(Cooperstown) Scott Rolen is an old-school baseball player, but he is grateful that advanced baseball statistics exist today. They may have contributed to his election to the Hall of Fame.

Rolen, elected in his sixth attempt, and Fred McGriff, unanimously chosen by members of the Contemporary Era Committee, will become baseball immortals on Sunday when they make their debuts in Cooperstown.

“I’ve learned a lot more about the process over the past two years. I don’t spend my time studying metrics and numbers, advanced stats and such, but they seem to have helped me so I love them! joked Rolen on Saturday.

A seven-time All-Star and eight-time Gold Glove winner, Rolen’s name appeared on 297 of the 389 Baseball Writers Association of America ballots — or 76.3%.

In his first year of eligibility, Rolen won just 10.2% of the vote. No player eventually elected to Cooperstown enjoyed less support in their first year of eligibility.

The proportion of votes he received steadily increased and it was as of last year that Rolen felt he had a very good chance of being inducted. At the same time, he began to experience some stress.

“For the first five years, there wasn’t a lot of pressure,” Rolen said.

“The first year, we wanted to get a certain number (to keep his name on the ballot). Last year, yes, I knew there was a chance. It got me when I thought it would come true. The chest tightens a little and then you hear the news. »

281 overall batting average with 316 homers and 1,287 RBI with the Philadelphia Phillies (1996-2002), St. Louis Cardinals (2002-2007), Toronto Blue Jays (2008-2009) and Cincinnati Reds (2009-2012).

He was a unanimous choice for National League Rookie of the Year in 1997 and averaged . 314 in 2006 when the Cardinals won the World Series.

McGriff, a lanky first baseman nicknamed “Crime Dog,” had a . 284 GAA with 493 home runs and 1,550 RBIs in 19 seasons with six major league baseball teams, including the Blue Jays, with whom he played his first five seasons, between 1986 and 1990.

A five-time All-Star, he helped the Atlanta Braves win the World Series in 1995.

When he retired, his 493 home runs allowed him to tie for the top 10It is ranking in Major League Baseball history among left-handed hitters.

However, McGriff wondered how different his stats would have been if he had played his entire career with the New York Yankees, the organization that drafted him.

“That little fence, close by, in the right field?” It would have been a good thing for me,” noted McGriff. And the stadium they have now? It’s a real cardboard box they have now. This place is amazing. »

However, McGriff has no regrets, especially when he thinks back to his years with Atlanta.

“My time with the Braves was fantastic. Back then, there was no Tampa Bay Rays, Florida Marlins,” McGriff recalled.

“Atlanta was the closest to my home (in Florida). The fact that my parents get to see me play more often has been a really good thing for me. »

“And of course, winning. »