1976 Topps #206 - Manny Trillo

• Manny Trillo was an infielder for seven teams from 1973-1989. Manny was a four-time All Star (1977, 1981, 1982, 1983) and won three Gold Glove awards (1979, 1981, 1981).

• Trillo was originally signed by the Philadelphia Phillies as a catcher in 1968 when he was 17 years old. He played two years in the Phillies' system and then was chosen by the Oakland A's in the Rule 5 draft. Manny played in the A's minor league system from 1970-1974. He made his major league debut as a September call-up in 1973 and had cups of coffee for the A's in '73 and '74.
  
  

Before the 1975 season Manny was traded (with Darold Knowles and Bob Locker) to the Chicago Cubs for Billy Williams. He became the starting second baseman and finished third (behind John Montefusco and Gary Carter) in NL Rookie of the Year voting. Manny batted .248 and had 70 RBI in 154 games. In 1976 Trillo had a similar season (.239, 24 doubles, 17 stolen bases in 158 games).

• Trillo made his first NL All star team in 1977. He batted .280 in 152 games. Manny didn't do quite as well in 1978 (.261 in 152 games with 0 stolen bases in 7 attempts). Before the 1979 season Trillo was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies. He missed six weeks of the season after being hit by a Rick Sutcliffe pitch on May 3. Trillo ended up batting .260 in 118 games and won his first Gold Glove award.

• Manny's best season was probably the 1980 season. He batted .292 in 141 games for the World Champion Phillies and won the NL Silver Slugger award at second base. Trillo was named the MVP of the 1980 National League Championship Series (he batted .381 in five games). In 1981 Manny won the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards and made the All Star team as he batted .287. In 1982 Trillo batted .271 in 149 games. After the season he was part of the famous "5 for 1" trade that brought Von Hayes from the Cleveland Indians to the Phillies.

• Trillo was the starting second baseman for the AL All Star team in 1983. He was batting .272 for the Indians when he was sent to the Montreal Expos on August 17 for $300,000 and a minor leaguer. Manny finished the 1983 season batting .264 for the Expos and then signed with the San Francisco Giants as a free agent.

• Manny spent two years with the Giants, batting .254 in 98 games in 1984 and .224 in 125 games in 1985. In 1984 Trillo missed two months after being hit by a Steve Rogers pitch on May 12. After the 1985 season Manny was traded to the Cubs for Dave Owen.

• Trillo spent the next three seasons as a utility player with the Cubs, batting .296, .294, and .250 and batting about 200 times a year. After the 1988 season Trillo was granted free agency and signed with the Cincinnati Reds. He was released by the Reds on May 25 after batting .205 in 17 games.

• Manny had a few stints as a minor league hitting coach since his retirement. He most recently was the hitting coach for the White Sox' AA Birmingham club in 2004 and 2005.