Alan Trammell Stats & Facts
VINTAGE BASEBALL MEMORABILIA
Alan Trammell Essentials
Positions: Shortstop
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Height: 6′ Weight: 165
Born: February 21, 1958 in Garden Grove, CA USA
Debut: September 9, 1977
Last Game: September 29, 1996
Hall of Fame: Inducted as a Player in 2018 by Veterans
Full Name: Alan Stuart Trammell
Nine Players Who Debuted in 1977
Eddie Murray
Lou Whitaker
Alan Trammell
Jack Morris
Lance Parrish
Dale Berra
Bump Wills
Rick Honeycutt
Willie Hernandez
The Alan Trammell Teammate Team
C: Lance Parrish
1B: Cecil Fielder
2B: Lou Whitaker
3B: Darrell Evans
SS: Travis Fryman
LF: Fred Lynn
CF: Chet Lemon
RF: Kirk Gibson
DH: Rusty Staub
SP: Jack Morris
SP: Dan Petry
SP: Mark Fidrych
SP: Frank Tanana
SP: Walt Terrell
RP: John Hiller
M: Sparky Anderson
Notable Events and Chronology for Alan Trammell Career
Alan Trammell was the starting shortstop for the Detroit Tigers for nearly two decades. He teamed with Lou Whitaker from 1977 through 1995, and the pair played more games together than any other teammates in baseball history. In 1984, Trammell won the World Series MVP award when he batted .450 with two homers in the Tigers five-game victory. A clutch contributor, Trammell batted .416 with six homers and 17 RBI in September 1987, helping Detroit win the AL East title by a single game on the last day of the season. Yet despite his herculean efforts, Trammell finished second to Toronto’s George Bell in the Most Valuable Player voting that year. It was one of the worst decisions in award voting history. After his playing career, the popular Trammell returned to manage the Tigers in 2003 and be removed after the 2005 season.
Trammell will be elected into Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 2018.
Biography
Alan Stuart Trammell was born on February 21, 1958, in Garden Grove, California. He grew up a fan of the San Diego Padres. He was drafted by the Tigers in the second round of the June 1976 amateur draft. In 1976 he was named MVP of the Sally League.
In 1977 at Montgomery, Trammell and second baseman Lou Whitaker were teamed together for the first time. Both infielders had a cup of coffee with Detroit in 1977. The two infielders made their debut in Fenway Park against Boston’s Reggie Cleveland on September 9, 1977. Each man collected his first big-league hit. In 1978 manager Ralph Houk made the two youngsters his middle infield duo, and they responded by leading the AL in double plays. Whitaker won the Rookie of the Year award, and most experts agreed that he was farther along than Trammell.
The next few years saw Trammell studying and growing. He added muscle and weight to his scrawny frame – hitting .300 in 1980 as he made the All-Star team. While Whitaker honed his swing to take advantage of the short right field Tiger Stadium porch, Trammell concentrated on spraying the ball to all fields.
In 1983 the double play duo each batted .300 – Whitaker .320 and Trammell .319 as the Tigers improved to second place. By now Trammell had become one of baseball’s best shortstops, challenging Robin Yount.
In 1984, Trammell’s hot start (.403 in April) helped the Tigers to a record-setting 35-5 start. Trammell enjoyed 20 and 18-game hitting streaks as the Tigers walked away with the AL East crown.
Despite suffering a shoulder injury, Tram finished the 1984 season with a .314 batting average and his fourth Gold Glove award in five years. He hit .364 in the AL Championship Series against the Kansas City Royals and .450 with two homers and six RBI in the World Series victory over the San Diego Padres. His efforts earned him the World Series MVP award.
In 1986 Trammell joined Whitaker, Darrell Evans, and Darnell Coles to form an all-20 home run hitting infield. Unfortunately the team was unable to break into the post-season.
Trammell carried the 1987 Detroit Tigers team, which dramatically won the AL Eastern Division title by sweeping its last seven games. That year, Trammell recorded 205 hits and batted .343 with 28 homers, 105 RBI (a record for Tiger shortstops), and 21 stolen bases, and finished second to George Bell in MVP voting. It was one of the most debated MVP votes in history – Bell slumped down the stretch, costing his Blue Jays the division title, while Trammell practically willed the Bengals into first place. In the playoffs Trammell and the Tigers were upset by the Twins in five games.
Trammell followed his amazing ‘197 performance with another good year in 1988, batting .311 and earning his third Tiger of the Year honor. After an injury-marred 1989 campaign, Trammell returned to form in 1990, finishing fourth in the AL batting race (.304). In 1991 he collected his 2,000th major league hit and in 1993 he batted .329 with 60 RBI while starting at four different defensive positions. In 1995 Trammell and Whitaker played in their 1,918th game together – an AL record. Trammell retired after the 1996 season.
Trammell hit at least .300 in seven seasons, something only six shortstops had accomplished before him (and all of them are in the Hall of Fame). He was an All-Star shortstop six times, and the AL Comeback Player of the Year in 1983.
Trammell ranks among the top ten in Detroit Tigers history in games played (2,293), hits (2,365), runs (1,231), doubles (412), and stolen bases (236). In 20 major league seasons with the Tigers, Trammell batted .285 with 185 homers and 1,003 RBI.
He served as first base, outfield, and base-running coach for the Detroit Tigers from 1997 through 1999 before Tiger management bumbled their relationship with him. The front office failed to inform him that he would not be asked back for the 2000 season under new manager Phil Garner. Instead, Trammell was notified by reporters. Trammell was hurt by the slight and went to his hometown Padres to coach in 2000.
In 2002, Trammell made his first appearance on the Hall of Fame ballot, joining other first-time notables Ozzie Smith and Andre Dawson. Smith gained election while Trammell earned little support. The divide between the two seemed to be based largely on back flips and flashy defense. The following year, Trammell was hired to manage the Tigers, a team in serious need of a turn-around. In his first year at the helm, Trammell suffered through 119 losses, fielding a team of minor leaguers and has-beens.
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Played For
Detroit Tigers (1977-1996)
Managed
Detroit Tigers (2003-2004)
Similar: Joe Cronin, Lou Whitaker
Linked: Lou Whitaker, George Bell, Lance Parrish
Best Season, 1987
Trammell was robbed of the MVP when voters chose George Bell of the Blue Jays. Bell collapsed in September and played a mediocre defensive outfield, while Trammell had one of the finest seasons ever by a shortstop. On the last day of the season, right after Frank Tanana had retired the final Toronto batter to seal the division title, Trammell’s partner Lou Whitaker pulled second base out of the Tiger Stadium infield dirt, signed it “To Alan Trammell, 1987 AL MVP, – Lou Whitaker” and gave it to his teammate. Trammell had hit .343 with 205 hits, 28 homers, 105 RBI, 109 runs, 34 doubles, 21 steals (in 23 attempts) and a .551 slugging average from the cleanup position.
Awards and Honors
1980 AL Gold Glove
1981 AL Gold Glove
1983 AL Gold Glove
1984 AL Gold Glove
1984 ML WS MVP
All-Star Selections
Post-Season Appearances
1984 American League Championship Series
1984 World Series
1987 American League Championship Series
Description
When Trammell first came to the big leagues he was a scawny, skinny middle infielder, with little power. He had to learn to pull the ball. Later, about 1982, he started to add more muscle and he eventually closed his stance and started spraying the ball with more authority.
Factoid
In 1984, Trammell blasted a grand slam off Royals’ relief ace Dan Quisenberry, the first grand slam hit off the submarine pitcher.
Scouting Report
“Has learned to hit to all fields and with more power than seems possible for a lean infielder kills inside and low fastballs an outstanding bunter power pitchers who can hit spots give him trouble He might be the best in the league as far as perfect fundamental fielding. He has excellent range either way, a strong arm, quick release and can turn the double play.” from the 1984 Scouting Report
Where He Played: Shortstop (2,139), third base (43), second base (11), outfield (8), DH (59)
Minor League Experience
With Montgomery in 1976, Trammell was named MVP of the Sally League.
Big League Debut: September 9, 1977
Trammell and Whitaker each collected their first big league hits in their debut, on September 9, 1977. Trammell collected his hit, a single, off Reggie Cleveland.
Post-Season Notes
Trammell was named Most Valuable Player of the 1984 World Series, when he collected nine hits in the Tigers five-game defeat of his hometown Padres.
Feats: In 1986, Trammell became the second Tiger to collected 20 homers and 20 stolen bases in the same season. The first player to do it was Kirk Gibson. Trammell did it again in 1987.
Hitting Streaks
21 games (1987)
21 games (1987)
20 games (1984)
20 games (1984)
Detroit’s Double Play Twins
Trammell and Lou Whitaker gradually evolved into separate individuals, but for many years the two had eerily similar career totals. Through 1986 Trammell had 1,289 games, Whitaker had played in 1,283. The two were within 75 at-bats, 20 hits, 22 runs, three homers, 18 RBI, and 31 total bases of each other. Their career batting average was .281 and their slugging percentages were .403 (Trammell), and .404 (Whitaker). Trammell’s MVP-type ’87 season helped start the divide between the two. As they grew older Lou hit more homers, scored more runs, and stole fewer bases. Trammell hit for higher average, collected more doubles, and played fewer games, due to injury.
Quotes About Trammell
“It will take Alan a couple of years to get everything together, and when he does he’ll control the game. The great shortstops all control the game.” — Sparky Anderson, in 1980
“He was in the right position to field groundballs, and as a pitcher, you appreciated that. He didn’t dive for the ball like Ozzie Smith did and make it look acrobatic. Tram fielded the ball in front of him.” Milt Wilcox
Quotes From Trammell
“…It’s the next best thing to playing. Coaching is not the same. When you’re in charge, and you are in charge of 25 guys, it’s a different feeling.” — Alan Trammell, on being a manager, 2005
“As an infielder, you’d rather go 0-for-4 than make an error, especially the middle guys.” — Alan Trammell
Hall of Fame Artifacts
Bat he used during the 1984 World Series, when he was named Most Valuable Player; Detroit Tigers’ jersey; second base from the final game played with teammate Lou Whitaker, in 1995.
Trivia: After which of his Detroit teammates did Trammell name his first son?
Answer: Lance Parrish
All-Star Selections
1980 AL
1984 AL
1985 AL
1987 AL
1988 AL
1990 AL
Replaced
He beat out Mark Wagner early in 1978 for the starting shortstop job. In 1977, the Tigers had used Tom Veryzer at that position.
Replaced By
Late in his career, as he was beset with injuries, Trammell gave way to Travis Fryman, and then Chris Gomez.
Best Strength as a Player
Hitting ability and defensive positioning.
Largest Weakness as a Player
After his third or fourth year, his arm strength.
Other Resources & Links
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject