Detroit Tigers of 1984 Out of the Hall of Fame

The vote arrived and it was a disappointment. With the final snub to Alan Trammell, the BBWAA decided that no one from the 1984 World Series Champion Detroit Tigers are worthy of the Hall of Fame. Despite the disappointment of the final vote in the final year of the final player with eligibility, there is actually a bright side to this outcome.

Mar 27, 2015; Dunedin, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers special assistant Alan Trammell (3) watches batting practice before the start of the spring training game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Florida Auto Exchange Park. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports

The bright side includes the memories of the 1984 team. These World Series champions truly defined what a TEAM should be. They did not have to rely on a Hall of Fame player to carry them – each player contributed. And together they accomplished greatness. This is rare in the world of professional athletic teams today.

This teamwork speaks to the strength and loyalty of the people in the City of Detroit. The city might be overlooked and often frowned upon, but it keeps on fighting and the fans remain fiercely loyal to their teams. As a small market team, the Tigers’ fandom is located mostly in only the State of Michigan, but according to the Map of Baseball Nation, not even everyone in the state is a fan. The small, loyal fandom knows the importance of the 1984 team and they know what Alan Trammell means to the Tigers. The members of the BBWAA outside of Michigan and the Detroit fandom do not understand and apparently never will.

Fortunately, Alan Trammell knows what his fans think of him. In an article on MLive by James Schmehl, he quoted Trammell saying: “I’ve got many people in my corner — but, obviously, it’s a little short. But just to be considered, obviously, is quite an honor.”

Apr 26, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler (3) and former Tiger Lou Whitaker before the game against the Cleveland Indians at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Still, the snub seems more than just a snub to Alan Trammell. It seems like a snub to the entire team and what they stood for in 1984. Not only is this the last year a member of the Bless You Boys was eligible for Cooperstown, it is also the last year that the corner of Michigan and Trumbull with have actual grass. The new owners of that plot of land are in the process of switching the field to turf.

As a final show of respect to Trammell and his 19-year infield partner, Lou Whitaker, the Navin Field Grounds Crew retired their numbers on the field where they belong in the fall of 2015. The Navin Field Grounds Crew took it upon themselves to care for the hallowed ground for several years because of its sentimentality to the fans who have special memories of the games played at Tiger Stadium. The plot of land recently was sold to a developer who will turn “The Corner” in Corktown into a mixed-use space, much to the chagrin of the Grounds Crew and fans who fondly reminisce about Tiger Stadium.

Next: Future Detroit Tigers Hall of Famers

Baseball is a game with a lengthy and powerful history. Even though Alan Trammell, Lou Whitaker, and Jack Morris are not immortalized for their roles in historic games on a historic team on a historic field, they and the rest of the 1984 team will forever be in the hearts of the fans. That team was a class act that continues to make the City of Detroit and the State of Michigan proud.

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