Late on Tuesday, Scott Rolen, a veteran of 17 MLB seasons, was finally elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
He’ll join Fred McGriff in July for the induction ceremony.
Rolen spent time with the Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays, and Cincinnati Reds during his career, winning a Rookie of the Year Award, a Silver Slugger Award, eight Gold Gloves, and a World Series ring.
He also was a seven-time All-Star.
Earlier today, Doug Glanville, a current analyst for ESPN and a former teammate of Rolen’s during his time in Philadelphia, talked about what Rolen meant to him and told some hilarious stories about the newest Hall-of-Famer.
Former teammate of Scott Rolen, @dougglanville shares these two stories on Rolen's mentality before games 🫡#HOF2023 | @baseballhall pic.twitter.com/6Gn3WAWDBK
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) January 25, 2023
Rolen came up to the big leagues in 1996.
Glanville first joined the Phillies two years later.
He recalled a time when the Phillies went on a road trip out west, one that ultimately ended in disappointment.
After the trip was over, Larry Bowa, then the manager of the Phillies, had his players take early batting practice.
Rolen, Glanville, and Bobby Abreu did not attend and instead stuck to their usual routines.
When Bowa criticized the three stars, Rolen asked him a pressing question, saying, “Are you questioning my professionalism?”
Glanville recalled how the mood in the room changed drastically.
He also recalled when Jimmy Rollins was first called up the big leagues and how he was the polar opposite of Rolen.
Rollins had a bit of a rogue streak and was admiring his work during batting practice.
Rolen turned to Glanville and Abreu and told them that he would be kicking Rollins out of their group the next day.
Ultimately, Rollins settled down, but despite Rolen’s extreme work ethic, he always knew how to keep things loose, Glanville said.
