Scott Rolen is a former professional baseball player who played in the Major League Baseball (MLB) for 17 seasons. He was born on April 4, 1975, in Jasper, Indiana, and attended Jasper High School, where he played baseball and basketball.
Rolen was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the second round of the 1993 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 1996 and played for the Phillies until 2002. During his time with the Phillies, Rolen established himself as one of the best third basemen in the league. He won the National League Rookie of the Year award in 1997 and was named to the All-Star team in 2000 and 2001.
In 2002, Rolen was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals, where he played for five seasons. He helped the Cardinals win the National League pennant in 2004 and was named the National League Championship Series Most Valuable Player. Rolen was also named to the All-Star team in 2003 and 2004.
After his time with the Cardinals, Rolen played for the Toronto Blue Jays, Cincinnati Reds, and finally the Los Angeles Dodgers. He retired from baseball in 2012 with a career batting average of .281, 2,077 hits, 316 home runs, and 1,287 runs batted in.
Throughout his career, Rolen was known for his exceptional defense at third base. He won eight Gold Glove awards, tied for the third-most by a third baseman in MLB history. Rolen was also a four-time Silver Slugger award winner, given to the best offensive player at each position in each league.
Rolen's career was not without controversy. He had a contentious relationship with Phillies manager Larry Bowa, which led to his trade to the Cardinals. Rolen also had a public feud with Cardinals manager Tony La Russa, which led to his eventual trade to the Blue Jays.
Despite the controversies, Rolen is widely regarded as one of the best third basemen of his generation. He was a seven-time All-Star, won a World Series championship with the Cardinals in 2006, and was inducted into the Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame in 2017.
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