A baseball card mystery: Alan Trammell and George Vukovich

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While one shortstop made the Hall of Fame on Monday, another did not. Alan Trammell fell well short, as he checked in at 36 percent of the vote. That result was no surprise; he’ll have to build up considerably more support during his remaining years on the ballot or wait until one of the Veterans Committees takes a look at his case. For what it’s worth, I would have voted for Trammell, but I don’t have a vote that counts.

Whether he’s a deserving Hall of Famer or not, Trammell was unquestionably a very fine player for the Tigers in the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s. He was a good clutch hitter with power, ran the bases well, and formed a lyrical double play combination with the similarly underrated Lou Whitaker. Trammell was featured on a number of baseball cards during that time, including some wonderful action shots of him at the plate and in the field. Perhaps my favorite is his 1985 Fleer card, which is seen here. The photo was taken during the 1984 season, when Trammell batted .314 with a .384 on-base percentage as one of the essential cogs of the Tigers’ world championship team.

In this card, we see Trammell standing at second base, waiting to make a play on George Vukovich, an outfielder with the Indians. Vukovich, not to be confused with either the late John Vukovich or Cy Young winner Pete Vuckovich, was mostly a journeyman outfielder whose brief career lasted from 1980 to 1985. When this photograph was taken in 1984, Vukovich was in the midst of putting up career best numbers. The principal right fielder for the Indians that summer—he played mostly against right-handed pitching, platooning with the wonderfully named Carmelo Castillo—Vukovich batted .304 with an OBP of .354 and a slugging percentage of .439. Those weren’t mind-numbing numbers, but for George Vukovich, they represented just about the peak of his performance.

Vukovich’s Indians played Trammell’s Tigers 13 times in 1984. Six of those matchups took place at monstrous Municipal Stadium in Cleveland, where this photograph was snapped. So here’s the mystery. In which of the six games did this play occur? Was this a ground ball force play at second base, or was Vukovich trying to steal the base? (He went a paltry 1-for-5 in stole base attempts that year.) And finally, was Vukovich safe or out? Trammell appears to be in the ready position, with his glove low to the ground in preparation of making the tag, but it’s not clear to me that he has the ball in his glove. Is he really ready to make the tag, or is he tricking Vukovich into thinking that he has the ball, so as to make Vukovich slide into the bag?

These are the questions. Will the box scores provide the answers?


Bruce Markusen has authored seven baseball books, including biographies of Roberto Clemente, Orlando Cepeda and Ted Williams, and A Baseball Dynasty: Charlie Finley’s Swingin’ A’s, which was awarded SABR's Seymour Medal.
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Kevin Breit
12 years ago

I am guessing May 6, 1984. Bottom of 3rd, he was caught steeling with 1 out with T. Bernazard up to bat with M. Wilcox pitching.

Kevin
12 years ago

The date is definitely May 6th, but Vukovich had a caught stealing and got forced at second in this game.

In the bottom of the third after Vukovich singled to lead off, Brett Butler flied out to center. Vukovich was thrown out during Tony Bernazard’s at bat, Lance Parrish to Trammell.

In the bottom on the 9th he singled with one out and then got forced out, Whitaker to Trammell on Butler’s ground ball.

Based on the way Trammell’s positioned I’m going with the caught stealing.

Bruce Markusen
12 years ago

Good job, both Kevins. And I tend to think it was a caught stealing play, and not a forceout.

Will Passinault
12 years ago

Given their numbers and the fact that they are baseballs all time double play combo, the voters should do the right thing and put Tram and Sweet Lou in the HOF together!

butch
12 years ago

Once Again, Great Job, Bruce!! Alan Trammell is certainly worthy of Hall Of fame consideration, both offensively and defensively!! Also, Lou Whitaker is from Brooklyn, New York!! Being From Brooklyn All My Life, I Could Not Leave That Out!! Ha! Ha!

Davan S. Mani
8 years ago

Its either a pickoff 1-3-6 or double play 3-6?