1957 Topps #187 Virgil Trucks
About Virgil Trucks
Virgil Oliver "Fire" Trucks was a hard-throwing right-handed pitcher whose nickname was coined by Birmingham News writer Jack House, who watched his blazing fastball for the Andalusia Bulldogs in 1938. Detroit scout Eddie Goostree signed him in 1937 as an outfielder for a $100 bonus before he converted to the mound, where he fanned a minor-league-record 418 batters in his first pro season. Reaching Detroit in 1941, Trucks was a two-time All-Star (1949, 1954) and, after a Navy discharge during World War II, won Game 2 of the 1945 World Series against the Cubs. In 1952 he became just the third pitcher to throw two no-hitters in one season, blanking Washington and the Yankees by identical 1-0 scores. He later pitched for the Browns, White Sox, and, as shown on this 1957 Topps card, the Kansas City Athletics, before finishing with the Yankees. Trucks retired with a 177-135 record, 33 shutouts, and a 3.39 ERA.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 614 | 1 | 29 | 182 | 210 | 110 | 52 | 30 | 0 |
| SGC | 38 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 13 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Snapshot 2026-07-05. Half grades fold down for both graders (8.5→8); PSA qualified slabs (OC, ST, PD, MC and the like) are not counted.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1957 Topps Virgil Trucks card?
It is card #187 of the 1957 Topps Baseball set - the 407-card, 2-1/2 by 3-1/2 inch set that was Topps' first at the modern standard card size, with full-color photography and complete career stats on the back. It pictures Virgil Trucks, Kansas City Athletics.
How many cards are in the 1957 Topps set?
407 numbered cards. Collectors usually count 408 because #176 Gene Baker exists in an error ('Bakep') and a corrected back. The PSA master set adds the 8 checklists, 4 contest cards and the Lucky Penny for 421 items.
Sources: PSA CardFacts, Beckett, BaseballCardPedia, Baseball-Reference, PSA & SGC population reports, and hobby press-sheet research (Net54 / Topps Archives). Card data compiled and maintained by T206Cards.com. Page last updated 2026-10-13.