1953 Topps #96 Virgil Trucks
1953 Topps #96 Virgil Trucks
About Virgil Trucks
Signed by the Detroit Tigers as an amateur out of Alabama in the late 1930s, right-hander Virgil Trucks announced himself in the minors, fanning a reported 400-plus batters in a single 1938 season at Andalusia — a feat that earned him the enduring nickname "Fire" from a sportswriter. He reached Detroit in 1941 and pitched 17 major-league seasons (1941-1958) for the Tigers, St. Louis Browns, Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Athletics and New York Yankees, finishing 177-135 with a 3.39 ERA and 1,534 strikeouts. A two-time All-Star (1949, 1954), Trucks won Game 2 of the 1945 World Series 4-1 over the Cubs, a title for Detroit. His signature feat came in 1952: despite a 5-19 record for a last-place club, he became the third pitcher to throw two no-hitters in one season, both by 1-0 scores — against Washington on May 15 and the Yankees on August 25. Traded to the Browns for 1953, he is pictured here as a Brown before being dealt to the White Sox that June. Some 1953 backs show his biography printed in white text, others in black — a minor, collectible series-2 printing variation.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Designations, variations & errors
White-text biography
A minor printing variation: on some copies the back biography is printed in white text, on others in black text. Catalogued by TCDB (and noted by price guides for the series-2 range) but considered a minor variation, not a headline.
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 425 | 0 | 6 | 36 | 83 | 135 | 91 | 74 | 0 |
| SGC | 59 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 2 |
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Snapshot 2026-06-26. Half-grades fold down (8.5→8). PSA counts are straight-graded.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1953 Topps Virgil Trucks card?
It is card #96 of the 1953 Topps Baseball set - one of the most beautiful sets ever made, with hand-painted color portraits numbered to 280 (274 cards issued). It pictures the St. Louis Browns player.
Is the 1953 Topps Virgil Trucks valuable?
Value depends on grade and eye appeal. Use the links above to check current T206 Cards inventory and live eBay listings.
Sources: Trading Card Database, Baseball-Reference, PSA & SGC population reports, and Baseball-Almanac. Card data & population compiled and maintained by T206Cards.com. Page last updated 2026-07-01.