Recap: Trammell, Morris reflective in Hall of Fame speeches
Shortstop Alan Trammell and pitcher Jack Morris, stars of the Detroit Tigers’ 1984 World Series championship team, were inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday.
Here are highlights from their speeches by Eric Coughlin of The Detroit News.
TRAMMELL
Trammell started by acknowledging the "Let's go Tigers" chants in the crowd.
"I wanted to jump up and down, yell and scream," Trammell said about when he got the call from the Hall of Fame.
Trammell thanked the modern era committee for selecting him and Morris.
"Honestly, I didn't think this day would ever come," Trammell said.
He then said he was honored to be going into the hall with the other selections from 2018.
To Al Kaline: "Thank you for being the role model that you are. I'm proud to have worn the old English D my entire career, just like you did."
He thanked his parents: "My mother would be extremely proud. She would tell me, 'If you ever make it to the major leagues, I hope you're humble like my favorite player, Stan Musial.'"
"It's not easy being married to an athlete, and she was able to raise our three children," Trammell said about his wife, Barb.
Trammell told the story of when the Tigers drafted him. He gave credit to the Tigers scout that drafted him, Dick Winsett. Winsett told Trammell that if he hit .250 and played good defense that he'd be in the league for a long time. "I doubt scouts tell players that anymore," Trammell said.
He thanked all his managers and former teammates. "Thank you for being a huge part of this journey," Trammell said.
On Whitaker: "For 19 years Lou Whitaker and I formed the longest running double play combination in baseball. We were called up to the big leagues on the same day. We both got the last hits of our careers off the same pitchers. Can you believe that? That's truly amazing. Lou, it was an honor an pleasure to play alongside you all these years, and it's my hope you'll be up here someday too."
Trammell then remembered Sparky Anderson: "Tough love, discipline and attention to detail. For those that stayed through the process, we reaped the benefits and had many years of success. I'm very thankful I bought into Sparky's way. I feel so lucky to have played for him for 17 years. I know Sparky's smiling down on us today."
Trammell was the second inductee speech of six. Morris's speech will be the fifth.
MORRIS
"Helooooooo, Cooperstown," Morris said as he started his speech.
He thanked the Hall of Fame staff and his fellow hall of famers.
"Whether you voted for me or not, thank you for keeping my name alive," Morris said to the sportswriters.
He thanked the five fellow 2018 inductees, including Trammell.
"I'll never forget my excitement of seeing my first big league game. The kids in my neighborhood spent countless hours practicing the game," Morris said.
He thanked his college coach for being in Cooperstown.
"I had no idea how I would come to appreciate the hardworking people of Michigan and Detroit," Morris said about his time with the Tigers.
"We grew together in the minor leagues and eventually won together in the major leagues," Morris said about the Tigers players he was drafted with.
He thanked Jim Leyland for teaching him that he never wanted to go back down to the minors.
Morris also thanked Sparky Anderson.
On Trammell: "We signed together, and now 42 years later, Cooperstown. Wow."
Morris thanked the Monahans, who owned the Tigers when he was with the team.
On Minnesota: "I knew the Twins had a talented group of players, and free agency worked out well for me that year. We had so much fun in the clubhouse with Kirby Puckett as our ringleader."
On Ron Gardenhire: "You were the first coach I had that was younger than me, and I never let you forget it."
Morris thanked the Braves, who he beat in the World Series, for making the series special with their effort.
"My years in Toronto were like playing on all star teams. For two years fans packed the Skydome. Cito Gaston was a perfect fit."
Morris thanked all the organizations he's worked for as a player and broadcaster.
"Thank you Mom and Dad for everything you have done for me and taught me. Mom, I know you're smiling down on us now."
Morris thanked his sister, Marcia, brother, Tom, and his children.
"I look forward to our future journeys together," Morris said to his family.
He thanked his six grandchildren and his wife, Jennifer.
"You've shown me that there are more important things in life than baseball," Morris said to his wife.
"Baseball has been connected to every lesson I've learned in life. Many say that baseball is known as a game of failure, but the failures only made me work harder to find a path to success. Whether little league or the big leagues, I would urge all players to learn the history of baseball. Winning and losing are facts of life, but it's how you deal with both that defines you. God blessed me with a gift, and it was meant to be shared with others," Morris said.
MORE COVERAGE
Finally, a day in the sun for Trammell, Morris, 1984 Tigers
Henning: Trammell and Morris shake off earlier wounds