Obituary for Thomas Trotman
THOMAS TROTMAN
Moorestown, NJ
Thomas Trotman passed away on June 1, 2021. He was 78 years old. Tom’s storied life started at a young age. In 1955, he played on the first racially integrated team to advance to the Little League World Series championship game. A lifelong public servant, Tom went on to spend over forty years as an educator at Cherry Hill High School West. For over thirty of those years, Tom coached varsity baseball, sharing his love and knowledge of the sport with thousands of student athletes. By the end of his career, Tom was one of the most accomplished high school coaches in New Jersey state history. Surrounded by hundreds of friends, colleagues, and former players, the West baseball field was named in his honor in 2006. Above all else, Tom was a devoted and loving family man. Beloved wife of Michele (nee Leardo). Loving father of Hilary Trotman (Kenneth Lane), Thomas Trotman, Timothy Trotman (Maureen), and Ricky Trotman. Proud grandfather of Ellie and Luke. Brother of Mary Sue Mundorf (Armit) and the late Frank “Bake” Trotman. Relatives and friends are invited to the visitation on Saturday June 5th from 1:30-3:30 PM at the Bradley Funeral Home, Rt. 73 and Evesham Rd., Marlton, NJ. Memorial Service will begin at 3:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Thomas’ name to Little League Baseball, Incorporated, ATTN: Chief Financial Officer, PO Box 3485, 538 US Route 15 Hwy, Williamsport, PA 17701-0485 (www.littleleague.org).
NJ BASEBALL COMMUNITY LOSES A LEGENDARY COACH WITH PASSING OF TOM TROTMAN
By Kevin Minnick | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Updated Jun 02, 2021; Posted Jun 02, 2021
Former longtime Cherry Hill West baseball coach Tom Trotman passed away Monday night. He enjoyed a tremendous career and is tenth on South Jersey's all-time wins list.
Tom Trotman was a legend in the New Jersey baseball community, a giant in coaching circles.
The first to direct a team to four straight state championships, the former longtime Cherry Hill West coach died Tuesday night, according to current coach Dan McMaster.
A 1961 graduate of Delaware Township High School (now Cherry Hill West), Trotman spent 27 years at the helm and finished with a 467-234-1 career record - tenth all time in South Jersey history.
Under Trotman, the Lions won Group 4 state titles in 1989, 1990 and 1992. They won the Group 3 crown in 1991. He also led them to the Group 3 title game in 1987 and 1988.
“Obviously it’s a tough day for a lot of South Jersey people. I spent two years with him, two years I’ll never forget,” said former standout pitcher Shawn Senior, who was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the fourth round of the 1993 MLB Draft out of North Carolina State.
“The platform he created at Cherry Hill West while I was there, before and after for that matter, is probably something that won’t ever be duplicated. The culture he created, the discipline he put in his players was just amazing. When you came there, every day was just business. There was no fooling around and you knew what you were walking into. You just knew you had to be at a certain level and he was prepared to be fair to every single guy. There was no favoritism.”
Trotman’s teams also won 10 South Jersey titles as well as the 1989 Diamond Classic championship. The field at Cherry Hill West is named in his honor, affectionately referred to as “The Trot.”
“Coach was South Jersey baseball. Coach was Cherry Hill,” McMaster said. “He started the program at West, the success at West.
“We talk about ‘Tradition Never Graduates’ and he’s the one who established that tradition. You hear about all of his success on the field, all of the championships, but when you talk to his former players you realize he was so much more than that. He was about relationships and developing men. He left a legacy that we’re honored to try and carry on every day.”
Trotman’s best teams on the field were from 1989-1992, many recognized as being among the finest in the country. His 1992 team was ranked No. 1 by Collegiate Baseball and No. 2 by USA Today. That team also won the prestigious Upper Deck Tournament held in California.
“He was a straight shooter, didn’t beat around the bush. He told you the way it was,” said Bo Gray, who was a perfect 30-0 on the mound during his career under Trotman and taken in the 34th round of the 1992 MLB Draft by the Phillies. “He was an easy coach to play for and it was easy to buy into his process.
“He was passionate, not only about his players but his family, too. You knew coming into every season exactly where you stood and what you needed to do to get into the lineup or what you needed to do to stay there. He was old school - demanded accountability and responsibility from his players.”
Trotman was inducted into the Cherry Hill West Athletic Hall of Fame in 1992 and is also a member of the South Jersey Coaches Association Hall of Fame, the Pennsylvania Baseball Hall of Fame as well as the South Jersey Baseball Hall of Fame.
“I was obviously a big fan of Tom and the great teams he had over the years. He was one of the great statesmen of our game,” longtime Bishop Eustace coach Sam Tropiano said. “He was certainly a great one.”
Kevin Minnick covers South Jersey baseball. He can be reached at kminnick@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @kminnicksports
Moorestown, NJ
Thomas Trotman passed away on June 1, 2021. He was 78 years old. Tom’s storied life started at a young age. In 1955, he played on the first racially integrated team to advance to the Little League World Series championship game. A lifelong public servant, Tom went on to spend over forty years as an educator at Cherry Hill High School West. For over thirty of those years, Tom coached varsity baseball, sharing his love and knowledge of the sport with thousands of student athletes. By the end of his career, Tom was one of the most accomplished high school coaches in New Jersey state history. Surrounded by hundreds of friends, colleagues, and former players, the West baseball field was named in his honor in 2006. Above all else, Tom was a devoted and loving family man. Beloved wife of Michele (nee Leardo). Loving father of Hilary Trotman (Kenneth Lane), Thomas Trotman, Timothy Trotman (Maureen), and Ricky Trotman. Proud grandfather of Ellie and Luke. Brother of Mary Sue Mundorf (Armit) and the late Frank “Bake” Trotman. Relatives and friends are invited to the visitation on Saturday June 5th from 1:30-3:30 PM at the Bradley Funeral Home, Rt. 73 and Evesham Rd., Marlton, NJ. Memorial Service will begin at 3:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Thomas’ name to Little League Baseball, Incorporated, ATTN: Chief Financial Officer, PO Box 3485, 538 US Route 15 Hwy, Williamsport, PA 17701-0485 (www.littleleague.org).
NJ BASEBALL COMMUNITY LOSES A LEGENDARY COACH WITH PASSING OF TOM TROTMAN
By Kevin Minnick | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Updated Jun 02, 2021; Posted Jun 02, 2021
Former longtime Cherry Hill West baseball coach Tom Trotman passed away Monday night. He enjoyed a tremendous career and is tenth on South Jersey's all-time wins list.
Tom Trotman was a legend in the New Jersey baseball community, a giant in coaching circles.
The first to direct a team to four straight state championships, the former longtime Cherry Hill West coach died Tuesday night, according to current coach Dan McMaster.
A 1961 graduate of Delaware Township High School (now Cherry Hill West), Trotman spent 27 years at the helm and finished with a 467-234-1 career record - tenth all time in South Jersey history.
Under Trotman, the Lions won Group 4 state titles in 1989, 1990 and 1992. They won the Group 3 crown in 1991. He also led them to the Group 3 title game in 1987 and 1988.
“Obviously it’s a tough day for a lot of South Jersey people. I spent two years with him, two years I’ll never forget,” said former standout pitcher Shawn Senior, who was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the fourth round of the 1993 MLB Draft out of North Carolina State.
“The platform he created at Cherry Hill West while I was there, before and after for that matter, is probably something that won’t ever be duplicated. The culture he created, the discipline he put in his players was just amazing. When you came there, every day was just business. There was no fooling around and you knew what you were walking into. You just knew you had to be at a certain level and he was prepared to be fair to every single guy. There was no favoritism.”
Trotman’s teams also won 10 South Jersey titles as well as the 1989 Diamond Classic championship. The field at Cherry Hill West is named in his honor, affectionately referred to as “The Trot.”
“Coach was South Jersey baseball. Coach was Cherry Hill,” McMaster said. “He started the program at West, the success at West.
“We talk about ‘Tradition Never Graduates’ and he’s the one who established that tradition. You hear about all of his success on the field, all of the championships, but when you talk to his former players you realize he was so much more than that. He was about relationships and developing men. He left a legacy that we’re honored to try and carry on every day.”
Trotman’s best teams on the field were from 1989-1992, many recognized as being among the finest in the country. His 1992 team was ranked No. 1 by Collegiate Baseball and No. 2 by USA Today. That team also won the prestigious Upper Deck Tournament held in California.
“He was a straight shooter, didn’t beat around the bush. He told you the way it was,” said Bo Gray, who was a perfect 30-0 on the mound during his career under Trotman and taken in the 34th round of the 1992 MLB Draft by the Phillies. “He was an easy coach to play for and it was easy to buy into his process.
“He was passionate, not only about his players but his family, too. You knew coming into every season exactly where you stood and what you needed to do to get into the lineup or what you needed to do to stay there. He was old school - demanded accountability and responsibility from his players.”
Trotman was inducted into the Cherry Hill West Athletic Hall of Fame in 1992 and is also a member of the South Jersey Coaches Association Hall of Fame, the Pennsylvania Baseball Hall of Fame as well as the South Jersey Baseball Hall of Fame.
“I was obviously a big fan of Tom and the great teams he had over the years. He was one of the great statesmen of our game,” longtime Bishop Eustace coach Sam Tropiano said. “He was certainly a great one.”
Kevin Minnick covers South Jersey baseball. He can be reached at kminnick@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @kminnicksports