While with the Tigers in 1952, this burly Southerner tossed a pair of no-hitters
against the Senators and the Yankees, joining such luminaries as
Johnny Vander Meer,
Allie Reynolds, and
Nolan Ryan as the only pitchers to accomplish this feat in a
single season. Trucks also had four no-hitters in the minors and a near-miss with
the White Sox in 1954. The control pitcher returned from military service in 1945
and appeared in the
World Series against the Cubs, winning 4-1. He had appeared in
only one game during the regular season. After a decade in Detroit, Trucks arrived
in Chicago via St. Louis in 1954. Frank Lane sent
Lou Kretlow and $95,000 to Bill
Veeck for Trucks and Bob Elliot. Trucks recorded eight straight victories en route
to his first and only twenty-victory season. Fading after 1955, he returned to the
Tigers in 1956. He wound up his career with the Yankees as a spot starter and relief
man in their pennant year of 1958.
(RL)