during Game Five of the American League Championship Series at Comerica Park on October 17, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan.
Former Detroit Tigers pitcher Jack Morris and shortstop Alan Trammell have each been elected to the Pro Baseball Hall of Fame by the Modern Era committee, which was announced by MLB on Sunday.
According to Sports Illustrated:
The Modern Era Committee is one of four Hall of Fame Committees based on era of play (Today’s Game -1988-Present, Modern Era – 1970-1987, Golden Days – 1950-1969 and Early Baseball – 1871-1949) that has a rotation of when it can elect players, managers, umpires and executives that are no longer eligibles to be voted into the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.
Morris played 18 seasons in the big leagues, 14 of which was spent with the Tigers, one with the Minnesota Twins, two with the Toronto Blue Jays and one year with the Cleveland Indians. He won a World Series with Detroit in 1984, then in his one year with the Twins helped capture the 1991 World Series and was named MVP for his efforts. He went 2-0 with a 1.17 era in three starts that series, including a big Game 7 win. He also helped the Blue Jays win it all in 1993.
All in all, Morris went 254-186 (43rd all time in wins) with a 3.90 ERA and 2,478 strikeouts. For many, his inclusion in the Hall of Fame was a long time coming. For Jack Morris, it was simply an honor to be selected by his peers.
“After failing on the writers’ ballot, reality sinks in,” he said. “For me, it was a wonderful learning time because I had to remind myself of how much I am grateful for without the Hall of Fame. And then you get this wonderful news from your peers, and it happens, and Tram and I are both having a tough time grasping that right now.
“For me, this is more for the people that were in my corner than it is for me, myself, right now. I think if I made it on the first ballot, I wouldn’t have that same feeling. So I’m grateful for the time because it has taught me a lot.”
Trammell was teammates with Morris and one of the better shortstops of his time. He won four Gold gloves, three Silver Sluggers, hit .285 with 2,365 hits and 1003 RBIs over his 20-year career, all of which was spent with the Tigers. He won 1984 World Series MVP after going 9-for-20 (.450) with two homers, six RBI and a stolen base against the San Diego Padres.
Similar to Morris, Trammell is humbled by the fact that he has finally been elected.
“The Hall of Fame, that’s got a great ring to it,” Trammell said on Monday morning. “But when I hear, ‘Alan Trammell, Hall of Fame,’ it hasn’t resonated yet, and I’m just speaking from the heart.”
“I still again have a hard time saying that, ‘Hall of Fame, Alan Trammell,’ but I guess I’d better get used to it,” he said. “But to be part of a dream team, you can’t envision that. Young boy, all I wanted to do was become a Major League Baseball player. And now to become a Hall of Famer, it’s really indescribable.”
A couple of Detroit Tigers legends are finally getting their due. Congratulations, gentlemen.
Quotes and quoted text taken from Sports Illustrated and The Detroit News
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