Scott Rolen and Fred McGriff have decided how to cap off their careers as they enter the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., this summer.
The Hall of Fame announced Friday that Rolen will appear on his plaque wearing a St. Louis Cardinals cap. McGriff has decided to go without a logo to honor each of the cities where he played.
“After reflecting on my 17-year career, and conferring with the Hall of Fame, I have decided on a Cardinals logo for my Hall of Fame plaque,” said Rolen, who was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. “I believe this decision accurately represents a pivotal portion of my career based on our teams’ successes in St. Louis. I am grateful to Philadelphia, St. Louis, Toronto and Cincinnati for the opportunities given to me as a player, but more importantly, for how they embraced me and my family.”
McGriff, elected by the Contemporary Baseball Players Era Committee, played for six teams.
“Fifteen of my 19 major league seasons were split, playing half a decade with the Blue Jays, Braves and Devil Rays,” McGriff said. “At each stop, I was lucky to be a part of memorable teams and to play in front of some of the best fans in baseball. In discussing my career with the Hall of Fame, we decided that with no logo on my plaque, I can equally represent these cities and the incredible fans in Toronto, where I got my start, Atlanta, where we won the World Series, and my hometown of Tampa Bay, as well as my time in San Diego.”
He also played with the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers as his career wound down.
Rolen and McGriff will be indicted in ceremonies in Cooperstown on July 23.
The late Roy Halladay was enshrined in the Hall of Fame without a logo on his cap in 2019. After his election that year, his widow, Brandy, announced that out of respect to his teams — the Toronto Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies — that she wouldn’t choose either.
–Field Level Media