Shadows of Shea: Bubba Trammell

by Nick Giacone December 01, 2017 0 Comments

The offseason is upon us, and we’re without Mets baseball until 2018. To get us through the dead of winter, let’s use this period to reminisce about some past Mets; the obscure guys, the forgotten ones. Whether they contributed to a playoff run or just simply serve as an answer to a Howie Rose trivia question, they are as part of Mets history as Seaver and Piazza. Welcome to “Shadows of Shea.”

Bubba Trammell

Position: Outfielder

Mets Years: 2000

As a Met...

Every fan base has this kind of guy. The fan favorite. The hustler. The guy you’d want to grab a beer with. For fans of the Mets in the year 2000, it was Bubba Trammell.

Trammell’s time with the Mets was brief, but memorable. The Mets were looking to add depth for their 2000 playoff run, so they acquired Trammell and pitcher Rick White in a trade with the then-Devil Rays. A fan favorite in Tampa, Bubba hit .285 over two-and-a-half seasons, and he was eager to instantly endear himself to the Flushing Faithful.

Trammell’s home run in his first at bat helped the Mets to a 4-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. And despite batting .232 during his time in Queens, Bubba’s attitude and hustle further captivated fans at Shea Stadium. He came through in the clutch as a pinch hitter from the right side balanced New York’s bench, and ultimately helped the Mets finish 2nd in the NL East and clinch the 2000 NL Wild Card.

In Game 1 of the World Series, Trammell seized an opportunity to shine. With the Mets down 2-0 in the top of the 7th, Trammell came to the plate with one out and the bases loaded to face Andy Pettitte. Trammell was equal to the task.

Bubba continued to produce for the Mets in Game 3, where he delivered a sacrifice fly that helped the Mets win 4-2. And despite the Mets losing the series, Bubba made the most of his limited work: 2-for-5 with 3 RBIs. This would be the last of Bubba in a Mets uniform.

After the Mets…

After the 2000 season, the Mets traded Trammell to the San Diego Padres for reliever Donne Wall. It was in San Diego where Bubba would finally step out of his platoon role and become a full time starter. In 2001, he enjoyed the best season of his career, as he appeared in 142 games, batted .261, hit 25 home runs, and kicked in in 92 RBIs. In 2002, Bubba remained a starter, but saw a decline in his numbers. His slump prompted the Padres to deal him to the Yankees at the start of the 2003 season, which would prove to be Bubba’s last in the Majors.

Trammell dealt with injuries on the field, and began to struggle with depression off the field. He finished his seven-year MLB career concluded with a .261 batting average, 82 home runs, and 285 RBIs.

Where are they now?

Bubba is the father of three kids, and has passed down his baseball legacy to his eldest son. In November of 2016, Brandon Trammell committed to play baseball at the University of Tennessee. Bubba can be seen below sharing a moment with his son on signing day:

Bubba’s Mets tenure goes to show that sometimes the players who will provide your biggest hits of the season aren’t even on your roster when the year begins. And had the Mets won that World Series, he may be remembered as one of the great cult icons in franchise history. So it may be easy to forget Bubba’s brief time as a Met, but recall the 2000 season, and you’ll recall the career of Bubba Trammell.