MLB history: The 10 greatest games of Hall of Famer Scott Rolen
by Bill Felber
Scott Rolen played for four teams over the course of his 17-season career. Recognized as possibly the best third baseman of his era, he will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this month.
Rolen played more than 2,000 regular season games, most of them for either the Philadelphia Phillies or St. Louis Cardinals. He also played for the Reds and Blue Jays. The 1997 Rookie of the Year for Philadelphia, he was a seven-time All-Star and eight-time Gold Glover who hit 316 home runs and finished with a .281 career batting average.
He made five postseason appearances, helping the St. Louis Cardinals to the 2004 and 2006 pennants. In the 2006 World Series, Rolen batted .421 as St. Louis defeated the Detroit Tigers in five games.
This is a look back at the 10 most exceptional games of this newly minted Hall of Fame standout.
Our standard of measurement for regular season games is Win Probability Added. That calculates the individual’s role in influencing the game’s outcome.
MLB history: Here are the 10 greatest games in the career of Scott Rolen.
10. May 13, 1997. Phillies 3, Cardinals 2. Rolen was less than 100 games into his career when he first put his personal stamp on a game. At Veterans Stadium, the visiting Cardinals led 2-0 entering the eighth inning despite Rolen’s single and walk in three plate appearances.
With Lance Painter taking over for Andy Benes starting the bottom of the eighth, Gregg Jefferies drew a base on balls and reached second on a passed ball. Mickey Morandini also walked, putting the tying runs on base for Rolen.
At this point, Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa had seen enough of the left-handed Painter; he called on T.J. Mathews to face Rolen. The rookie worked the count full, then slapped a hard grounder up the right field line that rattled around in the corner until Jefferies and Morandini scored the tying runs, Rolen advancing to third with a triple. He scored seconds later on Ruben Amaro Jr.’s infield tap, and the Phillies held on to win. Win Probability Added: +0.512.
