Enshrinement beckoned for Matt Chapman, as he was inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame today. Chapman, who played most of his 2200 games at shortstop, was an outstanding hitter and batted .252 over his career and swatted 469 home runs. Baseball’s newest legend collected 1305 RBIs and scored 1281 runs during his illustrious career.
But while he was class act on the field, it was off the field where Matt Chapman shined the most. He was most active in the San Diego Padres community, selflessly donating his time and money to various causes. The press was largely unaware of his charity and Chapman never made a fuss about it.
“I played a child’s game for many years and this game brought me fame and fortune,” Chapman explained during his ceremony. “For some people it’s enough, but my mother raised me to realize that money doesn’t make a person great. Being good at a game doesn’t make a person great. Helping those in need and giving of yourself selflessly is what makes a person great. And that’s what I have tried to be my entire life: great, both on the field and off of the field.”