Last Sunday, Fred McGriff and Scott Rolen took their rightful places in Cooperstown. Both men had very different, and yet very similar careers. Both played in Toronto and both were overlooked early in the Hall of Fame voting process. Neither ever won an MVP award, and both won a single championship. And as of this week, both can call themselves Hall of Famers. Each man carved his own path to Cooperstown, but listening to their speeches, one quickly understands that the pillars of their success were very similar. Let’s have a look at some of those commonalities.
Family
Both induction speeches placed a strong emphasis on family. McGriff and Rolen each highlighted their supportive parents who made it a point of emphasis to attend their practises, their games, and provide the typical parental logistics such as food and rides to the ballpark. The two speeches also highlighted the values that shaped the way they went about their careers. Most notable was the “well do that then” line in Rolen’s speech. Finally, who can forget the Burger King line in McGriff’s speech?
Hard Work And Perseverance
McGriff’s speech had two important gems on this point. First, he spoke about getting cut from the baseball team in the tenth grade. Imagine a Hall of Famer getting cut. Well, it happened. Rather than quit, it made him work harder, make changes and eventually get himself drafted. Once there, he faced another important bump on the road, a dismal first season in rookie ball. How did he react? The same way he did the first time, by staying true to his goal. The result was where he is now. Rolen’s “well do that then” line is much of the same idea. If you have a deficiency that stops you from reaching a goal, you must identify and fix it. That’s how talent becomes success.
It Takes A Village
Neither man really made it about himself, except when telling stories about his youth where you inevitably must. Both made a point of emphasizing the roles that others played in getting them to the hall. From coaches, to fans, to staff at the ballpark (concession stand workers, ushers etc.), everyone played a part in getting them to the hall. It’s never a one man show, a solitary journey. There’s always a helping hand, or a hundred. There’s always a legion of friends, many who remain nameless that cheer you on without ever having gotten to know you. Both McGriff and Rolen had these people in their camp and both were better for it.
Toronto
For the first time in history, all inductees were former Blue Jays. Happily, both enjoyed very positive stints here and both acknowledged the role Toronto played in shaping their careers. Sunday was a very positive day for our city.
Conclusion
Hall of Fame induction day is always one of celebration. It is a celebration of human possibility, of tenacity and of history. For the men inducted, it is a measure of immortality and a culmination of decades of hard work and dedication. For the game, it was a correction of two historical wrongs, where two of the game’s most quietly consequential players finally received their due. Sunday was a tribute to consistency and quiet determination to succeed.
We can now look forward to 2024, where an impressive collection of new players will hope to get to the magic 75% number. Current candidates will hope for a surge in support as their candidacies further reap the benefits of hindsight. July 2024 cannot come soon enough.
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