First, let’s take a look at the card I designed, following the 1972 template for a 20th anniversary:
Now, for those who do not know, why is it so unlikely that Trucks threw these two no-hitters? Well, if you look at his 1952 season you won’t even believe it. The man posted a 5-19 record, with a 3.97 earned run average over 29 starts and 35 appearances.
Granted, he was a much better pitcher than this over his career, but that 1952 season was one for the ages.
On May 15th he beat the Washington Senators 1-0, and then on August 25th he topped himself by spinning his second no-hitter of the year, beating the eventual (and reigning) World Champion New York Yankees by the very same score, 1-0.
At the time he was only the third pitcher to accomplish this feat, joining Johnny Vander Meer, who spun two consecutive no-no’s in 1938, and Allie Reynolds, who’s feat was featured here just about a week ago, as he pitched two no-hitters the year before Trucks in 1951.
Trucks would go on to pitch a very nice 17-year career in the Majors, winning 177 games with a 3.39 ERA and 1534 strikeouts.
He’d post a 20-win season in 1953, and would lead the American League in shutouts twice, with 6 in 1949 and five in 1954, while leading the league in K’s with 153 in ‘49 as well.
And speaking of K’s, in 1938 with the Andalusia team at D-Level, he posted a 25-6 record with a sparkling 1.25 ERA and an eye-popping 418 strikeouts!
Gotta love those Minor League whacky stats!