MLB Hall of Fame: Breaking down the ballot
By David Hill
Scott Rolen – 1st Year on Ballot
Most years, Scott Rolen would be regarded as a strong candidate for the MLB Hall of Fame. However, he is overshadowed on the 2018 ballot.
An excellent all around player, Rolen excelled for the Phillies and Cardinals. He was a strong power threat in the lineup, hitting 20 or more homers ten times, and driving in over 100 runs in five seasons. Rolen was also an excellent defensive player, winning eight Gold Glove awards. His 150 runs saved at third ranks sixth all time in baseball history, putting him in the company of some of the greatest glovemen at the hot corner.
A seven time All Star, and the 1997 NL Rookie of the Year, Rolen had an excellent career. He posted a lifetime .281/.364/.490 batting line, hitting 316 homers and driving in 1287 runs. Rolen also had a bit of speed earlier in his career, and stole 118 bases in 167 attempts. Add in his stellar defense, and Rolen was far more than a slugger.
However, he may have difficulty in getting votes this year. Rolen had the misfortune of landing on the ballot at the same time as Chipper Jones, one of the best third basemen of all time. Rolen was certainly a great player in his own right, but he was not in the same category as Jones. In this case, having Jones on the ballot with him may lead to Rolen’s accomplishments getting overlooked.
Scott Rolen has a strong case for the MLB Hall of Fame. If he can remain on the ballot after this year, his vote total should improve in the following years.