Truth be told, I wouldn’t have checked the box next to Scott Rolen’s name on the HOF ballet. But seeing his emotional reaction to telling his parents he made it in softened my stance. While I still would probably be a small Hall voter in a strictly balloting sense if given a vote, I no longer complain too much about the results. Who am I to begrudge these moments of joy in a world where such things are hard to come by?
Funny enough, I wouldn’t have voted for any of the three 2026 National Baseball Hall of Fame inductees. But they’re in now, so let’s take a brief look at their key stats/accomplishments, career versus our Twins, and why I’d not have punched their ticket.
Again, congratulations to all these new members of the MLB HOF club! I visited Cooperstown back in 2001 (I saw Kirby’s plaque!) and would love to get back to upstate New York someday—perhaps tag-teaming it to see the Rod Serling Memorial statue in Binghamton.