March 23, 2013

Virgil Oliver Trucks

March 23, 2013
Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers Player (1941 – 1952, 1956)
2x World Series Champions

Virgil Oliver Trucks

Detroit Tigers Player (1941 – 1952, 1956)

Virgil Trucks was born in Birmingham, Alabama and was signed by the Tigers as an amateur in 1938. He debuted with the Tigers in 1941 and was embarking on a successful career that was interrupted when he served in  the U.S. Navy during World War II.  He was discharged two weeks prior to the start of the 1945 World Series where he won Game 2 to help the Tigers defeat the Cubs in the Series. His MLB career included twelve seasons with the Tigers, where he compiled a record of 114 – 96, a 3.50 Earned Run Average and 1,046 strikeouts. He was a two-time All-Star and a two-time World Series Champion, he is also one of only four pitchers to throw two no-hitters in the same season. Virgil Trucks was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1974 and was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 1985. He passed away on March 23, 2013 at 95 years of age.