Yesterday, the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown won yet another legendary star.
Scott Rolen, a 17-year veteran and one of the game’s best third basemen, was elected to the Hall and will be inducted alongside Fred McGriff this coming July.
Rolen spent time with the Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays, and Cincinnati Reds.
He was a Rookie of the Year in 1997, a Silver Slugger, a seven-time All-Star, an eight-time Gold Glover, and a World Series champion in 2006.
On Twitter, former Cardinals pitcher Steve Kline gave his former teammate the ultimate compliment, referring to him as one of the best teammates he ever had and praising him for his toughness and the ability to play the game the right way.
Scott Rolen is absolutely 💯one of the best teammates I’ve ever had the pleasure of playing with. If you want to talk about toughness & how to play through the grind he was that guy. Ultimate team player and put team over stats! He did all the little things & kept everyone accountable
— Steve Kline (@stevekline44) January 25, 2023
Kline pitched for the Cardinals from 2001-04.
Rolen joined the team in 2002 after being traded over by the Phillies.
The veteran left-hander can certainly attest to what Rolen meant to the Cardinals.
The two-way third baseman was a leader in the clubhouse and a mentor for younger players.
He was also team-oriented, as Kline alluded to, and was all about helping his team win games.
During his time in St. Louis, Rolen was part of the “MV3” that also featured Jim Edmonds and Albert Pujols.
Kline certainly had the pleasure to experience several of Rolen’s greatest moments, including his go-ahead home run off of Roger Clemens in Game 7 of the 2004 NLCS.
But beyond his ability to lead a clubhouse, Rolen was a fan favorite in St. Louis and one of the best players to ever wear the Cardinals uniform.