Rolen earns Hall election, capping historic ballot climb

[ificandream]

Source: MLB.com/Anthony Castrovince

The hot corner has historically had a high bar for National Baseball Hall of Fame entry. But in 2023, Scott Rolen made the cut and completed a meteoric rise in support in his time on the Baseball Writers’ Association of America ballot.

Rolen was the only one of the 28 candidates on the BBWAA Hall of Fame ballot to reach the necessary 75% support in results revealed Tuesday night on MLB Network. Rolen will join first baseman Fred McGriff in the Class of 2023 after McGriff’s selection in December by the Contemporary Baseball Era Players Committee.

Induction ceremonies will be held July 23 in Cooperstown, N.Y.

Though Rolen is the BBWAA’s only inductee for 2023, he was not the only one to continue a major surge. Todd Helton jumped from 52% in 2022 to 72.2% in his fifth of 10 possible appearances on the ballot, falling just 11 votes shy of what would have been one of the biggest final flourishes for an electee in history. Billy Wagner went from 51% to 68.1% in his eighth year, and Andruw Jones (58.1%), in his sixth year, and Gary Sheffield (55%), in his ninth, both made the important cross above the 50% threshold for the first time.

Read more: https://www.mlb.com/news/scott-rolen-elected-to-hall-of-fame-2023-bbwaa-ballot

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The Baseball Hall of Fame, like the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame, is a complete joke. So many people who should be in both aren't.

[OAITW r.2.0]

1. Can't say I've heard of Scott Rolen...

I've been away from the game, generally, for a long time. But I honestly don't ever remember hearing his name on sports/baseball TV when I've watched...

[Gore1FL]

2. He was quite an amazing power-hitting third baseman.

He managed a World Series Ring with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2006.

[ShazzieB]

3. Who is not in the Rock Hall that you think should be?

Just curious, because when I visited the place, the coverage seemed pretty inclusive to me.

(The Baseball Hall of Fame I have too little knowledge of to have any opinions.)

[ificandream]

4. The Monkees, for one.

They've been left out because of Jann Wenner politics. I think it's disgusting.

Also, Harry Nilsson, The Turtles and Badfinger.

[Evolve Dammit]

5. Jethro Tull/ Ian Anderson

[Evolve Dammit]

6. Little Feat too

[BOSSHOG]

7. BAD COMPANY

Been on my first ballot for decades. Although I don’t actually have a vote.

Their collection is relatively small but if you lived for the music in the 70s, their collection was a must have.

[yeratowl]

9. So many should be in before the last 10 years of entrants such as...

King Crimson, Peter Frampton, Boston, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Ozzie, Ben E King, Phil Collins, The Spinners, The Meters, Brian Eno and the aforementioned Jethro Tull, Little Feat and Bad Company

[BOSSHOG]

10. Great list teammate

I have a cd by the Herd with a baby faced Peter frampton on the cover. Check out “I don’t want our loving to die.” Pushing 60 years old and still a gem. ELP - magic music.

Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

[BOSSHOG]

8. As a Phillie Fan, since before I was born, according to my Grandmother

This selection is well deserved.

Scott was right at home at third base (so to speak.) Sadly for him the gold standard for third basemen in Philly is Michael Jack Schmidt. The greatest third baseman in the history of the game. I’m sure all will agree. The pot has been stirred.

[Redleg]

11. Scott Rolen is 10th best third baseman

according to the JAWS index which takes into account the player's career wins-above-replacement (WAR) and 7-year peak WAR. Rolen's in good company and is deserving. Rolen is above the average for 3B hall-of-famers in WAR, WAR-7, and JAWS. He was also an excellent defensive player and played for a time on my favorite team, the Reds, where he was well-respected for his work ethic and mentoring of the younger players.