Trammell: Tigers' Hitting Coach

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

January 5, 1999 / 6:08 PM EST / CBS Sportsline

He wasn't eligible for Hall of Fame voting, but Alan Trammell was named the Detroit Tigers' hitting coach Tuesday.

A six-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove shortstop with the Tigers, Trammell already had been named first-base, outfield and baserunning coach on Oct. 28, but was given the title of hitting instructor instead.

Under Larry Herndon and Toby Harrah last season, Detroit finished 11th in the American League in batting average (.264), 12th in runs scored (722) and last in walks (455). Herndon was fired and replaced by Harrah on July 31.

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For the last two years, Trammell, the 1984 World Series MVP, served in the team's front office and performed various major- and minor-league instructional duties.

The 40-year-old retired following the 1996 season after spending 20 years in a Tigers uniform. He was runner-up for the 1987 AL MVP Award after hitting a career-high .343 with 28 homers, 105 RBI and 21 stolen bases.

Also Tuesday, manager Larry Parrish named Juan Samuel as Trammell's replacement as first-base, outfield and baserunning coach. The 38-year-old just completed his 19th major-league season as a player, batting .180 (9-for-50) with one home run, two RBI and 13 stolen bases in 43 games for Toronto.

Samuel, who played with the Tigers from 1994-95, should help a team that finished seventh in the league in stolen bases with 121. He retired with 486 steals, including 72 as a rookie for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1984.

Lance Parrish, another key member of Detroit's 1984 World Series club, was named third-base and catchers coach Oct. 28. He won three Gold Gloves as a catchr and was named to the All-Star team eight times, playing the first 10 seasons of his 19-year career with the Tigers.

In addition, Larry Parrish named Perry Hill, the team's third base-infield coach the past two seasons, as defensive coordinator.

After taking over for Buddy Bell with 25 games left, Larry Parrish guided the club to a 13-12 mark and was given a two-year contract.

Detroit was the second-worst team in the AL last season, better only than the expansion Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The Tigers were last in the Central Division at 65-97.