Manufacturer: Topps
Set: 1978 Topps Baseball ➡️
Player Name: Paul Molitor and Alan Trammell
Also Pictured: Mickey Klutts & U.L. Washington
Position/Team: Shortstops for Brewers & Tigers
Card #: 707
Card Size: 2-1/2” x 3-1/2”
Card Values: See Pricing Table Below
Paul Molitor, nicknamed “The Ignitor,” had a distinguished 21-year career in Major League Baseball from 1978 to 1998. He was a versatile player, moving between positions such as second base, shortstop, third base, and designated hitter. He played for the Milwaukee Brewers (1978–1992), Toronto Blue Jays (1993–1995), and Minnesota Twins (1996–1998).
Molitor was known for his exceptional hitting and speed, and he’s one of only a few players in MLB history to have at least 3,000 hits, a career batting average of .300 or higher, and 500 stolen bases. He is a seven-time All-Star. Molitor helped win the World Series with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1993, where he was named the World Series MVP after hitting .500 in the series.
In 1996, at age 40, he led the American League with 225 hits, becoming the first 40-year-old to have a 200-hit season since Sam Rice in 1930.
Molitor was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame on the first ballot in 2004, receiving 85.2% of the vote. After his playing career, he went on to manage the Minnesota Twins from 2015 to 2018, earning the American League Manager of the Year Award in 2017.
Alan Trammell was a highly respected shortstop who spent his entire 20-year Major League Baseball career with the Detroit Tigers (1977-1996). He was known for his all-around excellence, combining smooth defense with a potent bat, and was a key part of the Tigers’ dominant teams in the 1980s.
Trammell’s career is defined by his consistency and longevity. He and second baseman Lou Whitaker formed one of the greatest and longest-running double-play combinations in baseball history, playing together for 19 seasons. They made their MLB debuts in the same game, a September call-up in 1977, and retired as teammates after the 1996 season.
Over his career, Trammell accumulated an impressive list of accolades. He led the Tigers to a World Series championship in 1984, winning the World Series MVP award after batting .450 with two home runs in the five-game series. He was a six-time All-Star, won four Gold Glove Awards for his stellar defense, and three Silver Slugger Awards for his offensive prowess. In 1987, Trammell had his best season, hitting .343 with 28 home runs and 105 RBIs, finishing second in the American League MVP voting.
After his playing days, Trammell remained with the Tigers organization in various roles, including manager from 2003 to 2005. He was finally elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2018 by the Modern Baseball Era Committee.
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Pricing Data For This Rookie Card
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