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Few things in sports can compare to an emotional embrace between an athlete and his family following a hard-earned triumph. After five years of being denied entry into the Baseball Hall of Fame, Scott Rolen finally got to rejoice with his parents after getting the official word he is Cooperstown-bound.
The tearful celebration was tweeted out by the Cincinnati Reds' official account, as Rolen's parents were visibly stunned and overcome with joy. Rolen spent the last three seasons-and-change of his 17-year career with the Reds and made consecutive All-Star teams from 2010-11. He continued to see his vote total significantly increase since his name was first put on the ballot in 2018 and just cleared the 75 percent barrier by five votes this year.
A perennial fortress at the hot corner and a steady bat, Rolen was one of the most well-rounded third basemen of his era. He hit 20 home runs or more 10 times and nabbed a superb eight Gold Gloves across three different franchises. Rolen also enjoyed a lifetime batting average of .281.
The seven-time All-Star burst on the scene with the Philadelphia Phillies and was named the 1997 National League Rookie of the Year. However, he is best remembered for his time in the Midwest. Rolen helped lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a World Championship in 2006, batting a sensational .421 in five games against the Detroit Tigers.
Scott Rolen may not have been a true standout in the infamous Steroid Era, but he was a pillar of consistency who made a big impact on every team fortunate enough to have him. His induction into the Hall of Fame will undoubtedly be debated in the coming days, and maybe years, but who could deny the genuine gratitude that Rolen and his family felt toward him gaining access to those hallowed halls.
Rolen seems to understand what it truly means to be headed to Cooperstown. And now generations of fans will know what he meant to the game of baseball.
