati!!Thank you Ohio!!A united Cincinnati flips a Congressional district. Finally gets representation. You did this, Ohio voters, when you changed our Constitution. pic.twitter.com/bi388rMIKe— David Pepper (@DavidPepper) November 9, 2022The Supreme Court just overturned Roe v. Wade in the largest case of government overreach in my lifetime. This ruling greenlights extreme proposals in Ohio that could jail doctors & deny women access to lifesaving care. The only way forward is to expand our pro-choice majority.— Tim Ryan (@TimRyan) June 24, 2022The Supreme Court just stripped away the fundamental right to reproductive health care. They turned their backs on generations of progress and sacrifice. We won’t stand for this, and we’re going to fight like hell.— Aftab Pureval (@AftabPureval) June 24, 2022“Love Story Remix” at BLINK
BLINK takes old familiar buildings and murals and lights them up in an exciting new way, just like Elvira’s remix of “Love Story.”“You watch a great player with a fantastic track record perform in front of your own eyes, you think, ‘Whoa, this guy is really darn good.’ Then you get to play w him & watch how he works his demeanor & all of a sudden, it changes your perspective,” Joey Votto on Scott Rolen #HOF— Jim Coyle (@jimcoyleISB) January 24, 2023Congrats to Scott Rolen! Now, just putting this out there… Rolen: .281/.364/.490/.855 OPS, 122 OPS+, 316 HR’s, 70.1 bWAR (8,518 PA’s). Votto:.297/.412/.513/.926 OPS, 145 OPS+, 342 HR’s, 64.3 bWAR (8,504 PA’s). Tell me more about Joey Votto not being a HOFer. #Reds— Diehard Reds (@Diehard_Reds) January 24, 2023Tim Ryan seen driving away after the debate with JD Vance a couple nights ago. pic.twitter.com/YOXiT6lmF0— Dan (@Dancthoms) October 11, 2022Congratulations to Scott Rolen on his induction into the class of 2023 @MLB HOF. It was an honor to manage him with the Phillies. One of the best of his generation to play the game. Well deserved!— Larry Bowa (@LarryBowa10) January 24, 2023fell asleep waiting for the MLB HOF votes. Excited to see Scott Rolen got in! pic.twitter.com/svqTXSWios— macewank (@macewank) January 25, 2023Blue lights on at Paycor for Damar Hamlin and the Bills family pic.twitter.com/hSFtn6mKah— Jay Morrison (@JayMorrisonATH) January 3, 2023The decision today threatens freedom itself and it is appalling & heartbreaking that the Supreme Court has overturned a fundamental right everyone has come to rely upon.As Ohio’s next AG, I will continue to champion the individual right to reproductive freedom.Full Statement: pic.twitter.com/pB1fdznyss— Jeffrey A. Crossman (@JeffaCrossman) June 24, 2022Statement from the NFL Referees Association on Damar Hamlin, who remains hospitalized after collapsing Monday night in Cincinnati. “Like the players and coaches, our officials fully supported the suspension of this game as all attention needed to be focused on Damar’s health." pic.twitter.com/ulsGc5j2m0— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 3, 2023"He's really one of the greatest third basemen that's ever played the game…"BK & @HOFprez discuss Scott Rolen's election to the @baseballhall. pic.twitter.com/XCGiaMAdTi— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) January 24, 2023Scott Rolen, whose pristine glovework at third base set the modern standard for defensive brilliance and whose bat was a font of consistency across 17 seasons, has been elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the BBWAA. He'll join Fred McGriff in the Class of 2023.— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 24, 2023So happy to hear Scott Rolen got elected to the MLB Hall of Fame. I caught his 300th Home Run. When I gave it back, I got this. Class Act. @Reds pic.twitter.com/ag44db7pZf— LeAnn Neel Romine (@LeAnnNR21) January 24, 2023FINALLY!!! It's an absolute joke he wasn't in sooner. Aside from being one of the greatest third baseman of all-time, the man brought winning baseball to Cincinnati. We had no hope or leadership in the #Reds clubhouse for years prior to Rolen joining in 2009. Beyond excited rn. https://t.co/EUc5Pq8dPV— Robbie (@_HuffStuff06) January 24, 2023Dubois County, Indiana, is the home of many greats — the Bonifer family and #Reds Hall of Famer Scott Rolen. pic.twitter.com/bYljTyzDb8— DuaneBonifer (@DuaneBonifer) January 25, 2023My statement on today’s historic Supreme Court ruling: pic.twitter.com/50ffaClUSd— J.D. Vance (@JDVance1) June 24, 2022Fight like hell indeed, Mayor @AftabPureval! We all have a role in ensuring access to reproductive health care is protected. https://t.co/gTCRcMRl80— Councilmember Reggie Harris (@CMReggieHarris) June 24, 2022My guy Scott Rolen is in the Hall! So happy for him and his family. One of the realest people you’ll ever know.— Vernon Wells (@VernonWells10) January 24, 2023Statement from Phillies Managing Partner John Middleton on Scott Rolen’s election into the National Baseball Hall of Fame pic.twitter.com/BfShSZBiaY— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) January 24, 2023Coming soon to Cooperstown! #RolenHOF pic.twitter.com/36DwHIDw5V— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) January 25, 2023Former @Reds Scott Rolen becomes just the 18th 3B elected to the Hall of Fame. He'll be the first 3B inductee since Chipper Jones in 2018. They are the only third basemen to have debuted in the last 40 years to reach the Hall." https://t.co/iOrCTZvXSJ— Patrick Mahan (@patrickmahan) January 25, 2023Wicked shelf cloud moments ago in Anderson Township. #ohwx #cincywx @KevinWLWT @JohnGumm pic.twitter.com/5gcrb0Z3WN— Jacob Widanski (@widanskiwx) June 13, 2022Scott Rolen being retired for 5 years before being on ballots for 6 years only serves to remind me how long it's been since he played, which therefore reminds me how long it's been since the Reds were half-decent— wick (@wickterrell) January 24, 2023Roe v. Wade is overturned. A win for state’s rights, the constitution, and most importantly, life itself. I lend my full support to the Ohio General Assembly moving quickly to establish the sanctity of life into law.— Frank LaRose 🇺🇸🇺🇦 (@FrankLaRose) June 24, 2022Players in the Reds clubhouse, notably Joey Votto, Jay Bruce and Brandon Phillips, credited Rolen for leadership that propelled the team into the postseason in 2010. His HOF honor is well deserved. https://t.co/4aDelIiB7r— Steve Mancuso (@spmancuso) January 25, 2023Hall of Fame Class of 2023: 🏆 Fred McGriff and Scott Rolen 🏆 pic.twitter.com/bOvEN3dmqC— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) January 25, 2023The back half of Rolen's run with the Reds was rough, but he provided strong leadership for a team in 2010 that needed it.— Michael (@FloridaBengals) January 25, 2023
