Manny Trillo
Jesús Manuel Marcano Trillo (born December 25, 1950), known professionally as Manny Trillo, is a Venezuelan former professional baseball player and coach, renowned as a slick-fielding second baseman during his 17-season Major League Baseball (MLB) career from 1973 to 1989.[1][2] Born in Caripito, Venezuela, Trillo signed with the Philadelphia Phillies organization in 1968 and debuted with the Oakland Athletics on June 28, 1973, contributing to their World Series titles in 1973 and 1974 before being traded to the Chicago Cubs in 1974.[1][2] Over his career, he played for seven teams—including stints with the Cubs (1975–1978, 1986–1988), Phillies (1979–1982), Cleveland Indians (1983), Montreal Expos (1983), San Francisco Giants (1984–1985), and Cincinnati Reds (1989)—accumulating a .263 batting average, 1,562 hits, 61 home runs, and 571 RBIs across 1,645 games.[2][3] Trillo's defensive prowess defined his legacy, highlighted by three National League Gold Glove Awards at second base (1979, 1981, 1982) and a major league record of 479 consecutive errorless chances set in 1982.[2][1] He earned four All-Star selections (1977, 1981–1983) and two Silver Slugger Awards (1980, 1981), showcasing his ability to combine elite fielding with solid contact hitting.[2] His most notable achievements came with the Phillies, where he batted .292 in 1980 and delivered clutch performances in the postseason, including a .381 average with four RBIs to win National League Championship Series MVP honors en route to the franchise's first World Series championship in 1980.[1][4] After retiring as a player, Trillo transitioned to coaching roles with several MLB teams, including the Cubs, Phillies, Milwaukee Brewers, New York Yankees, and Chicago White Sox, as well as in the Venezuelan Winter League with the Águilas del Zulia.[1] He was inducted into the Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007 and the Latino Baseball Hall of Fame in 2012, recognizing his contributions to the sport both on the field and as a pioneer for Venezuelan players in MLB.[1]Early life and minor league career
Early life
Jesús Manuel Marcano Trillo was born on December 25, 1950, in the rural town of Caripito, located in northeastern Venezuela.[1][5][6] His parents, Trina Trillo and Ismael Marcano, separated at the time of his birth, leaving Trina to raise Manny and his three siblings—Ismael, Eneida, and Zunilda—as a single mother in the small oilfield community of Quiriquire in eastern Venezuela.[1] Trina, who worked in the local oil industry, became both mother and father figure to her children, providing stability amid the challenges of life in a remote town dominated by petroleum operations.[1] Trillo attended Escuela Técnica Industrial, a high school in Maturín, the capital of Monagas state, where he balanced academics with his growing interest in sports.[1] His early exposure to baseball occurred through youth leagues and tournaments sponsored by the oil industry in Quiriquire, where he played positions including shortstop and catcher.[1] By age 14, Trillo had developed a deep passion for the game, frequently skipping classes to practice and honing his skills in local competitions.[1] A pivotal figure in Trillo's development was Rómulo Ortiz, his middle-school physical education professor and a local baseball enthusiast, who served as a mentor by teaching him fundamental techniques and introducing him to more organized youth teams.[1] Ortiz affectionately nicknamed the young Trillo "Indio" and encouraged his talent, drawing inspiration from Venezuelan baseball pioneers like Chico Carrasquel and Luis Aparicio, whom Trillo admired growing up.[1][5]Minor league career
Trillo signed with the Philadelphia Phillies as an amateur free agent on January 26, 1968, at the age of 17, following a tryout in Caracas, Venezuela, where he had trained under scout Pompeyo Davalillo.[1][7] He began his professional career that summer with the Huron Phillies of the Northern League (Rookie level), appearing in 35 games while batting .261 with no home runs and 4 RBI. Under manager Dallas Green, his first minor league manager, Trillo was converted from catcher to infielder and played shortstop, third base, and catcher while developing greater defensive versatility.[8][9] In 1969, Trillo advanced to the Spartanburg Phillies in the Western Carolinas League (Class A), where he played 83 games primarily as an infielder, hitting .280 with 1 home run and 26 RBI.[8][1] That winter, he was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the minor league phase of the 1969 Rule 5 draft from the Phillies organization, leading to his reassignment to Oakland's affiliate, the Birmingham A's, in the Southern League (Double-A).[10] Trillo spent 1970 and 1971 with Birmingham, posting a .261 average with 2 home runs and 19 RBI in 84 games during the 1970 Southern League season, followed by a .280 average, 5 home runs, and 44 RBI over 107 games in 1971 in the Dixie Association.[8] His time there emphasized defensive improvements, including better range and arm strength at multiple infield positions.[1] By 1972, Trillo reached Triple-A with the Iowa Oaks of the American Association, where he batted .301 with 9 home runs and 53 RBI in 133 games while playing shortstop, second base, and third base.[8] He continued his offensive growth in 1973 with the Tucson Toros of the Pacific Coast League, hitting .312 with 8 home runs and 78 RBI in 135 games, primarily at second base, which highlighted his emerging skills as a contact hitter and run producer.[8][1]Major League Baseball career
Oakland Athletics (1973–1974)
Manny Trillo made his Major League Baseball debut on June 28, 1973, as a second baseman for the Oakland Athletics at the age of 22.[3] In his rookie season, he appeared in 17 games, batting .250 with 3 RBI while serving as a utility infielder.[2] Trillo provided depth in the infield during the Athletics' successful campaign, contributing to their American League Western Division title and subsequent World Series victory over the New York Mets.[1] Trillo's postseason eligibility for the 1973 playoffs became a point of controversy when Athletics owner Charlie Finley attempted to replace struggling second baseman Mike Andrews with him on the World Series roster, citing Andrews' errors in the ALCS.[11] However, MLB Commissioner Bowie Kuhn denied the request, ruling that Trillo was ineligible because he had not been on the active roster for the required 60 days during the regular season; Finley was fined $7,000 for the maneuver.[12] Despite not appearing in the World Series, Trillo remained part of the championship team and earned his first ring as the Athletics defeated the Mets in seven games.[10] In 1974, Trillo began the season with Oakland but struggled early, posting a .100 batting average over 12 games in April before being demoted to the Triple-A Tucson Toros.[1] He was recalled in September and added nine more appearances, finishing the year with 21 games overall, a .152 average, and 2 RBI as a reserve infielder.[2] Trillo again contributed to the Athletics' success, helping them secure the AL West title and win the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games, though he did not play in the Fall Classic itself; this earned him a second championship ring.[10] Following the 1974 season, on October 23, Trillo was traded by the Athletics, along with pitchers Darold Knowles and Bob Locker, to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for outfielder Billy Williams.[13] This deal marked the end of his brief stint with Oakland, where he had been part of back-to-back World Series-winning teams despite limited playing time.[1]Chicago Cubs (1975–1978)
Trillo joined the Chicago Cubs via a trade from the Oakland Athletics on October 23, 1974, in which he was packaged with pitchers Darold Knowles and Bob Locker in exchange for outfielder Billy Williams.[13][1] In his first season with the Cubs in 1975, Trillo posted a .248 batting average over 154 games, establishing himself as the team's everyday second baseman and appearing in nearly every contest.[3] His defensive prowess quickly became a hallmark, as he led National League second basemen in assists that year with 509, setting the stage for consistent excellence in the field.[5] Over the next two seasons, Trillo's reputation as a defensive standout solidified further. In 1976, he maintained reliability at the plate with a .239 average in 158 games while again topping NL second basemen in assists with 527.[3] His performance peaked in 1977, when he batted .280 with 7 home runs and 57 RBIs across 152 games, earning his first All-Star selection as a member of the National League roster.[3][1] That year, Trillo once more led the league's second basemen in assists, underscoring his range and sure-handed play at the position.[5] In 1978, amid a challenging campaign for the Cubs who finished with a 75-87 record, Trillo batted .261 in 152 games, providing steady production at second base.[3] He extended his streak by leading NL second basemen in assists for the fourth consecutive season.[5] Following the season, on February 23, 1979, the Cubs traded Trillo, along with outfielder Greg Gross and catcher Dave Rader, to the Philadelphia Phillies in an eight-player deal that brought catcher Barry Foote, infielder Ted Sizemore, outfielder Jerry Martin, pitcher Derek Botelho, and infielder Henry Mason to Chicago.[13][14] During his four years with the Cubs, Trillo appeared in 616 games without the team reaching the playoffs, yet his consistent defense anchored the infield.[1]Philadelphia Phillies (1979–1982)
Trillo was acquired by the Philadelphia Phillies in a multi-player trade from the Chicago Cubs on February 23, 1979, along with catcher Dave Rader and outfielder Greg Gross, in exchange for catcher Barry Foote, infielder Ted Sizemore, outfielder Jerry Martin, pitcher Derek Botelho, and minor leaguer Henry Mason.[2] In his first season with the Phillies, Trillo posted a .260 batting average with six home runs and 42 RBIs over 118 games, while establishing himself as an elite defender at second base by winning his first Gold Glove Award.[2] His sure-handed play helped solidify the Phillies' infield during a 84-78 season that fell short of the playoffs.[15] The 1980 season marked Trillo's emergence as a cornerstone of the Phillies' championship run, where he batted .292 with seven home runs and 43 RBIs, earning his first Silver Slugger Award for his offensive contributions at second base.[2] In the National League Championship Series against the Houston Astros, Trillo was named MVP after hitting .381 with four RBIs over five games, including a pivotal two-run triple in Game 5 that helped secure a 7-5 victory and clinch the pennant.[2] Philadelphia went on to win the World Series against the Kansas City Royals in six games—the franchise's first title—with Trillo contributing key defensive plays, such as a crucial relay throw in Game 5, despite batting .217 in the series.[15] Trillo's defensive prowess continued to shine in 1981, when he batted .287 with six home runs and 36 RBIs in 94 games, earning his second All-Star selection, second Gold Glove, and second consecutive Silver Slugger Award amid a strike-shortened season.[2] The following year, 1982, saw him maintain a .271 batting average with 39 RBIs over 149 games while earning his third All-Star selection, third Gold Glove, and setting a major-league record with 479 consecutive errorless chances at second base, achieving a .994 fielding percentage.[2][15] On December 9, 1982, Trillo was traded by the Phillies, along with outfielder George Vukovich, pitcher Jay Baller, infielder Julio Franco, and catcher Jerry Willard, to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for outfielder Von Hayes.[2]Later MLB teams (1983–1989)
In December 1982, Trillo was traded from the Philadelphia Phillies to the Cleveland Indians as part of a six-player deal that sent him, along with George Vukovich, Jay Baller, Julio Franco, and Jerry Willard, in exchange for Von Hayes.[13] With the Indians in 1983, he earned his fourth and final All-Star selection, starting at second base for the American League, and posted a .272 batting average over 88 games before being traded midseason.[2] On August 17, 1983, Cleveland dealt Trillo to the Montreal Expos for minor-league outfielder Don Carter and $300,000, where he served as a utility infielder and batted .264 in 31 games to close out the year.[13] Following the 1983 season, Trillo became a free agent and signed a three-year contract with the San Francisco Giants on December 20, 1983.[2] Over the next two seasons with the Giants, he primarily played second and third base, appearing in 223 games with a combined .238 batting average, seven home runs, and solid defensive contributions as a versatile infielder.[2] His production declined from his peak years, reflecting a shift toward a more platoon and backup role amid emerging younger talent on the roster. On December 11, 1985, the Giants traded him back to the Chicago Cubs—his original major league team—for utility infielder Dave Owen.[13] Reunited with the Cubs in 1986, Trillo embraced a veteran backup role across multiple infield positions, including second base, third base, and shortstop, while mentoring younger players.[3] He enjoyed a resurgent batting average of .296 in 81 games that year, followed by .294 over 108 games in 1987 and .250 in 76 games in 1988, though his overall power and speed diminished as he approached his late 30s.[2] In December 1988, Trillo signed a minor-league contract with the Cincinnati Reds, marking his seventh major league team.[2] He appeared in 17 games as a second baseman in 1989, batting .205 with limited impact, before the Reds released him on May 25 at age 38, effectively ending his major league career.[3]Playing statistics
Major League statistics
Over his 17-season Major League Baseball career, Manny Trillo appeared in 1,780 games, batting .263 with 1,562 hits, 61 home runs, and 571 runs batted in, while stealing 56 bases.[2] Primarily a second baseman, he played 1,518 games at the position, recording a .981 career fielding percentage there.[16]Batting Statistics
The following table summarizes Trillo's year-by-year regular-season batting performance, highlighting key metrics such as games played (G), batting average (BA), hits (H), home runs (HR), runs batted in (RBI), and stolen bases (SB).| Year | Team | G | BA | H | HR | RBI | SB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | OAK | 17 | .250 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 1974 | OAK | 21 | .152 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1975 | CHC | 154 | .248 | 135 | 7 | 70 | 1 |
| 1976 | CHC | 158 | .239 | 139 | 4 | 59 | 17 |
| 1977 | CHC | 152 | .280 | 141 | 7 | 57 | 3 |
| 1978 | CHC | 152 | .261 | 144 | 4 | 55 | 0 |
| 1979 | PHI | 118 | .260 | 112 | 6 | 42 | 4 |
| 1980 | PHI | 141 | .292 | 155 | 7 | 43 | 8 |
| 1981 | PHI | 94 | .287 | 100 | 6 | 36 | 10 |
| 1982 | PHI | 149 | .271 | 149 | 0 | 39 | 8 |
| 1983 | 2TM | 119 | .270 | 119 | 3 | 45 | 1 |
| 1984 | SFG | 98 | .254 | 102 | 4 | 36 | 0 |
| 1985 | SFG | 125 | .224 | 101 | 3 | 25 | 2 |
| 1986 | CHC | 81 | .296 | 45 | 1 | 19 | 0 |
| 1987 | CHC | 108 | .294 | 63 | 8 | 26 | 0 |
| 1988 | CHC | 76 | .250 | 41 | 1 | 14 | 2 |
| 1989 | CIN | 17 | .205 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Fielding Statistics
Trillo's defensive prowess was most evident at second base, where he led National League second basemen in fielding percentage in 1982 with a .994 mark.[17] The table below details his annual fielding stats at second base, including games (G), chances (Ch), putouts (PO), assists (A), errors (E), and fielding percentage (Fld%).| Year | Team | G | Ch | PO | A | E | Fld% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | OAK | 16 | 34 | 15 | 17 | 2 | .941 |
| 1974 | OAK | 21 | 78 | 31 | 43 | 4 | .949 |
| 1975 | CHC | 153 | 888 | 350 | 509 | 29 | .967 |
| 1976 | CHC | 156 | 893 | 349 | 527 | 17 | .981 |
| 1977 | CHC | 149 | 822 | 330 | 467 | 25 | .970 |
| 1978 | CHC | 149 | 878 | 354 | 505 | 19 | .978 |
| 1979 | PHI | 118 | 648 | 270 | 368 | 10 | .985 |
| 1980 | PHI | 140 | 838 | 360 | 467 | 11 | .987 |
| 1981 | PHI | 94 | 538 | 245 | 286 | 7 | .987 |
| 1982 | PHI | 149 | 789 | 343 | 441 | 5 | .994 |
| 1983 | 2TM | 118 | 592 | 229 | 355 | 8 | .986 |
| 1984 | SFG | 96 | 508 | 215 | 287 | 6 | .988 |
| 1985 | SFG | 120 | 631 | 262 | 357 | 12 | .981 |
| 1986 | CHC | 6 | 20 | 8 | 11 | 1 | .950 |
| 1987 | CHC | 10 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 1988 | CHC | 13 | 49 | 14 | 34 | 1 | .980 |
| 1989 | CIN | 10 | 39 | 21 | 18 | 0 | 1.000 |