Anthony Fenech

Detroit Free Press

Alan Trammell’s days on the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot are over.

In his 15th year of consideration from the Baseball Writers Association of America, the longtime Tiger legend once again fell short of the 75% needed for induction to Cooperstown, earning 40.9% of the vote.

“It’s flattering and honoring just to be talked about it,” Trammell said recently. “And I know that as a player, I could hold my own.”

Two players were inducted by the writers this evening: Centerfielder Ken Griffey, Jr., with 99.3% of the vote and catcher Mike Piazza, with 83%.

Tigers manager Brad Ausmus did not receive a vote.

Trammell, 57, was a career .285 hitter in 20 major league seasons – all in Detroit.

He hit 185 home runs, stole 236 bases, was a six-time All-Star with four Gold Glove Awards, three Silver Slugger Awards and a World Series Most Valuable Player in 1984 to his name.

By the numbers, he stacks up favorably with the best shortstops in baseball history. But by the vote, Trammell has never come close to enshrinement.

Before this year, his high-water mark in the voting was 36.8% in 2012. Last season, he earned 25.1% of the vote.

“You don’t expect overnight to go from 20-25% to 75% in one year,” he said. “There’s some sort of apprehension that it could happen but obviously, that’s not the case.”

Trammell’s long-standing dream has been to go into the Hall of Fame with double play partner Lou Whitaker, and that dream remains a possibility when the Expansion Era Veterans Committee evaluates the candidates for next year’s class.

Trammell, Whitaker and teammate Jack Morris are all eligible due to a rule change by the Hall of Fame before this year’s voting. This year, the Hall of Fame limited the length of time on the ballot from 15 years to 10 years.

In order to be considered by the Veterans Committee, a player had to be retired for 21 years. Now, because of the rule change, that requirement is 16 years.

“That would be more of a team thing,” Trammell said. “We would be linked together and that would be very cool, very special.”

With Trammell’s time on the BBWAA ballot expired, no player from the 1984 World Series champion Tigers have been elected into the Hall of Fame.

“I couldn’t have asked for anything more,” Trammell said. “I’m still living the dream, running around and doing my thing and being involved in baseball. This is all I’ve ever done and it’s all I’ve always wanted to do and I’ve come full circle with my role.”

Contact Anthony Fenech: afenech@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @anthonyfenech.

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