The honor of a lifetime that had, like the rare groundball, escaped his reach is finally, like so many Gold Gloves, safely within his grasp.
The two-way force that helped the Cardinals to two National League pennants and a World Series championship was elected by the writers to Cooperstown’s Class of 2023. Rolen received 76.3% of the vote to be the only player to surpass the 75% required for election. Rolen and Fred McGriff, selected by the veterans’ committee, will be the two players inducted at the ceremony at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in July.
The eight-time Gold Glove winner and seven-time All-Star will be the 18th third basemen inducted into the Hall of Fame at the least represented position.