View source for Manny Trillo

{{short description|Venezuelan baseball player (born 1950)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{family name hatnote|Marcano|Trillo|lang=Spanish}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Manny Trillo
|image=Manny Trillo 1 (cropped).jpg
|image_size=175px
|caption=
|position=[[Second baseman]]
|bats=Right
|throws=Right
|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1950|12|25}}
|birth_place=[[Caripito]], [[United States of Venezuela|Venezuela]]
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=June 28
|debutyear=1973
|debutteam=Oakland Athletics
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=May 20
|finalyear=1989
|finalteam=Cincinnati Reds
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
|stat1value=.263
|stat2label=[[Home runs]]
|stat2value=61
|stat3label=[[Runs batted in]]
|stat3value=571
|teams=
* [[Oakland Athletics]] ({{mlby|1973}}–{{mlby|1974}})
* [[Chicago Cubs]] ({{mlby|1975}}–{{mlby|1978}})
* [[Philadelphia Phillies]] ({{mlby|1979}}–{{mlby|1982}})
* [[Cleveland Indians]] ({{mlby|1983}})
* [[Montreal Expos]] ({{mlby|1983}})
* [[San Francisco Giants]] ({{mlby|1984}}–{{mlby|1985}})
* [[Chicago Cubs]] ({{mlby|1986}}–{{mlby|1988}})
* [[Cincinnati Reds]] ({{mlby|1989}})
|highlights=
* 4× [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[1977 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1977]], [[1981 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1981]]–[[1983 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1983]])
* 2× [[World Series champion]] ({{wsy|1974}}, {{wsy|1980}})
* [[NLCS MVP]] ({{nlcsy|1980}})
* 3× [[Gold Glove Award]] (1979, 1981, 1982)
* 2× [[Silver Slugger Award]] (1980, 1981)
* [[Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame|Philadelphia Phillies Wall of Fame]]
|hofcolor = #ffd700
|hoflink = Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
|hoftype = Venezuelan
|hofdate = [[Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum#2007|2007]]
|hofvote = 
|hofmethod = 
}}

'''Jesús Manuel Marcano Trillo''' (born December 25, 1950), nicknamed "'''Indio'''", is a [[Venezuelan people|Venezuelan]] former professional [[baseball]] player and [[Coach (baseball)|coach]]. He played in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) as a [[second baseman]], most prominently with the [[Chicago Cubs]] where he established himself as an [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] player, and then with the [[Philadelphia Phillies]] where he was an integral member of the [[1980 World Series]] winning team.<ref name="sabrbio">{{cite web|url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/Manny-Trillo/|first=Leonte|last=Landino|title=Manny Trillo Baseball BioProject|work=[[Society for American Baseball Research]]|access-date=June 26, 2025}}</ref><ref name="He's Hot, But Not A Hot Dog">{{cite web |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1980/09/08/hes-hot-but-not-a-hot-dog-with-his-batting-average-high-among-the-league-leaders-and-his-fielding-as-slick-as-ever-second-baseman-manny-trillo-of-philadelphia-is-hushing-up-his-critics |title=He's Hot, But Not A Hot Dog |publisher=si.com |accessdate=24 June 2025 }}</ref><ref name="Unsung hero Trillo still flying under the radar">{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/phillies-manny-trillo-low-key-in-retirement-c265608740 |title=Unsung hero Trillo still flying under the radar |publisher=mlb.com |access-date=July 2, 2025}}</ref> 

A four-time All-Star with a strong throwing arm, Trillo was known as one of the best fielding second basemen of his era, winning three Gold Glove Awards during his career (1979, 1981, 1982).<ref name="He's Hot, But Not A Hot Dog"/><ref name="Manny Trillo: He's Unsung But Not Under-rated!">{{Cite magazine |last=Stark |first=Jayson |date=June 1981 |title=Manny Trillo: He's Unsung But Not Under-rated! |magazine=Baseball Digest |volume=40 |issue=6 |issn=0005-609X}}</ref> In 1982, he set a Major League record for second basemen when he fielded 479 consecutive chances without an error. He also played for the [[Oakland Athletics]], [[Cleveland Indians]], [[Montreal Expos]], [[San Francisco Giants]], and [[Cincinnati Reds]].<ref name="Manny Trillo at Baseball Reference">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/trillma01.shtml |title=Manny Trillo at Baseball Reference |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=June 17, 2025}}</ref> After his playing career he worked as a [[Minor league baseball|minor league]] coach for several major league organizations. 

In 1983, the Phillies selected Trillo as the second baseman for their Centennial Team, commemorating the best players of the first 100 years in franchise history. He was inducted into the [[Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum]] in 2007 and in 2020, he was selected for enshrinement on the [[Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame]].

==Baseball career==
===Early life===
Trillo was born on December 25, 1950 in [[Caripito]] in northeastern [[Venezuela]], where his father worked in the oil industry.<ref name="sabrbio"/> He grew up in the small town of Quiriquire, where a physical education instructor encouraged him to contact former major league player, [[Yo-Yo Davalillo|Pompeyo Davalillo]], who had played for the Washington Senators in 1953.<ref name="sabrbio"/> Trillo spent two years training under Davalillo's tutelage and in 1968 he signed a contract to play for the [[Philadelphia Phillies]] as a [[catcher]].<ref name="sabrbio"/>

===Minor league career===
Trillo was converted into a [[third baseman]] by his first [[Minor league baseball|minor league]] manager, [[Dallas Green (Major League Baseball)|Dallas Green]].<ref name="Manny Trillo: He's Unsung But Not Under-rated!" /><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Ashburn |first=Ritchie |date=April 1978 |title=How The Phils Let Trillo Get Away |magazine=Baseball Digest |volume=37 |issue=4 |issn=0005-609X}}</ref> In 1969, he was selected by the [[Oakland Athletics]] from the Phillies in the [[Rule 5 draft]].<ref name="sabrbio"/> In 1973, manager [[Sherm Lollar]] allowed Trillo to gain experience as a second baseman while playing for the Athletics' [[Triple-A (baseball)|Triple A]] team, the [[Tucson Toros]].<ref name="sabrbio"/><ref name="Manny Trillo: He's Unsung But Not Under-rated!" /> In 130 games with the Toros he posted a .312 batting average and led the team with 78 RBIs.<ref name="sabrbio"/> His impressive performance earned him a promotion and he made his Major League debut at the age of 22 with Oakland on June 28, 1973.<ref name="sabrbio"/> 

===Oakland Athletics===
Trillo remained with the club as the Athletics won the [[American League West|American League Western Division]] pennant by six games over the Kansas City Royals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1973.shtml |title=1973 American League standings |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=June 17, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1973_ALCS.shtml |title=1973 American League Championship Series |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=June 17, 2025}}</ref> Trillo was involved in a pair of controversies about his roster eligibility for the 1973 postseason. MLB strictly enforced a rule that only players on a major league roster on August 31 were eligible for the postseason. After [[José Morales (designated hitter)|José Morales]]' contract was sold to the [[Montreal Expos]] on September 18 and [[Billy North|Bill North]] severely [[Sprained ankle|sprained an ankle]], the A's received approval from their [[1973 American League Championship Series|American League Championship Series]] opponent the [[Baltimore Orioles]] to allow the additions to their roster of both Trillo and [[Allan Lewis (baseball)|Allan Lewis]]. A's owner [[Charles O. Finley|Charlie Finley]] submitted the same request to the [[New York Mets]], his team's [[1973 World Series]] opponent, but New York only approved Lewis.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=qTpJSiTJ28YC&dq=manny+trillo+a%27s+mets+1973+world+series+lewis+north&pg=PT60 Dickey, Glenn. ''Champions: The Story of the First Two Oakland A's Dynasties &ndash; And the Building of the Third''. Chicago, IL: Triumph Books, 2013.] Retrieved July 28, 2018</ref> When [[Mike Andrews]] committed two errors in a four-run twelfth inning of Oakland's Game 2 defeat,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/OAK/OAK197310140.shtml |title=1973 World Series Game 2 box score |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=June 17, 2025}}</ref> Finley attempted to have Andrews waived onto the [[disabled list]] in order to activate Trillo.<ref name="Manny Trillo: He's Unsung But Not Under-rated!" /> [[Commissioner of Baseball]] [[Bowie Kuhn]] ruled against Finley, who was forced to reinstate Andrews for Game 4 while Trillo remained on the ineligible list.<ref name="Manny Trillo: He's Unsung But Not Under-rated!" />

In April [[1974 Oakland Athletics season|1974]], Trillo played 12 games for the Athletics but only had a .100 batting average when he was sent back to the Tucson Toros.<ref name="Manny Trillo at Baseball Reference" /> He was eventually brought back to the major leagues in September. He appeared in one game of the [[1974 American League Championship Series]] against the Baltimore Orioles, but did not make any further appearances as the Athletics defeated the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] in the [[1974 World Series]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1974_WS.shtml |title=1974 World Series |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=June 17, 2025}}</ref>

[[File:Manny Trillo.jpg|thumb|right|175px|Trillo playing for the Cubs in 1988.]]

===Chicago Cubs===
On October 23, {{mlby|1974}}, Trillo was traded along with [[Darold Knowles]] and [[Bob Locker]] to the Chicago Cubs for [[Billy Williams (left fielder)|Billy Williams]].<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1915&dat=19741024&id=I9tGAAAAIBAJ&sjid=P_gMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1293,4050264&hl=en A's get Billy Williams in trade with Chicago]</ref> In his first full season in the Major Leagues, Trillo had a career-high 70 runs batted in, and he finished third in the 1975 [[National League (baseball)|National League]] [[Rookie of the Year (award)|Rookie of the Year]] Award balloting behind [[John Montefusco]] and [[Gary Carter]].<ref name="Manny Trillo at Baseball Reference" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1975.shtml#NLroy |title=1975 Rookie of the Year Award voting results |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=June 17, 2025}}</ref> With the Cubs, Trillo developed a reputation for his impressive defensive skills and, coalesced with Cubs' [[shortstop]] [[Iván DeJesús]] into one of the best [[double play]] combinations in baseball.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Vass |first=George |date=February 1981 |title=Double Play Leaders |magazine=Baseball Digest |volume=40 |issue=2 |issn=0005-609X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Vass |first=George |date=August 1977 |title=The Cubs' New Latin Connection |magazine=Baseball Digest |volume=36 |issue=8 |issn=0005-609X}}</ref> He led National League second basemen in [[Assist (baseball)|assists]] for four consecutive seasons from 1975 to 1978.<ref name="Manny Trillo at Baseball Reference"/> 

In 1977, he led the league with a .380 batting average as of June 9th, earning him his first selection to the [[1977 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|National League All-Star team]] as a reserve player behind [[Joe Morgan]].<ref name="sabrbio"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Jauss |first=Bill |title=Cubs' Light-Hitting Trillo Wielding Heavy Bat In NL |date=June 9, 1977 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oEhVAAAAIBAJ&lpg=PA5&dq=manny%20trillo&pg=PA5#v=onepage&q=manny%20trillo&f=false |access-date=June 26, 2025 |work=The News Dispatch}}</ref> In 1978 Trillo led National League second basemen in [[double play]]s turned.<ref name="Manny Trillo at Baseball Reference"/> He remained with the Cubs for four seasons before being traded to the Philadelphia Phillies on February 23, [[1979 Philadelphia Phillies season|1979]], as part of an eight-player trade.<ref name="Manny Trillo Trades and Transactions at Baseball Almanac">{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/trades.php?p=trillma01 |title=Manny Trillo Trades and Transactions |publisher=baseball-almanac.com |access-date=June 17, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |title=Phils Acquire Trillo |date=February 24, 1979 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mZZjAAAAIBAJ&lpg=PA25&dq=manny%20trillo&pg=PA25#v=onepage&q=manny%20trillo&f=false |access-date=June 26, 2025 |work=The Phoenix}}</ref>

===Philadelphia Phillies===
Trillo was reunited with his former minor league manager in Philadelphia when Dallas Green replaced [[Danny Ozark]] as the Phillies' manager on August 31, 1979.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LgUOAAAAIBAJ&pg=4036,44631&dq=dallas+green+1979+phillies&hl=en|title=Phillies dismiss Ozark as manager|date=September 1, 1979|page=9|agency=Associated Press|publisher=Block Communications|work=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]|access-date=July 2, 2025}}</ref> He won his first [[Gold Glove Award]] in 1979 and became an integral member of the Phillies defense.<ref name="He's Hot, But Not A Hot Dog"/><ref name="Unsung hero Trillo still flying under the radar"/><ref name="A Look Back at Manny Trillo's Legendary Four Seasons in Philadelphia">{{cite web |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/phillies/news/philadelphia-phillies-legends-manny-trillo-mlb-trade-rumors |title=A Look Back at Manny Trillo's Legendary Four Seasons in Philadelphia |publisher=si.com |accessdate=24 June 2025 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/gold_glove_nl.shtml |title=National League Gold Glove Award winners |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=June 17, 2025}}</ref> In {{mlby|1980}}, Trillo hit for over a .300 [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] until the middle of September, finishing the season with a career-high .292 average as the Phillies won the National League Eastern Division title.<ref name="He's Hot, But Not A Hot Dog"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.cgi?n1=trillma01&t=b&year=1980 |title=Manny Trillo 1980 Batting Log |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=June 17, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1979/05/28/hes-the-phillie-fillip-along-with-a-hot-bat-pete-rose-brought-needed-ardor-to-the-phils-but-his-arrival-isnt-the-only-reason-that-philly-is-flying |title=He's The Phillies Fillip |publisher=si.com |accessdate=24 June 2025 }}</ref> Along with his defensive talents, he won the 1980 [[Silver Slugger Award]] for second basemen, which is awarded annually to the best [[Batting (baseball)|offensive]] player at each [[Baseball positions|position]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/silver_slugger_nl.shtml#1980 |title=1980 National League Silver Slugger Award winners |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=June 17, 2025}}</ref> 

In the [[1980 National League Championship Series]] against the [[1980 Houston Astros season|Houston Astros]], he posted a .381 batting average with four [[runs batted in]], and teamed up with [[Bake McBride]] in the decisive Game 5 to relay a throw to [[home plate]], cutting off [[Luis Pujols]] attempting to score from first base on a [[Double (baseball)|double]] by [[Craig Reynolds (baseball)|Craig Reynolds]].<ref name="Unsung hero Trillo still flying under the radar"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU198010120.shtml |title=1980 NLCS Game 5 box score |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=June 17, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1980_NLCS.shtml |title=1980 National League Championship Series |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=June 17, 2025}}</ref><ref name="Phillies Capture Club's First World Series Title">{{Cite magazine |last=O'Loughlin |first=Joe |date=October 2000 |title=Phillies Capture Club's First World Series Title |magazine=Baseball Digest |volume=59 |issue=10 |issn=0005-609X}}</ref> Trillo's performance earned him the [[League Championship Series Most Valuable Player Award]].<ref name="A Look Back at Manny Trillo's Legendary Four Seasons in Philadelphia"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/postmvp.shtml |title=NLCS MVP Award winners |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=June 17, 2025}}</ref> In the [[1980 World Series]] against the [[1980 Kansas City Royals season|Kansas City Royals]], Trillo once again made his mark in Game 5 by making another relay throw to cut off [[Darrell Porter]] trying to score in the sixth inning.<ref name="A Look Back at Manny Trillo's Legendary Four Seasons in Philadelphia"/><ref name="Unsung hero Trillo still flying under the radar"/><ref name="1980 World Series Game 5 box score at Baseball Reference">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/KCA/KCA198010190.shtml |title=1980 World Series Game 5 box score |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=June 17, 2025}}</ref> He then hit a [[Single (baseball)|single]] with two [[Out (baseball)|outs]] in the ninth inning to drive home the winning run.<ref name="A Look Back at Manny Trillo's Legendary Four Seasons in Philadelphia"/><ref name="1980 World Series Game 5 box score at Baseball Reference" /> The Phillies went on to win Game 6 and claimed the first world championship in the team's history.<ref name="Phillies Capture Club's First World Series Title" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1980_WS.shtml |title=1980 World Series |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=June 17, 2025}}</ref>

[[1981 Philadelphia Phillies season|1981]] was another good year for Trillo as he was selected as a reserve for the National League All-Star team, and won his second Gold Glove Award and his second consecutive Silver Slugger Award however, the Phillies dropped to third place in the National League Eastern Division. He was voted to be the starting second baseman for the National League in the 1982 All-Star Game.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/allstar/1982-allstar-game.shtml |title=1982 All Star Game |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=June 29, 2025}}</ref> 

Trillo played 89 consecutive games overall before he committed an error, falling two games short of the Major League record 91-game errorless streak for second basemen set by Joe Morgan in the 1977 and 1978 seasons.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Vass |first=George |date=September 1986 |title=The Game I'll Never Forget |magazine=Baseball Digest |volume=45 |issue=9 |issn=0005-609X}}</ref> During his streak, Trillo handled 479 consecutive [[Total chances|chances]] without an error, breaking the previous Major League record of 458 set by [[Jerry Adair]] over the 1964 and 1965 seasons.<ref name="Unsung hero Trillo still flying under the radar"/><ref name="Cubs’ Sandberg Sets Error-Free Record">{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-04-23-sp-269-story.html |title=Cubs’ Sandberg Sets Error-Free Record |publisher=latimes.com |access-date=June 29, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/07/27/Manny-Trillo-will-attempt-to-break-the-National-League/3850396590400/ |title=Manny Trillo will attempt to break the National League |publisher=upi.com |access-date=June 29, 2025}}</ref><ref name="Trillo joins Wall of Fame">{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/phillies-alumni-manny-trillo-joins-wall-of-fame |title=Trillo joins Wall of Fame |publisher=mlb.com |access-date=June 29, 2025}}</ref> His record was broken by [[Ryne Sandberg]] in 1990.<ref name="Cubs’ Sandberg Sets Error-Free Record"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://baseballbiography.com/ryne-sandberg-1959/ |title=Ryne Sandberg at baseballbiography.com |publisher=baseballbiography.com |access-date=June 30, 2025}}</ref> Trillo committed only 5 [[Fielding error|errors]] during the 1982 season, setting a new National League record for second baseman with a .9937 [[fielding percentage]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://baseballbiography.com/manny-trillo-1950/ |title=Manny Trillo at baseballbiography.com |publisher=baseballbiography.com |access-date=June 30, 2025}}</ref><ref name="Progressive Leaders & Records for Fielding Percentage as 2B">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/fielding_perc_2b_progress.shtml |title=Progressive Leaders & Records for Fielding Percentage as 2B |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=June 29, 2025}}</ref> This record was also broken by Sandberg in 1990.<ref name="Progressive Leaders & Records for Fielding Percentage as 2B"/>

===Later career===
[[File:1985 Mother's Cookies - Manny Trillo.JPG|thumb|right|Trillo batting for the Giants in 1985]]
Trillo was one of five [[1982 Philadelphia Phillies season|Phillies]] along with [[George Vukovich]], [[Julio Franco]], [[Jerry Willard]] and [[Jay Baller]] who were traded to the [[1983 Cleveland Indians season|Cleveland Indians]] for [[Von Hayes]] at the [[Winter Meetings]] on December 9, 1982.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1982/12/10/sports/phillies-trade-trillo-for-hayes.html "Phillies Trade Trillo for Hayes," ''The New York Times'', Friday, December 10, 1982.] Retrieved July 9, 2023.</ref> In 1983, he made his second consecutive start as the [[1983 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] second baseman, this time for the American League.<ref name="Manny Trillo at Baseball Reference" /> Trillo also won his third and final Gold Glove Award in {{mlby|1983}}.<ref name="Manny Trillo at Baseball Reference" /> He finished the 1983 campaign with the [[1983 Montreal Expos season|Montreal Expos]] after being dealt from Cleveland for minor-league outfielder Don Carter and cash on August 17.<ref name="Manny Trillo Trades and Transactions at Baseball Almanac"/> Trillo had expressed a desire to return to the National League and demanded a five-year $4 million contract, the latter of which the Indians lacked the wherewithal to re-sign him.<ref>[https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/08/18/The-Cleveland-Indians-have-traded-All-Star-second-baseman-Manny/5003430027200/ "The Cleveland Indians have traded All-Star second baseman Manny...," ''United Press International'' (UPI), Thursday, August 18, 1983.] Retrieved July 9, 2023.</ref> At the end of the season Trillo became a free agent and signed a contract with the San Francisco Giants.<ref name="Manny Trillo Trades and Transactions at Baseball Almanac"/> In two seasons with the Giants, he produced a ,238 batting average and committed 18 errors.<ref name="Manny Trillo at Baseball Reference" />

After Dallas Green became the Chicago Cubs' General Manager he acquired Trillo from the Giants for [[Dave Owen (baseball)|Dave Owen]] on December 11, 1985.<ref name="sabrbio"/><ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1985/12/12/orioles-trade-roenicke-for-bordi-hudler/56425316-0377-4977-b5b5-c8c55cce6534/ "Orioles Trade Roenicke for Bordi, Hudler," ''The Washington Post'', Thursday, December 12, 1985.] Retrieved July 10, 2023.</ref> During his three seasons with the Cubs, Trillo played all the infield positions while serving as a [[Utility player (baseball)|utility player]] and helped to mentor younger Cubs players such as Ryne Sandberg and [[Shawon Dunston]].<ref name="sabrbio"/> He had a .296 batting average in 1986 along with a career-high eight home runs in 1987.<ref name="Manny Trillo at Baseball Reference" /> Trillo was released by the Cubs after the 1988 season and signed a contract to play for the Cincinnati Reds as a utility player.<ref name="Manny Trillo at Baseball Reference" /> After playing in 17 games, he was released by the Reds on May 25, 1989.<ref name="Manny Trillo at Baseball Reference" /> Trillo played in his final major league game on May 20, 1989 at the age of 38.<ref name="Manny Trillo at Baseball Reference" />

After his playing career, Trillo worked as a minor-league coach for the Cubs and Phillies as well as the [[Milwaukee Brewers]], [[New York Yankees]], and the [[Chicago White Sox]].<ref name="sabrbio"/> White Sox manager, [[Ozzie Guillen]], hired Trillo as a guest coach for the [[2005 World Series]].<ref name="sabrbio"/>

==Career statistics==
In a seventeen-year major league career, Trillo played in 1,780 [[Games played|games]], accumulating 1,562 [[Hit (baseball)|hits]] in 5,950 [[at bats]] for a .263 career batting average along with 61 home runs,571 runs batted in and a .316 on-base percentage.<ref name="Manny Trillo at Baseball Reference" /> He ended his career with a .981 [[fielding percentage]].<ref name="Manny Trillo at Baseball Reference" /> A four-time [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]], Trillo was a three-time Gold Glove winner and a two-time Silver Slugger Award winner.<ref name="Manny Trillo at Baseball Reference" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=trillma01 |title=Manny Trillo at Baseball Almanac |publisher=baseball-almanac.com |access-date=June 24, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thebaseballcube.com/content/player/19013/ |title=Manny Trillo at the Baseball Cube |publisher=thebaseballcube.com |access-date=June 24, 2025}}</ref> He led National League second basemen four times in [[Assist (baseball)|assists]], three times in [[range factor]] and twice in [[putout]]s.<ref name="Manny Trillo at Baseball Reference" />

{| border="true"
|-----
| G || AB || H || 2B || 3B || HR || R || RBI
| BB || IBB || SO || SH || SF || HBP || AVG || OBP || SLG || FLD%
|-----
| 1,780 || 5,950 || 1,562 || 239 || 33 || 61 || 598 || 571
| 452 || &nbsp; 35 || 742 || 88
| 49 || 34 || .263 || .316 || .345 || .981
|}

==Venezuelan professional baseball==
Like many Venezuelan baseball players of his era, Trillo returned to Venezuela during the off-season to play in the [[Venezuelan Professional Baseball League]].<ref name="sabrbio"/> As a member of the [[Leones del Caracas]], he won the Venezuelan League's [[Rookie of the Year (award)|Rookie of the Year]] award in the 1971-1972 winter season.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=YXg4bi3Rg68C&lpg=PA424&dq=vic%20davalillo&pg=PA423#v=onepage&q=vic%20davalillo&f=false  ''Baseball with a Latin beat: a history of the Latin American game'' By Peter C. Bjarkman, McFarland, 1994] {{ISBN|0-89950-973-8}} {{ISBN|978-0-89950-973-0}}</ref> In the 1972-1973 season, he played a large role in helping the Leones win the league championship and advance to the [[1973 Caribbean Series]] where they eventually lost to the [[Tigres del Licey]] from the Dominican Republic.<ref name="sabrbio"/> In the 1979-1980 season, Trillo hit .306 in 30 games to help Caracas to win its third title in eight seasons.<ref name="sabrbio"/> In the [[1980 Caribbean Series]] held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Caracas would tie for second place with the [[Vaqueros de Bayamón (baseball)|Vaqueros de Bayamón]] of the Puerto Rican League as the Tigres del Licey were the champions.<ref name="sabrbio"/>

Trillo was involved in a salary dispute with the Leones during the 1980-1981 season which led to him being traded to the [[Águilas del Zulia]] in one of the most impactful trades in Venezuelan professional baseball history.<ref name="sabrbio"/> Trillo became a team leader for the Águilas, helping the team win reach the league playoff finals in 1981 and 1982.<ref name="sabrbio"/> He was also a liaison between the Chicago Cubs and the Águilas in Venezuela, helping the Cubs develop [[Prospect (sports)|prospects]] in winter baseball.<ref name="sabrbio"/> Trillo was a member of the Águilas team that won the [[1984 Caribbean Series]] in San Juan, Puerto Rico.<ref name="sabrbio"/> He played his final season in the Venezuelan League as the [[Player-coach#Player–managers in baseball|player–manager]] for the Águilas during the 1987-1988 winter season. In 1988 Trillo became a full-time coach for the Águilas.<ref name="sabrbio"/>

==Awards & honors==
In 2007, Trillo was inducted into the [[Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum]].<ref>[http://www.museodebeisbol.org/salonfama/salon.php www.museodebeisbol.org] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090904015013/http://www.museodebeisbol.org/salonfama/salon.php |date=2009-09-04 }}</ref>
In 1983, he was named to the Philadelphia Phillies Centennial Team as its second baseman. In 2020, he was selected for enshrinement on the [[Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame]].<ref name="Trillo joins Wall of Fame"/>

==See also==
* [[List of players from Venezuela in Major League Baseball]]
* [[List of Gold Glove Award winners at second base]]
* [[List of Silver Slugger Award winners at second base]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{baseballstats|mlb=123466|espn=303|br=t/trillma01|fangraphs=1013184|brm=trillo001jes|retro=T/Ptrilm001}}
*{{SABR Baseball Biography Project|c78d7380}}
*[https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=trillma01 Manny Trillo] at Baseball Almanac

{{Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame}}
{{1974 Oakland Athletics}}
{{1980 Philadelphia Phillies}}
{{NLCS MVP}}
{{NL 2B Silver Slugger Award}}
{{NL 2B Gold Glove Award}}
{{Philly Baseball Wall of Fame}}

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[[Category:1950 births]]
[[Category:Águilas del Zulia players]]
[[Category:American League All-Stars]]
[[Category:Birmingham A's players]]
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[[Category:Gold Glove Award winners]]
[[Category:Huron Phillies players]]
[[Category:Iowa Oaks players]]
[[Category:Leones del Caracas players]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Llaneros de Portuguesa players]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball players from Venezuela]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball second basemen]]
[[Category:Minor league baseball coaches]]
[[Category:Minor league baseball managers]]
[[Category:Montreal Expos players]]
[[Category:National League All-Stars]]
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[[Category:Venezuelan baseball coaches]]
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[[Category:20th-century Venezuelan sportsmen]]