Scott Rolen (48), who was confirmed to be inducted into the Major League Hall of Fame this year, decided to engrave the hat of St. Louis, which he transferred to in the middle of his career, on the plaque, not Philadelphia, his debut team. The Hall of Fame announced this on the 18th (Korean time).
Rolen’s choice was already predicted. He made a spectacular debut in 1997 by winning rookie of the year in Philadelphia, but the breakup was the worst. Rolen criticized the team almost every year for not being interested in upgrading. In 2001, Philadelphia offered a contract extension worth 140 million dollars for 10 years, but he rejected it in disgust. From Rolen’s debut season to 2001, Philadelphia struggled with a win rate of less than 50% for 5 years and 4 years. It was the so-called ‘dark ages’. During those dark times, Rolen accused Tim of being unwilling, and Tim accused Rolen of not being committed to the team.
Rolen had a feud with Larry Bo and then-manager, and had a rough relationship with his teammates. An anonymous veteran player referred to Rolen as ‘a cancer in the clubhouse’. Philadelphia fans, who cheered at the appearance of a big rookie, also got tired of Rolen’s continued complaints.
Rolen was traded to St. Louis in July 2002. He left the team without looking back, calling St. Louis “baseball paradise.” Emotions among the purportedly enthusiastic Philadelphia fans escalated from disappointment to hatred. Fans booed him every time he visited the Philadelphia stadium. In the past, Bleacher Report ranked him as the 8th most hated major league player of all time by Philadelphia fans.
Rolen had his best season in St. Louis during the 5½ years leading up to the 2007 season. He was selected as an All-Star four times and won three Golden Glove Awards. In 2004, he hit career highs with 34 home runs and a 1.007 OPS, leading the historic hard-hitting line dubbed the ‘Mother’s Row’ along with Albert Pujols and Jim Edmonds. In 2006, he also experienced his only World Series victory.
More than 20 years have passed since Rolen left Philadelphia in 2002, and more than 10 years have passed since he retired from active duty in 2012, but the rift between Rolen and Philadelphia fans has not yet been fully resolved. Earlier this year, a Philadelphia fan named Kevin Lagoski wrote on the club’s fan site, “I stayed up all night thinking that Rolen could go to the Hall of Fame. Once he was our generation’s Mike Schmidt (the legendary third baseman for Philadelphia), but he only complained about the team. He fought with the manager, and he hated even the hard grass of his home stadium, Veterans Stadium (closed in 2003),” he wrote. He complained, “Rolen called St. Louis ‘baseball paradise’, but he never apologized or explained to Philadelphia fans.” “Then why should I wish him success?” 메이저사이트
Rolen was inducted into the Major League Hall of Fame, but he was not on the ‘Wall of Fame’, a team honoring great players from Philadelphia. Considering his feelings with the fans, the threshold of the Philadelphia Wall of Fame may be higher than that of the Hall of Fame, which he entered after 6 moves.