April 15

1989 Swell #73 - Virgil Trucks

On this day in 1954, Virgil Trucks became the first opposing pitcher to play in an official MLB game in Baltimore, Maryland, when the Chicago White Sox opened Memorial Stadium against the newly transplanted and newly named, Baltimore Orioles.

It was almost fitting in a way that Virgil "Fire" Trucks would open up the new park in Baltimore as the first opposing pitcher, since he was part of the last season in St. Louis, before the Browns moved to Maryland and changed their name. Virgil was traded to the Pale Hose on June 13, 1953 from the Browns. He stayed with the Sox until he was traded after the 1955 season. During that time, Trucks went 47-26 with a 3.14 ERA for the South Siders. Between St. Louis and Chicago, he won twenty games in 1953. He followed that with nineteen games won in 1954. Virgil made his second and final appearance at the All-Star Game in 1954, representing the White Sox.



White Sox April 15th birthdays:

1960 - Mike Diaz
1977 - Paul Phillips
1985 - John Danks