FanPost

The Tram Visits D.C.

Growing up in the outskirts of Washington D.C. In the 80's and 90's baseball rained supreme for my friends and I. I was forced into becoming an Orioles fan. I still remember moving to D.C. From Detroit in the fall of 1983. The following fall my father and I sat in our basement watching the Detroit Tigers taking on the San Diego Padres in the World Series. It was during this series that I found Alan Trammell.

As a little leaguer the Tram quickly became my favorite baseball player. Every time the Tigers would come to B-more my dad and I would catch a game just so I could watch Tram and the Tigers play. Every season that I played ball it would be his number 3 that I would wear and just like most little leaguers my friends and I collected baseball cards. It was good being a fan of an out of state ball team because I could trade all of O's for Tigers and especially the Trammell cards. In fact, I collected over 100 different Trammell cards during my collections days.

During my freshman year in high school I tried out for my baseball team. I ended up being cut in the last round of tryouts. Needless to say I was pretty down in the dumps and my dad took notice. My dad came home from work later that same week and was visibly excited! He told me that the Tigers are coming to D.C. for an exhibition game against the Brewers at RFK stadium!

The day of the game we left hours early to get to the stadium so we could get some autographs. We first found our seats along the third base line in the ring of fame. I sat down and looked down to third base. There was my idol Alan Trammell signing autographs!! I had brought with me a book with the name "Alan Trammell" emblazoned across the front. Inside were the over 100 cards that I had collected. I raced down to the railing along the third base line. I was now less then ten feet away from my favorite baseball player. As kids peeled away with signed gloves, bats, and other memorabilia I inched closer holding my Trammell book wide open so he could see my cards. Finally, I was standing next to him. With out even looking up the Tram spoke! "I don't sign cards". I was shocked. I was in disbelief. I went back to my seat and watched the game. Who knows who won that day. I was crushed.

I never forgot that day with my sports icon. It was not until about three years ago when I received a package in the mail. It was from my brother. I opened it up and there in a thick hard plastic case was an autographed Alan Trammell card.

The Tram is still my favorite player to have worn the English "D" and I'm very glad to see him back with the Tigers. I'm heading to Lakeland this Saturday. I'm bringing my book with me!

Trammell HOF 2015!!!!!

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of the <em>Bless You Boys</em> writing staff.