Bubba Trammell facts for kids

Thomas Bubba Trammell (born November 6, 1971) is a former American Major League Baseball (MLB) player. He was an outfielder and designated hitter. Bubba played for five different teams during his seven years in the MLB. These teams included the Detroit Tigers, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, New York Mets, San Diego Padres, and the New York Yankees. He had a batting average of .261 and hit 82 home runs in his career. Bubba Trammell also played in the 2000 World Series with the New York Mets.

Bubba Trammell's Early Life and Baseball Start

Bubba Trammell was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, on November 6, 1971. He grew up with his mother, Brenda, his father, Buddy, and his older sister, Kimberely. He was named after a famous Tennessee football quarterback, Bubba Wyche.

High School and College Baseball

Bubba went to Central High School in Knoxville. There, he played both baseball and golf. After high school, he continued to play baseball at Cleveland State Community College. He then played for the University of Tennessee (U.T.) from 1993 to 1994. During his time at U.T., he had a strong batting average of .368. He also hit 22 home runs and had 105 RBIs (Runs Batted In). Later, he was honored by being named to the school's "All-Century Team."

Getting Drafted into Professional Baseball

When Bubba was 21, the Baltimore Orioles drafted him, but he chose not to sign with them. Two years later, in 1994, the Detroit Tigers drafted him in the 11th round of the MLB amateur draft. This time, he signed the contract. Before playing in the major leagues, he played for the Tigers' Triple-A team, the Toledo Mud Hens, for three years. Bubba was 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighed 220 pounds. He both threw and batted with his right hand.

Bubba Trammell's Major League Baseball Career

Bubba Trammell made his first appearance in Major League Baseball when he was 25 years old. His first game was on April 1, 1997, with the Detroit Tigers. He played in many of the Tigers' early games that season. He often played as the designated hitter, but he also played in left field and right field. In 44 games, he batted .228. By May, he was sent back to the Triple-A team to finish the season.

Playing for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays

After his time with the Tigers, Bubba was drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He played his first game with them on March 31, 1998, as a pinch-hitter against his former team, the Detroit Tigers. For the next two and a half years, Bubba played a limited number of games for the Devil Rays. He played in 59 games in 1998, 82 games in 1999, and 66 games in 2000. He mostly played left field but also appeared as a right fielder and designated hitter. His batting averages were .286 in 1998, .290 in 1999, and .275 in 2000.

A Fan Favorite

Bubba Trammell was very popular with the fans. One sports writer said he was "the kind of guy you wanted to see achieve great things." He was known for being a hard worker and a strong hitter. A special group of fans, called the "142 Crew," sat in section 142 of the Devil Rays' stadium, Tropicana Field. They were known for their "Bubba" signs and loud cheering, including a "Bu-bba!" chant. Their cheers were so loud that the stadium sometimes timed its music around their chants.

Joining the New York Mets and the World Series

In July 2000, Bubba Trammell was traded to the New York Mets. He hit a home run in his very first game with the Mets on July 30. This made him the seventh player in Mets history to hit a home run in their first at-bat. He continued to play left field and right field for 36 games, batting .232. The Mets won the National League pennant in 2000. They then played in the 2000 World Series against the New York Yankees. The Mets lost the series, but Bubba played in four of the five games. He hit two home runs and had an impressive batting average of .400 in the World Series.

Time with the San Diego Padres

Bubba was traded to the San Diego Padres in 2001. He once joked that he would "play for free" if he could get 500 at-bats, showing how much he wanted to play regularly. With the Padres, he finally became a regular player. In 2001, he played in 142 games and batted .261. He had one of his best seasons that year, hitting 25 home runs and 92 RBIs. In 2002, he played in 133 games and batted .243. He also won the "Favorite San Diego Padres" award in 2001.

Final Season with the New York Yankees

In 2003, Bubba Trammell was traded to the New York Yankees. He played in 22 games as a left fielder and designated hitter, with a batting average of .200. He left the Yankees in the middle of the season. His last game was on June 23, 2003, which turned out to be his final game in the major leagues.

After leaving the Yankees, Bubba tried to make a comeback in the minor leagues. However, he never returned to the major leagues. He officially retired from baseball on July 2, 2007.

Career Totals

Overall, Bubba Trammell played in 584 games during his seven-year MLB career. He had 1,798 at-bats, a batting average of .261, and made 469 hits. He also hit 96 doubles, 7 triples, and 82 home runs. He had 285 runs batted in and an on-base percentage of .339. He played 297 games in right field and 194 games in left field, with a strong fielding percentage of .986.

Bubba Trammell's Personal Life

Bubba Trammell and his former wife, Melissa, have three children: Madison Rebecca (born in 1995), Brandon Allen (born in 1998), and Bryson (born in 2002). Bubba has shared that he faced personal challenges after 2003. His mother and sister were both diagnosed with cancer in 2004. Teammates described Bubba Trammell as a quiet and friendly person. It's important to note that Bubba Trammell is not related to the famous former Detroit Tigers shortstop, Alan Trammell.