Roots of Greatness: Scott Rolen
Learn about the foundational pillars that contributed to Scott's Hall of Fame career
In 2023, Scott Rolen was inducted into the Hall of Fame. His distinguished career in baseball is a testament to his determination and passion for the game. But what were his foundational keys to success? In this episode, we look at Scott Rolen’s roots of greatness.
Examining Scott's Roots of Greatness
As we did in Mike Trout's "Roots of Greatness" episode, I don't take the standard biography approach. Instead, I'll present four foundational pillars that I believe were the keys to Scott's from good to great, great to legend.
1) Scott Came From a Family of Athletes
Like many professional players, Scott grew up with a family of athletes who shared a love for sports. The Rolen's basement is filled with photos and medals Scott grew up seeing daily. His parents, Linda and Ed, both excelled in high school sports. His mother played volleyball and his father played football and basketball.
All of Ed and Linda's children grew up playing team sports, although Scott's brother and sister did not pursue professional sports careers and instead became schoolteachers, like their mom (who still teaches 1st grade in their hometown of Jasper, Indiana.)
They both committed to Scott's success, driving him to all his games and cheering in the stands as a child. Scott often credits his parents' support with helping him become the professional player he is today.
Young Scott grew up in a home that celebrated and prioritized athletic participation. Without that influence, Scott may not have become so involved in team sports and found baseball.
Watch Scott reveal his HOF induction to his parents:
2) Scott Came From a Sports Town
Jasper, Indiana, is Scott's hometown. It's a sports town filled with families that fill stadiums every weekend to watch their student-athletes play.
To illustrate, the town that Scott grew up in had fewer than 1,600 people, yet held sold-out games every weekend, where everyone in town showed up. The baseball team, in particular, has won two state titles in its history.
Scott's childhood coach, Terry Gobert, knew Scott was special right away and knew he was in the right town to grow his skillset. "I remember seeing him in his first big-league game. You could tell from the first pitch he fit it. He looked like a major-league ball player. It looked like that was why he was put on Earth."
Scott attended Jasper High School, where he excelled both on the field and off. He was an All-State basketball player and All-American baseball player and graduated with honors in 1994. Scott was the first player from his high school to be drafted into professional baseball.
In an interview with the Seattle Times, Scott's dad, Ed, said, "I believe he may have been the first kid in Jasper to dunk."
3) Scott Bet Against Himself to Achieve Greatness
Scott had an important decision as his high school career ended: Should he take a double scholarship offer from the University of Georgia to play basketball? Or should he go play for the Philadephia Phillies, who drafted him in the second round of the 1994 draft?
At first, Scott tried to have his cake and eat it too - trying to negotiate a deal that let him play for the Phillies farm system in the summer and on the Georgia basketball team in the winter. That didn't work, though. So the decision came down to Scott's gut feeling.
He chose the Phillies and, as Scott himself admits, he bet against himself to achieve greatness. Scott was a good basketball player with the opportunity to be great. But Scott felt his passion for baseball made it the better choice.
4) Scott Stayed Grounded By Making Altruism a Habit
Scott's humble roots instilled an attitude of giving back, which made him a better player. Why? He's made charity work a major part of his life since he entered the League.
Just three years after making it to the Phillies roster, Rolen created The Enis Furley Foundation. Enis Furley was the name of one of his childhood dogs. The foundation aims to help children and families with illness, hardship, or other special needs. In Scott's own words, this charity aims to help people "to have fun, have a blast. Let's play."
Scott has helped arrange community events, outdoor retreats, and much more. His foundation built a 40-acre recreation site with horses, golf courses, canoes, and baseball fields where families can stay with all expenses paid by the charity. The foundation was renamed the E5 Foundation recently, but the goals remain the same.
Rolen has also donated major gifts to Indiana University's baseball program to help mentor and nurture young players.
He recently started the Jaxson Scott Rolen Academic Fund, which contributes $1000 per semester to two student-athletes from Scott's old high school in Jasper.
Throughout his career, Rolen took advantage of his platform to make a difference in the lives of others. During his time with the Phillies, Rolen visited sick children in the hospital. He observed how the appearance of the major leaguers provided the children and their families with momentary relief. He continues to volunteer time for various children’s charities even in retirement.
Scott's commitment to others kept him focused and grounded throughout his career.
While other foundational pieces could be discussed, I believe a combination of family athletic heritage, a sports-focused hometown, a willingness to bet on his own skills, and a giving attitude helped Scott Rolen become a Hall of Famer.
Scott's Election to the Baseball Hall of Fame
Scott Rolen is just the 18th 3rd baseman to make it to Cooperstown. His track record speaks to the reason why the writers voted him in. To recap, Scott's career highlights include:
A .281 career batting average
316 career home runs, 2,077 hits, and 1,287 RBIs
NL Rookie of the Year (1997)
8 NL Gold Glove Awards at 3B (1998, 2000–04, 2006, 2010)
7 NL All-Star selections (2002–2006, 2010, 2011)
A National League Silver Slugger award (2002)
He is among the top 15 in career WAR for third basemen all-time
Rolen was elected after six years of being on the ballot. In his first year, he only received 10.2% of the vote. That was the lowest ever for a candidate eventually voted in by the Baseball Writers Association of America.
Congratulations to Scott Rolen
Scott had a fantastic career and earned his spot in the Hall of Fame. His drive, determination, attitude, and humility pushed him beyond what he thought was possible.
It's fascinating how Scott's story - from humble beginnings to baseball stardom - continues to inspire. He has used his platform to pay it forward and continues that work to this day.
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