Trucks was a two-time All-Star and a two-time league leader in shutouts. In 1952, Trucks became the third major leaguer to throw two no-hitters in a season. After his playing career, Trucks coached for several years in the major leagues. At the time of his death in March 2013, he was one of the oldest living former major league players.
Career
The Detroit Tigers signed Trucks as an amateur in 1938. In his first pro season, Trucks set a minor league record with 418 strikeouts.[citation needed] He also threw four no-hitters in the minors.[citation needed] He debuted with the Tigers in the fall of 1941.
Trucks missed two seasons due to military service in World War II and was discharged from the Navy less than two weeks before his start in the second game of the 1945 World Series. Because of the war and returning servicemen, the American and National Leagues waived the rule requiring players to have been on the team's roster by September 1 to qualify for post-season play. He defeated the Chicago Cubs in that game. At the time of his death, he was the last living pitcher to face the Cubs in a World Series game. The only other pitcher to win a post-season game without winning a regular season game is Chris Carpenter of the 2012St. Louis Cardinals.[citation needed]
In 1949, Trucks was selected for the MLB All-Star Game and he led the league in shutouts and strikeouts. In 1952, despite a 5–19 record and the Detroit Tigers' equally terrible 50-104-2 record, Trucks became just the third major league pitcher to hurl two no-hitters in one season (three others have since matched the feat). He won both no-hitters by a score of 1-0, beating the Washington Senators on May 15[1] and the New York Yankees on August 25.[2] In the 1953 season, Trucks recorded a 20-10 record, 149 strikeouts and a 2.93 ERA and finished fifth in AL MVP voting. He had been traded early that season from the St. Louis Browns to the Chicago White Sox, becoming one of a small number of pitchers traded during a 20-win season. [who?] He earned his second All-Star distinction in 1954, a year in which he led the AL in shutouts for a second time.
Along with his two no-hitters in his major league career, Trucks has also thrown four one-hitters and four two-hitters.[citation needed]
Coaching
After retiring as a player, Trucks joined the coaching staff of the Pittsburgh Pirates, winning the 1960 World Series with them against his old team, the Yankees. He continued coaching with the Pirates, then coached the Atlanta Braves and ended his MLB career with the Tigers in 1974.[3]
In the summer of 2012, Trucks was injured in a fall, but he made a recovery.[7] He died on March 23, 2013, at the age of 95 in Calera, Alabama.[8] He had been hospitalized with pneumonia shortly before his death.[7]
