Rolen inducted into Philly Wall of Fame with open arms

PHILADELPHIA -- Phillies fans cheered Scott Rolen on Friday night.

Enough time had passed, no doubt, but everybody still wondered what might happen when they learned the Phillies would induct Rolen onto their Wall of Fame. Cheer? Boo? A mix? Rolen, everybody knows, left the organization on less than friendly terms, unhappy with the direction of the organization for years before it traded him to the Cardinals in July 2002. Every time he returned to Philadelphia, whether it was with the Cardinals, Reds or Blue Jays, fans booed him as loud as they booed anybody.

But perhaps to Rolen’s surprise, they cheered throughout Friday night’s induction ceremony at Citizens Bank Park.

“It was fantastic,” Rolen said. “I’m very appreciative.”

Maybe Rolen won’t wait another 21 years to put on a Phillies jersey again. Rolen, who was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame this summer, had been detached from the Phillies since they traded him to St. Louis. He made a couple brief appearances in Clearwater, Fla., following his playing career. It was an attempt by a few people who hoped to bring him back into the fold.

But those appearances hadn’t happened for years.

Then Phillies managing partner John Middleton called Rolen in January.

“We spoke for 45 minutes, an hour, an hour and a half,” Rolen said. “It was fantastic. We caught up. And he kind of reintroduced himself to me. The Middleton family was here obviously [when he played with the Phillies]. We had a great conversation. We were in agreement that we had been strangers for too long. And for no reason. Nobody is mad. It’s just, I’m in Indiana and Philadelphia is in [Pennsylvania]. St. Louis is closer. I’m coaching my kids and traveling around. And he made it quite clear that he was opening the door and opening his arms.

“Not that I thought I wasn’t welcome by any means, but I think he was kind of pushing the pedal and saying, ‘Let’s do something. Let’s open the doors. Let’s get back together. It’s been a long time.’ He honored me with this right here. He said they wanted to put me on the Wall of Fame.”

So maybe sometime in the future Phillies fans will see Rolen at the ballpark for Alumni Weekend. Maybe they will see him in Clearwater, Fla.

In the short term, though, Rolen is going to be a dad.

“I am full time with my family and kids,” he said. “My son is a sophomore in high school, so he’s got some work to do. I’m coaching his team. He’s playing tennis and baseball. My daughter is in college now. I’m having fun flying down and hanging out. It’s an exciting time for us. That’s my main focus. This summer has been pretty incredible. Next weekend I’m going to St. Louis for [Adam] Wainwright’s last game. I gave myself a year. For a year we’re just going to do this.”

But at least he has been invited. That’s a good first step to bring back one of the greatest players in Phillies history.