Scott Rolen, a consistent power hitter and defensive wizard, is on the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot for the fourth year.
Defensively – both by traditional statistics and advanced measurement – he was one of the best third basemen of his generation, winning eight Gold Glove Awards. Offensively, he ranks in the top 15 among third basemen in home runs (316), RBI (1,287) and slugging percentage (.490).
A second-round pick by the Phillies in 1993, he made an immediate impact when he reached the majors, unanimously winning the National League Rookie of the Year award in 1997. The following season, he established himself as a legitimate star with a .290/.391/.532 slash line, 31 home runs and 110 RBI, earning his first Gold Glove.
The seven-time All-Star went on to play for the St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays and Cincinnati Reds before injuries took a toll and he retired in 2012.
During his 17-year career he finished with a slash line of .281/.364/.490 in 2,038 games, ranking fifth in the majors during that span in doubles (517), 11th in extra-base hits (876) and 17th in runs scored (1,211).
In 2006, Rolen was a member of the Cardinals when they won the World Series. He had a clutch performance and slashed .421/.476/.737, going 8-for-19 with three doubles, one home run, two RBI and five runs scored in five games against the Detroit Tigers.
