Step aside Granny Hamner (1987) and Larry Bowa (1991). There’s another shortstop joining you in the Toyota Phillies Wall of Fame, James Calvin Rollins.
J-Roll’s plaque and one for Ed Wade are the new additions to the Citizens Bank Park display inside the Left Field Gate.
Like Mike Schmidt (1971) and Scott Rolen (1993), Rollins (1996) was a second-round selection in the annual Draft. Schmidt and Rolen are both in the Wall of Fame and the Baseball Hall of Fame. J-Roll has the credentials to someday be enshrined in Cooperstown, NY.
Phillies scout Bob Poole followed Rollins and filed the following report after seeing him play two games (14 innings) in March of 1996:
“This youngster can pick and throw. He has range, quickness, supple hands, strong/accurate arm. Excellent instincts and field smarts. Switch hitter; swing is compact with short stride, makes sharp contact from both sides. Tool-wise, it’s all there, except power, but it comes in a small package. Will be an early pick by a club that will go for tools over size. He CAN play and he can play shortstop in the Major Leagues.”
Over a star-studded, 15-year Phillies career Rollins left no doubt that “He COULD play and play shortstop in the Major Lleagues.” Poole was right on. Not only could Rollins play, but he also excelled.
11 Nuggets from #11
- Most in Phillies history: 2,306 hits, 8,628 at-bats, 479 doubles.
- King of franchise switch-hitters including 1,325 runs, 216 home runs, 3,655 total bases, 806 extra-base hits, 453 stolen bases as well as hits, at-bats and doubles.
- One of four members of the 20/20/20/20 club -- meaning 20-plus doubles, triples, homers and steals in a season. He is the only player to do that while also tallying 200 hits.
- Highest fielding percentage (.983) among NL shortstops who played at least 1,000 games between 2000-14.
- Only shortstop in the 2,400-hit/200-homer/400-steal/800-extra-base-hit club.
- 2007 National League MVP. Started all 162 games and scored 139 runs, both league leaders.
- Four Rawlings Gold Gloves (2007, 2008, 2009, 2012); one Silver Slugger trophy (2002).
- Three-time All-Star (2001, 2002, 2005)
- Owner of the longest hitting streak by a shortstop (38 games) since 1894.
- Durable, played 95% of Phillies' games from 2002-09.
- A winner as Phillies reached five consecutive postseasons (2007-11), including the 2008 World Series championship. Only three losing seasons in his Phillies career from 2001-14.