Baseball runs in the blood of the Trierweiler family, and perhaps none have exemplified that fact more than Tony Trierweiler, who starred at Portland St. Patrick as a shortstop and pitcher in the early 1970s before playing collegiately at Ferris State from 1974-1977.
Now, Trierweiler and his career accomplishments will be enshrined as part of the Greater Lansing Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2024, joining other Lansing baseball legends he played with in his day.
"It's a privilege and an honor, and I'm really grateful that they selected me," Trierweiler said. "To be included with all the great athletes that are in there and the sports dignitaries is really humbling and I'm just happy and excited to receive this honor."
Trierweiler grew up in Portland and played football, basketball and baseball at his school, but the diamond is where he starred as a four-year varsity player, being an all-conference player three seasons and was a state-runner up in 1971.
Trierweiler didn't play his freshman season with the Bulldogs but was a three-year starter after that. He was voted as the team's Most Improved Player in his sophomore season and was the team's Most Valuable Player in his junior and senior seasons.
Trierweiler broke out as a sophomore playing shortstop before moving to second base in his final two seasons with Ferris State. He was named captain in his senior season and earned all-conference honors his final two seasons and was an NAIA All-District player both seasons as well.
"I was fortunate to play with some really good teams there, and we won the conference three of my years at Ferris," Trierweiler said. "We had good success game-wise, and I had a pretty good three-year run out there."
Baseball is no longer a varsity sport at Ferris State, but Trierweiler's career numbers have held up as he is in the top 10 in most hitting categories all-time. Trierweiler is fifth in hits (134), sixth in batting average (.363), first in triples (13), seventh in home runs (16), and fourth in RBI (92) in Bulldogs baseball history.
Following his collegiate career, Trierweiler played 19 years in the Lansing City League, which featured minor league players, collegiate players, and some of the top high school players at the time.
"That league was very, very competitive, and that was before the Lansing Lugnuts came to town, and I played on a lot of good teams there," Trierweiler said. "It was fun to play there, but now I'm just excited to have my family here and just enjoy the moment when it happens."
The Trierweiler family continues to have a big influence on baseball in the Portland community. Tony's brother Chris manages Portland High School's varsity team, while his son, Travis, manages the junior varsity team.
With eight grandkids and another one on the way, there will surely be more baseball players proudly sporting the Trierweiler name on the back of the jersey.
"We grew up in a baseball family, playing as a teenager with my uncles and my dad in the Tri-County League, and it was kinda expected that you play, and we did," Trierweiler said. "When you're little and watch your elders play, you feel like you have to carry on the tradition. Watching my brother coach now, and Portland is a huge sports town and to see them have success, there's a sense of pride.
"Two of my sons played baseball, one for Grand Ledge and one at Lansing Catholic. Now, we start them young, my 3-year-old grandson is out in the backyard with the big red bat. My wife wants to make him a switch-hitter, but I'm not so sure."
Contact Nathaniel Bott at nbott@lsj.com and follow him on X @Nathaniel_Bott
48th Greater Lansing Sports Hall of Fame
When: Aug. 8; 4:30 — Welcome; 5:30 — Dinner; 6:30 — Induction ceremony
Where: Lansing Center
Tickets: $40 per person, call (517) 484-0677 or email everyb21@gmail.com for information.
2024 inductees: Mike Griffith, Chris Henderson , Fred Heumann, Kelly Holland , Molly Peterman, Tiffanie Shives, Tony Trierweiler, Roge't Ware, Roger Wing, 1991 East Lansing football, 1978 Laingsburg softball
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Greater Lansing Sports Hall of Fame: Tony Trierweiler starred on the diamond and heads to the hall
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