Tigers Shorts - Just the Best

Beyond Hall of Famer Billy Rogell’s outstanding baseball accomplishments (which Tom notes very well in his post below) Rogell was known for a quick wit. (And who can’t appreciate that?) In the 1934 World Series, Dizzy Dean was pinch running off first. When Gehringer took a ground ball and flipped it to Rogell at second, Billy fired the ball squarely into Dean’s forehead on the relay throw to first. The ball ricocheted off Dean’s head and landed over a hundred feet away in the outfield. Dean remarked after a visit to the hospital, “The doctors X-rayed my head and found nothing.” Rogell would say of the play later, “If I’d have known his head was there, I would have thrown the ball harder.”

Some of Rogell’s greatest days may have been as a public servant, in helping bring Metro Airport to Detroit, and helping down-on-their luck teammates find employment. He died at 98 in Sterling Heights.

Already nominated at second, Dick McAulliffe replaced Chico Fernandez at short in 1962, where he played the majority of games until Mayo Smith moved him to second to make room for the smooth fielding Ray Olyer in 1967. (A somewhat questionable move in hindsight for the extremely close ’67 season, since Mac led the league in errors at second that season. But he climed the learning curve quickly, and improved in 1968.) But let’s focus on his accomplishments: a three time All-Star, twice playing at short. With his power, ability to get on base, and ability to play at short, second and even third on occasion, Mac was a versatile ballplayer valuable to any real-world team. But Does he make our list of “All-Time Tigers?”

Eddie Brinkman was voted the 1972 “Tiger of the Year” by Detroit sportswriters, even though he seemed to have left his bat in the dugout, hitting only .203. He was smooth in the field, earning a Gold Glove in ’73, and an All Star berth in 1972.

But my choice in this group is Alan Trammel. Forget his days as a manager guys, this was that rare shortstop who could hit and field, and make it all look beautiful. With a .285 average, Tram earned four Gold Gloves, and six All Star berths. Tram is still up for election to the Hall of Fame: let’s hope he makes it.

Some of you mentioned Tom Veryzer, Ray Oyler, Edgar Renteria: are you kidding? Rogell or Trammell got more hits during a homestand that Oyler did all summer. They're on the ballot, make a case for them if you want!