Bubba Trammell facts for kids

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

Early Life and Baseball Dreams

Bubba Trammell was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, on November 6, 1971. He grew up with his parents and older sister. His dad said that Bubba loved baseball from a very young age. He was often seen holding a baseball bat when he was just two years old!

When his mom asked him what he wanted to be, he always said he wanted to play baseball. His family even put a batting cage in their backyard when he was 14. Bubba would spend hours practicing his swing there every day.

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 in college. He played at Cleveland State Community College and then at the University of Tennessee.

During his two years at the University of Tennessee (1993–1994), Bubba was a great player. He had a .368 batting average. He also hit 22 home runs and had 105 RBIs. Later, he was even named to the school's "All-Century Team" for baseball.

Joining Professional Baseball

When he was 21, the Baltimore Orioles drafted Bubba. However, he decided not to sign with them. Two years later, in 1994, the Detroit Tigers drafted him in the 11th round. This time, he signed the contract and began his professional baseball journey.

He started playing for the Tigers' Triple-A team, the Toledo Mud Hens. He played there for three years before making it to the big leagues.

Major League Baseball Career

Bubba Trammell made his MLB debut 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 mostly played as a designated hitter, but also played in left field and right field. He batted .228 in 44 games before finishing the season in the minor leagues.

Playing for the Devil Rays

After his time with the Tigers, Bubba was drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He played in their very first game on March 31, 1998. Over the next two and a half years, he played for the Devil Rays. He mostly played left field, but also appeared as a right fielder and designated hitter. He had good batting averages with the team: .286 in 1998, .290 in 1999, and .275 in 2000.

Bubba was very popular with the fans in Tampa Bay. A group of fans in section 142 of Tropicana Field called themselves the "142 Crew." They were known for their "Bubba" signs and loud cheering. They even had a "Bu-bba!" chant that was so loud, the stadium sometimes timed its music around it!

Moving to the Mets and World Series

In July 2000, Bubba was traded to the New York Mets. In his very first game with the Mets on July 30, he hit a home run! He was only the seventh player to do that for the Mets. He continued to play as an outfielder for 36 games, batting .232.

The Mets won the National League pennant in 2000. This meant they got to play in the 2000 World Series against the New York Yankees. Bubba played in four of the five World Series games. He hit two home runs and had an impressive .400 batting average in the series, even though the Mets lost.

Time with the Padres and Yankees

Bubba was traded again in 2001, this time to the San Diego Padres. He was very excited to play regularly. He played in 142 games in 2001 and 133 games in 2002. The 2001 season was one of his best. He hit 25 home runs and had 92 RBIs. He even won the "Favorite San Diego Padres" award that year!

In 2003, Bubba was traded to the New York Yankees. He played in 22 games as an outfielder and designated hitter, batting .200. His last game in the major leagues was on June 23, 2003.

After leaving the Yankees, Bubba faced some challenges. He played in the minor leagues, hoping to return to the MLB. However, he never made it back. 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 times at bat. He finished with a .261 batting average, 469 hits, 96 doubles, 7 triples, and 82 home runs. He also had 285 runs batted in and a .339 on-base percentage. He was a good fielder too, with a .986 fielding percentage.

Personal Life

Bubba Trammell has three children: Madison Rebecca (born in 1995), Brandon Allen (born in 1998), and Bryson (born in 2002). His teammates described him as a soft-spoken and friendly person. It's interesting to note that Bubba Trammell is not related to the famous Detroit Tigers Hall of Fame shortstop, Alan Trammell.