Alan Trammell

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Trammell made his major league debut alongside Lou Whitaker at Fenway Park on September 9, 1977, beginning a 19-season partnership that set a major league record. The duo appeared together on the television show Magnum, P.I. during the 1983 season, as Tom Selleck's character was a Tigers fan. In 1984, despite battling tendinitis in his shoulder that caused him to miss 23 regular-season games, Trammell finished fifth in the AL batting race with a .314 average. His performance peaked in the World Series against San Diego, where he went 9-for-20 (.450) and hit two home runs accounting for all of Detroit's scoring in Game 4. In 1987, Trammell responded to being asked to replace Lance Parrish as the cleanup hitter by posting his best season: a .343 batting average, a career-high 28 home runs, and 105 RBI. He became the first shortstop in history to hit at least .340 with 20+ home runs and 100+ RBI in a single season. That year, he nearly won MVP, finishing second to George Bell by just 21 votes, prompting Whitaker to gift him second base inscribed "To Alan Trammell, 1987 Most Valuable Player."

In Their Own Story

On September 9, 1977, the first of nineteen seasons together began for Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker as they debuted at Fenway Park during a double-header. Years later, on the penultimate day of the 1987 regular season, Trammell hit a walk-off single against the Toronto Blue Jays to help his team take the AL East lead, which they clinched the next day. This moment capped a season where he batted .416 in September with six homers and 17 RBI during an 18-game hitting streak. His defensive prowess was defined by a quick release and accurate throws that complemented Whitaker perfectly. Although his arm was not overpowering, these traits earned him four Gold Glove awards. Injuries eventually slowed his production after 1990; he played only 29 games in 1992 before breaking his right ankle. He retired following the 1996 season with a career average of .285, 185 home runs, and 1,003 RBI. On August 26, 2018, his jersey #3 was retired by the Tigers, joining other legends on the brick wall at Comerica Park.

Reader's Guide

Fans should note that Trammell's 20-year career included seven seasons batting over .300 and a debut year in 1977 where he became a regular the following season. His 1983 Comeback Player of the Year award followed two years of hitting .258, leading to a resurgence with 30 stolen bases and 66 RBI. Defensively, he compiled a .977 fielding percentage at shortstop over his career. Offensively, he totaled 412 doubles, 55 triples, 236 stolen bases, and 850 walks in 2,293 games. In his managerial tenure from 2003 to 2005, the Tigers compiled a record of 186–300, including an American League record 119 losses in 2003. He was released on October 3, 2005, after three seasons without a winning record. Trammell's path to the Hall of Fame took time; he received his first BBWAA vote in 2002 with only 15.7%, peaking at 36.8% in 2012 before failing on his final ballot in 2016. He was finally elected by the Modern Baseball Committee on December 10, 2017, alongside Jack Morris, and inducted in July 2018.

Did You Know?

• The longest continuous double-play combination in major league history consists of Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker, who played 19 seasons together.
• In the 1984 World Series against the San Diego Padres, Trammell hit .450 (9-for-20) with two home runs that accounted for all of Detroit's scoring in a Game 4 victory.
• Trammell was the first shortstop in big league history to hit at least .340 with 20+ home runs and 100+ RBI in a single season, achieving this feat in 1987.
• Lou Whitaker gave Trammell his own second base after the 1987 season finale, inscribing it: "To Alan Trammell, 1987 Most Valuable Player, from your friend Lou Whitaker."
• Trammell was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Modern Baseball Committee on December 10, 2017, alongside his teammate Jack Morris, after failing to gain induction through the BBWAA ballot.