{"id":6944,"date":"2023-07-24T07:22:10","date_gmt":"2023-07-24T14:22:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/?p=6944"},"modified":"2023-07-25T18:42:43","modified_gmt":"2023-07-26T01:42:43","slug":"fred-mcgriff-scott-rolen-hall-of-fame-inducation-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/2023\/07\/24\/fred-mcgriff-scott-rolen-hall-of-fame-inducation-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"Fred McGriff, Scott Rolen: Two Ordinary, Hardworking Guys Who Achieved Immortality"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fred McGriff, Scott Rolen \u2014 Ordinary, Hardworking Guys \u2014 Inducted into Hall of Fame<\/h2>\n

COOPERSTOWN, NY (Jul 23) \u2014 The Hall of Fame Class of 2023, Fred McGriff<\/strong><\/a> and Scott Rolen<\/strong><\/a>, gave their speeches Sunday in the induction ceremony. Both were humble and from the heart, making the room get dusty at the end.<\/p>\n

McGriff, with his trademark ear-to-ear grin, shook hands with what seemed like half the legends assembled on stage as he entered. He opened his 18-minute speech with a host of thank yous before saying, \u201cIt\u2019s hard to put today\u2019s induction into perspective.\u201d He called it baseball\u2019s greatest honor and \u201cicing on the cake,\u201d because, \u201cYou see, my goal was simply to make it to the big leagues. And I exceeded every expectation I could ever imagine and then some. It was a great feeling, getting recognized for your hard work. And now to have a plaque forever hanging in the National Baseball Hall of Fame \u2014 it’s unbelievable.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rolen opened his 16-minute speech with thank-yous as well, his voice quivering when he thanked his wife. He thanked his parents, both in attendance, and told about how special it was to see them take their seats before he played his first-ever major league game on August 1, 1996. Rolen harkened back to his upbringing in Jasper, Indiana, a \u201cvalue-driven, hardworking, supportive community.\u201d He dreamed of being a Major League Baseball player, but Rolen said he was not raised to be one. Instead, he was raised to be \u201chonest, to work hard, to be accountable for my words and actions, and to treat people with kindness and respect.\u201d He was not taught in \u201ctoday\u2019s terminology of exit velocity, launch angle, or spin rate,\u201d but \u201cplease, thank you, excuse me, and I\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lessons Learned<\/h3>\n
\"Fred<\/a>
COOPERSTOWN, NY (Jul 24) \u2014 2023 National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Scott Rolen (right) answers a question during the post-induction press conference as fellow inductee Fred McGriff (left) listens. (Photo by Evan Thompson\/Sport Relay)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

McGriff described his ballplaying days as a kid in west Tampa, Florida. He \u201ccouldn\u2019t help but love baseball\u201d since he was \u201calways around it.\u201d Living about a mile from his little league park, he and his friends \u201cspent a lot of time playing ball there\u201d at the Boys and Girls Club. \u201cWe just picked teams and played,\u201d he said, \u201c(and) we all got along. It didn\u2019t matter where you were from.\u201d They knew it was time to go home when the lights came on.<\/p>\n

His sophomore year, he entered Tampa\u2019s Jefferson High School. They did not have JV baseball, only varsity. McGriff had only been a pitcher or first baseman. The team had a senior first baseman who was good. Consequently, McGriff figured he could only make the team if he tried out as an outfielder. He was disappointed to see his name missing from the list the coach posted outside the locker room of those who made the team. When he next saw his coach, who was his driver\u2019s ed teacher, the coach \u2014 \u201cPops\u201d \u2014 told him to \u201ckeep working hard and get stronger.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI could have quit playing baseball,\u201d McGriff said. \u201cInstead, it motivated me.\u201d He started riding his bike three miles each way to the gym, growing stronger while continuing to play well. \u201cThe next year,\u201d McGriff grinned, \u201cI tried out again, and I made the team. But to this day, I know they still tease Pops about cutting me in the tenth grade.\u201d<\/p>\n

A \u201cSimple Childhood\u201d<\/h3>\n

Rolen was a multisport athlete who wrestled, ran track, played basketball, baseball, football, and tennis \u201cin an organized fashion,\u201d as he put it Saturday in a press conference. Unlike McGriff, who played baseball for hours with other neighborhood kids, Rolen spent hours in the backyard throwing a ball up and hitting it as far as he could; winters and evenings throwing a tennis ball against the stairs. He described his upbringing as a \u201csimple childhood with simple expectations and lessons. Family first, we are loved, and always take the high road.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd then I got drafted,\u201d he said, \u201cand so began 20 years of hypertension and acid reflux.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo That Then\u201d<\/h4>\n

Often people have asked him how he got where he is and what the secret is. His answer came from a lesson his dad taught him that was related to basketball and not baseball.<\/p>\n

Rolen was selected to the Indiana (High School) All-Star basketball team, which plays a two-game series against the Kentucky All-Stars every year at the end of summer. He had already been drafted by the Phillies and had spent the summer playing baseball.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I had not picked up a basketball for two months. We had a three-day minicamp with two practices per day in Lafayette. After Day One, I told Dad that I had a minor problem. He was camping up there, of course, and I said Dad, I have a minor problem that I need advice with. And his answer?<\/em>
\n
Okay.<\/em>
\n
Well, Dad, I can’t handle the ball. I can’t shoot. I’m completely out of basketball shape. And everybody in the entire gym, including the coach, is better than me. And his answer?<\/em>
\n
Okay.<\/em>
\n
What do you mean?<\/em>
\n
Okay. Well, what are you going to do, Scotty?<\/em>
\n
Well, that’s what I’m asking you, Dad.<\/em>
\n
Well, how do I know? You say you can’t dribble, you can’t shoot. You’re out of shape. And you’re completely overmatched. You told me what you can’t do? What <\/em>can you do?<\/em>
\n
I guess I can rebound.<\/em>
\n
Okay.<\/em>
\n
I can play defense.<\/em>
\n
Okay.<\/em>
\n
I can dive for loose balls. Doesn’t appear that the guys are playing too hard up here. I could outhustle, outwork, and beat everybody up and down the floor.<\/em>
\n
Okay.<\/em>
\n
And then here came the words of wisdom.<\/em>
\n
Well\u2026do that, then.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

A Simple Mindset That Went Far<\/h4>\n

Rolen adopted \u201cdo that, then\u201d as a mindset. He would never allow himself to be unprepared or outworked. \u201c\u2018Well, do that, then\u2019 put me on this stage today,\u201d Rolen declared. He then put it into a practical life lesson for everyone assembled.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I think right now I’m speaking to my son and my daughter, and maybe your son and your daughter, about effort. If you walk through the plaque gallery at the Hall, you will be blown away by baseball greatness. Baseball greatness is sitting behind me. Every person has their story, and they told it right here. These stories are not all the same. But I’m not standing here today from my baseball greatness. Nor have I played with one day in my life to prove anybody wrong. I’m standing here today made baseball-wise from a basketball lesson Dad walked me through in 1993 to \u201cdo that, then.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

I now know this phrase is an intentional mindset that effort never takes a day off. I believe in putting in the quantity to know what quality is. I believe in the process, I believe in the approach, I believe in the work, and I’m forever grateful for this advice. Well, Dad, I did that, then.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Inspiring Conclusions<\/h3>\n

McGriff ended by encouraging those assembled. \u201cWe stand on the stage with some of the greatest players to ever play this game,\u201d he proclaimed. \u201cHonestly, I would have been happy just playing one day in the big leagues. This means a lot to me. So I encourage you, whatever your dream is, to never give up. Always remember to stay true to who you are. There will be fires along the way. But those fires can ignite the spark for the next season of your life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rolen expressed a message of gratitude and thanks. \u201cIn baseball, I am a Jasper Wildcat. I am an Indiana Bull; I am a Philadelphia Phillie; I am a St. Louis Cardinal; I am a Toronto Blue Jay; I am a Cincinnati Red. And today, because of all your support, I\u2019m a National Baseball Hall of Famer. In life, I am a friend; I am a brother; I am a son; I am a husband; and I am the greatest gift \u2014 a father.\u201d He listed off his family members present by name, ending with \u201cDad, Mom \u2014 thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n

McGriff and Rolen \u2014 Normal Guys, Deserving Hall of Famers<\/h3>\n

What we saw on the stage were two humble, gracious men who had nothing more than a dream of playing Major League Baseball. Two guys who worked and worked to achieve their dreams. McGriff met his wife while they both worked at Burger King. Rolen always found his mom in the stands before every game she attended. They\u2019re ordinary people like the rest of us. But they worked to achieve their dreams, and now \u2014 deservedly so \u2014 they\u2019re forever enshrined with the greatest to ever play the game.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Fred McGriff, Scott Rolen \u2014 Ordinary, Hardworking Guys \u2014 Inducted into Hall of Fame COOPERSTOWN, NY (Jul 23) \u2014 The Hall of Fame Class of 2023, Fred McGriff and Scott Rolen, gave their speeches Sunday in the induction ceremony. Both were humble and from the heart, making the room get dusty at the end. McGriff, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":6950,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pmpro_default_level":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[29,34,35,5,41,32,42,38,17,18],"tags":[46,57,424],"class_list":["post-6944","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-braves","category-cubs","category-reds","category-hof","category-dodgers","category-phillies","category-padres","category-cardinals","category-rays","category-blue-jays","tag-2023-mlb-hall-of-fame","tag-fred-mcgriff","tag-scott-rolen","pmpro-has-access","eq-blocks"],"yoast_head":"\nFred McGriff, Scott Rolen: Ordinary, Hardworking Guys Now in Hall<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Fred McGriff and Scott Rolen, two ordinary, hardworking guys, took their place among the immortals Sunday at the 2023 Hall of Fame induction.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/2023\/07\/24\/fred-mcgriff-scott-rolen-hall-of-fame-inducation-2023\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Fred McGriff, Scott Rolen: Ordinary, Hardworking Guys Now in Hall\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Fred McGriff and Scott Rolen, two ordinary, hardworking guys, took their place among the immortals Sunday at the 2023 Hall of Fame induction.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/2023\/07\/24\/fred-mcgriff-scott-rolen-hall-of-fame-inducation-2023\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Major League Baseball\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/100088190202878\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/thompsontalks\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-07-24T14:22:10+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-07-26T01:42:43+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/07\/20230724-\u2014-Fred-McGriff-Scott-Rolen-Induction-Composite.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1225\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"450\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Evan M. 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