Alan Trammell planned to visit Tiger Stadium this week.
On the advice of friends, he decided to do it as soon as possible.
The Chicago Cubs bench coach visited the corner of Michigan and Trumbull before Tuesday nights game against the Tigers, getting one last look at the only major-league home field he ever knew.
I was originally going to go on Wednesday, but after I talked to a few people and heard what was going on, I decided to go right away, Trammell said from the visitors dugout at Comerica Park. Im sure they wont have removed those last few beams by tomorrow, but Im glad I got it over with.
Trammell spent his entire 20-season career with the Tigers, including a World Series victory in 1984, and said that the stadiums demolition doesnt change any of his feelings.
The building isnt there any more, but all of my memories of that place will last forever, he said. It was a very special place, and I spent a large portion of my life there.
Trammell didnt learn until this week that the demolition was progressing so quickly, but he said that hes known it was inevitable since managing the Tigers between 2003-05.
You could see then that the place was falling down, he said. The lawn was getting mowed a couple times a month and the grounds crew would spray the weeds once in a while, but that was the extent of the upkeep. It was clear that this was coming unless someone came up with a lot of money to fix it.
Trammell was fired by the Tigers after losing 300 games in his three-year managerial career, including an American League-record 119 in 2003. He is now in his third year as Lou Piniellas bench coach.
This weeks interleague series will mark Trammells first major-league appearance in Detroit in a visiting uniform.
Im a Chicago Cub now, but I know that to a lot of people, Ill always be a Detroit Tiger, and thats fine with me, he said. I spent 25 years in a Tigers uniform, and Ill always have an attachment to this city and the people here.
Before Tuesdays game, Trammell also visited with Tigers manager Jim Leyland, who was a manager in Detroits farm system while Trammell was coming up.
We had a nice visit – he was in here for quite a while, Leyland said. They dont come any finer than that guy.
Leyland wasnt surprised at all that Trammell would visit, even after Leyland replaced him as manager.
This is his house, Leyland said, gesturing to his office. He belongs here more than I do.
