When I lived in St. Louis, I was a huge Cardinals fan and my favorite player was Scott Rolen. This week, the unassuming third baseman was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. In a moment of shared pride, I dug out my Rolen jersey, bobblehead, and baseball card, and I reminisced over the autographed photo that captured me illicitly wearing his actual helmet for a nanosecond.
Rolen impressed me (and others) because of his excellence in the fundamentals. He won 8 Golden Glove Awards in addition to being a solid hitter. He was low-key and in the background behind the huge shadow that Albert Pujols cast, but Rolen’s contributions to the team were integral in winning the World Series and contributing to many other successes.
A St. Louis Post Dispatch article best described why I admired him: “Not content to cruise on his abundant talent, Rolen displays the scrappiness of a utility man. When is the last time you saw Rolen give less than 100 percent? When is the last time you failed to see him hustle? When’s the last time you saw him strut? Answer: Never.”
For years, I had a picture of Rolen and the above quote hanging by my desk at work. I wanted to play my game like Rolen played his. You, too, can become a Hall of Famer in your field by emulating his humble nature and continual dedication to the basics.
Welcome to the Hall of Fame #27!
