Lou Whitaker Says Jack Morris Was No Better Than Lou Whitaker (Or Alan Trammell)
Oct 17, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers former pitcher Jack Morris throws out the ceremonial first pitch prior to game five of the American League Championship Series baseball game at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Jack Morris is likely to miss out on the Hall of Fame again this year, and that is just fine by Lou Whitaker. Listen to Whitaker tell it and his ex-teammate Morris doesn’t deserve to be in the Hall of Fame. At least not before Lou Whitaker. Or Whitaker’s other former Tigers teammate Alan Trammell.
Whitaker and Trammell will forever be linked in baseball lore. They formed the greatest double-play combination of the ’80s and possibly of all-time. They won the World Series together in 1984. They are together on the Hall of Fame ballot. They keep getting snubbed together.
They both played with Jack Morris. According to Whitaker, they were collectively responsible for much of Morris’ success.
“Jack Morris was no better than Alan Trammell-Lou Whitaker,” Whitaker said in an interview “If we didn’t make the plays, and we didn’t come up with the big hits, Jack Morris wouldn’t be where he was, or where he is.”
The way things are going, none of the three great Tigers will be getting into the Hall of Fame before the veterans committee takes up their case in 2016. According to BBTF’s ballot tracker, Morris stands at 60%. Trammell is at 24%. Whitaker has not been on the ballot since 2001.
Chili Davis will not be making the Hall of Fame this year either. Nor will Willie Hernandez. Nor Dan Petry.
If any of the guys on the ’84 Tigers deserve to make the Hall? It’s probably Morris. All due respect to Lou Whitaker. Who by the way also has a legit Hall of Fame case. As does Alan Trammell.
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