SantaFeToday.com Santa Fe’s Hometown News
By Arnie Leshin
It was a neat time for a popular first sacker and one who covered the hot corner at third base when the Baseball Hall of Fame inducted Fred McGriff and Scott Rolen Sunday at New York’s upstate Cooperstown.
The usual big turnout greeted both with plenty of applause, and the players showed their appreciation.
McGriff, in fact, made sure to shake the hands of all of the 50 Hall of Famers who welcomed him.
“I’m humbled and honored,” McGriff said during his 20-minute acceptance speech on a sunny day, “to now be standing in front of you and now be part of this fraternity. When your career is validated by former players and executives that saw you play, that’s as good as it gets.”
And he added, it’s wonderful to be up there in front of my family, friends and former teammates.
The lanky first baseman was drafted by the New York Yankees in the ninth round of the 1981 amateur draft out of Thomas Jefferson High School in Tampa, Fla.
Successful as a hitter and a capable fielder, McGriff was also known for his personality and sense of humor. He often strolled to the stands to greet and shake hands with the fans, and at home games was often a guest on the air.
Affectionally nicknamed “Crime Dog” by ESPN’s Chris Berman, McGriff batted .284 with 493 home runs and 1,550 RBI in 2,460 games over 19 seasons. He played for six teams, was a five-time All-Star, and helped the Atlanta Braves win the 1995 World Series.
“Gee, it’s a good thing I didn’t have to wait until I had my 500 home runs,” he said with a laugh, “but this is fine, I am just overwhelmed to be here, to be among this crowd of fans, family, former teammates, and other Hall of a Famers. Wow.”
Rolen waited 17 years and six tries before being inducted and didn’t take long to include his mom and dad during his 16-minute acceptance speech.
“Seeing mom and dad,” he said, “walk to their seats from my position at third base was a feeling never topped again in my 17 seasons.”
Making his Major League start in 1996, it took a half-dozen attempts before his parents, Ed and Linda, finally got to see their son earn his official bronze Hall of Fame plaque.
As for McGriff, he was elected unanimously by the Contemporary Baseball Era Players Committee in December after falling off the writers’ ballot in 2020.
As for Rolen, he had a pair of great moments when in 2006 there was his splendid play in the World Series success with the St. Louis Cardinals, and in 1997, his rookie year when he earned Rookie of the Year with the Philadelphia Phillies.
He was the only player to receive more than the 75% of the votes to qualify for induction. He received 297 (76.3%) votes from the Baseball Writers Association in January.
He hit .282 with 316 home runs and 1,287 RBI in 2,038 games. In the 2006 World Series that the Cards won in five games over the Detroit Tigers, he batted a team-high .421. Defensively, he was one of the best in the majors, and he also ran the bases well.
“I’m grateful for this grand gesture,” Rolen said, “At this point in my lifetime did it ever occur to me that I would be standing on this stage.”
A multi-sport high school star from Indiana, he received a Division I offer to play basketball before the Phillies selected him straight out of high school in the second round of the 1993 amateur draft.
He spent six campaigns with the Cardinals where he carted off four of his seven All-Star selections and three of his eight Golden Gloves.
Said Rolen: “I was not raised to be a Major League baseball player, I was raised to be honest, to work hard, to be accountable for my words and actions, and to treat people with kindness and respect.”
He added how wonderful it was to have his parents on hand to bask in this glory.
“I assume they are also surprised,” he said, “and that’s what makes this even bigger and better. It’s a joy for myself and them.”
McGriff took care of the hand shakes for the Hall of Famers, greeted his family and friends and former teammates on hand, and he and Rolen make sure to hug one another as the throng rose with applause to the stage.
