LAKELAND, Fla. -- If there's one thing that made this spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland particularly special, it's the realization that sometimes you can go home again.
It wasn't just second baseman Ian Kinsler wearing No. 3, but the one who made No. 3 in Detroit, Alan Trammell, who wore it on the field all spring.
A little older at age 57, a little grayer perhaps, but Trammell still fit easily into the uniform he wore in 2,293 regular-season games, looking like he still weighs 165 pounds.
When Trammell appeared at the annual barbecue held by the city at Joker Marchant Stadium at the end of February, a crowd formed around Trammell as fans welcomed him back.
"I guess the best way to describe it would be it's really overwhelming," Trammell said. "It's very much appreciated and I tried to say thank you over the years. I tried to tell the younger guys and the people that really don't know Detroit and the tradition and all, I kind of say, 'See what happens if you play somewhere for a while. These people, they never forget you.'"
It was like Trammell was a rock star with all the fans clamoring to see him.
In fact, one of those fans was an actual rock star.
Detroit native Jack White appeared at several spring games, both in Lakeland and on the road, and he made it clear who his favorite player is.
White spoke to Trammell on the field before a game one day, each of them wearing No. 3 and posing for photos with their backs facing the many cameras.
"That's pretty special, too," Trammell said. "(Pitching coach) Jeff Jones had told me that Jack White was a big Tiger fan and a big Alan Trammell fan and all of a sudden, there he was. He had also told me a story about last year, that he had an older Trammell jersey and they said, 'Ah, we'll get you a new one.' He said, 'No, no, no, I don't want a new one.' So that's pretty cool, too."
Trammell, who was fired in October of 2005 after three years as Tigers manager, spent time with the Chicago Cubs and then with the Arizona Diamondbacks when Kirk Gibson was manager there.
Putting on the Tigers uniform again after almost a decade away meant a lot to Trammell.
"It feels great," Trammell said. "I've said it again many times but the Old English D is a classy uniform. It stands for tradition, it's been around a long time. I think one year, whatever year it was, they changed the home uniform one year and they changed it right back, which is a good decision. Again, there's a few of them. Obviously the Yankees and the Dodgers, Cardinals, the Tigers are right up there. It's very special to wear."
Wearing it not only makes fans remember those amazing times, but also reminds Trammell of everything they accomplished as a team.
"I'm glad that we were able to put a few smiles on people's faces over the years," Trammell said. "I think we appreciated it then. I guess I'm speaking for myself but I think in general when you get older, you appreciate things. But we were just doing our job. It's what we did. But now you take a step back and you just think of some of the things that we were able to accomplish, Lou (Whitaker) and I playing together for so darn long. It's really kind of mind-boggling, to be honest with you, even when I think about it. It's like, damn, how did it happen? But it happened."
Now Trammell is hoping to be a part of bringing a championship back to the city he loves.
"Obviously I made my name there, I spent a few years in Detroit and I look forward again, to just being a part, watching them, pretty darn good ball club," Trammell said. "And then doing some other things that still are kind of to be determined. I'll be going down to some of the affiliates, just a little jack of all trades is really the way I'm kind of describing myself."
Trammell has been throwing batting practice, hitting fungoes and observing the current group of Tigers.
Naturally, Trammell said he's drawn to the middle of the diamond.
"Ian Kinsler, he's a baseball player," Trammell said. "I knew that but I get to see it with my own eyes here. In a short period of time I can tell he does a lot of things to help you win a ballgame. Iglesias, from what I've seen, he looks good and if he's healthy, that's going to help our ball club defensively.
"The old cliche, pitching and defense, obviously we have a good hitting ball club but when you get in the postseason, you normally are going to play closer ballgames and that's where the little things, the defense part, really comes into play and that's where Jose can help us."
As the spring comes to an end, Trammell's renewed relationship with the Tigers and their fans is just beginning.
"It's a special feeling and again, I'd say overwhelming is the best way to describe it," Trammell said. "It's all good. I'm enjoying it."
