FULL SPEECH: Scott Rolen is inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame! 

Having seen a depressing number of people complain about Rolen's selection along the lines of "he was just a good player, not a HOF'er." This arises, I think, for two reasons. One, he just wasn't especially famous. He is something of a steady, plodding Midwesterner with little flash. Second and more substantively, his excellence was spread out across several areas, really every area of baseball, rather than being concentrated on one or two. He hit for average, but only occasionally hit 300. He hit for power, but not home run crown power. He drew walks. He was a tremendous fielder, but lacked the flash of a Brooks Robinson. He was a fine baserunner, but not blazingly fast. So, he was helping his teams win in every way possible, but generally didn't do the most of anything. This amounts to an enormous amount of value (hence his high WAR total), but a statistical profile that doesn't jump out to more causal fans as anything special. Until recently, players like this (Bobby Grich, Dwight Evans, Lou Whitaker are other examples) haven't sniffed the HOF even though they did more to help their teams win than many that did. Rolen getting in reflects a better understanding of what contributes to winning baseball games. It is too bad when those stuck in old ways of thinking try to diminish this.

I'll say it again. Congratulations to both scott rolen and Fred mcgriff on being officially being inducted into Cooperstown. Both are well deserved. And damn. Scott rolen hof speech was a powerful one. Wow.

Absolutely awesome speech! You are an inspiration!

From the heart. Family is everything...from the beginning and the molding of a young person into the adult they will be. Well done Scott. Well done.

Man people bashing Scott, he is a HOF, 8 gold gloves, 7 time all star, Rookie of the Year, 1 of only 3 3rd basemen with 300 homers, 500 doubles, and 100 stolen bases. Has a WAR over 70 (which is the same as Jeter) and not a roid guy. Also a HOF person. Im not even a cards or phillies fan (met fan) and always thought he was a great player.

Great speech, love this guy and well deserved induction. Good upbringing, good player, good guy.

Wish his time in Philly didn’t end so poorly. I loved rolen growing up. Watched him in the minors and at the greatest stadium of all time - the vet. Miss hearing harry kalas calling his name.

Great Speech thanks for your time with The Cincinnati Reds

I got to meet Scott and get his autograph when he was inducted into the Phillies and minor league hall of fame years ago with his buddy Danny Held. So happy for him :)

Amazing speech . Thanks Scott, you inspired whoever listened to this!!

Top player and a great person

The only autograph I ever got, at veterans stadium too. Thanks scott!

This induction really shouldn't be this controversial. 8 Gold Gloves, 7 All Star Games, ROTY Award, and a World Series Ring. Rolen's WAR is only 8.3 behind Brooks Robinson, and Rolen played 6 less seasons, some of which were shorter due to injuries. He also got to 300 HRs WAY faster than George Brett, has a higher career BA than Robinson, Mike Schmidt, Eddie Mathews and Ron Santo, and a higher career OPS than Robinson, Santo, Adrian Beltre, and Paul Molitor. How is this induction controversial again?

Scott was a beast at 3rd with the glove,I thought he be Cards best defensive 3rd baseman of all time but then Nolan got traded and Nolan is such a stud that he easily trump's a hall of famer glove

I started with Philadelphia........St Louis is a wonderful city and I made it to two world series. It's one big family......PFFFT!

non-HOFer and 2nd baseman Jeff Kent had 100+ RBI 6 yrs in row, and 8 overall. compare it to NY cleanup hitter Mickey Mantles record of 4 in 18 seasons.. crazy

Classy, deserving player. One of the greatest to man the position⚾💙

Rolen was a solid player, as a Dodger fan I didn't get to see him as much. But I do remember that he could play D like no other. Congratulations!!!

Congratulations

Rob is a joke. Let's get a real commissioner who is a passionate baseball guy! Congratulations Scott Rolen. Thank you for all you did for the Cardinals!❤

Top 3 Greatest 3rd baseman of All time and power to match the Glove STL Loves you Forever!!!!!!!!

Congrats to Scott his hat may forever be hung with the greats❤

9:35 to 10:10 says a lot! Scotty Role has always been one of my favorite Cardinals!!

All these “experts” that throw shade on Scott’s career. Scott has the 3rd highest WAR average over a 162 game for a 3rd baseman. Ever. Only he and Mike Schmidt have at least 8 gold gloves and over 300 home runs. Scott’s enshrinement on the Hall is well deserved.

Indiana should definitely be proud of Scott. Good dude.

McGriff should’ve been inducted years ago. Scott was such a underrated player. His stats were solid but his defense will never be matched

Classy dude. Always has been.

Great speech.

its a backwards world when rolen is in hall, but guys like sheffeild and rose are not

Lance Berkman deserves better! I know his peers on that stage agree including Scott Rolen

Looks like your Mini Me!

My Biggest Compliment too Scott Rolen is, I hated to see him come up to the damn plate in the bottom of the Ninth! I knew he would do something terrible to my Braves!!!

Great speech!!

I love Scott (I'm from Reds country) and definitely think he and Fred deserve to be in the HoF. Also his daughter is super pretty But it's a complete joke that Scott Rolen is in the Hall of Fame but Don Mattingly and Dale Murphy are not

Why is he a HOF’er?

Defense is under valued

Barry Bonds

Tell me he didn't juice😂😂😂

Adrian Beltre is better than Scott Rolen

Schilling got robbed again!

Nice

Sorry…this dude is far from a hall of famer. Good player…that is all. But congrats I guess.

Not a HOF'er

Fred McGriff deserving, Scott Rolen definately NOT!

Not deserving in my opinion, good player but not a Hall of Fame career

Good players just not HOF’ERS. Biggio & Bagwell, same. Cooperstown going mediocre just like everything else.

Least deserving guy in awhile.

Nope. Hall of very good.

HOFer Rolen was 4th in MVP one time in 17 yrs.... but he did hit over 31 HRs one time too!

🩸 *PHILLIES*

The MLB HOF has no legitimacy until Pete Roses is enshrined!

Scott who!

non HOFer MannyR had a career OPS of 1.000 lol... crazy kine 1lamejoke now =HOF

one superpseudostar in my eyes... and I saw him play the entire time. ... oh well, no one will complain about Aparicio Sandberg Santo Fox Smith etc. anymore

Pete Rose. Mark McGuire. Barry Bonds. Oh, but Scott Rolen gets in!? Baseball hall of fame is a disgrace

2,077 Hits!!!!!! and one time had over 160 Hits in a Season!!! Awesome! intentionally walked 57 times in career,... isn't that like 2nd to Bonds???