Another giant sized gem from
Mark’s Ephemera (there will still be 3 more) is today’s Nitty Gritty Card of the Day. It is card #35 (out of 60) in the 1964 Topps Giants set and shows Detroit Tigers pitcher
Dave Wickersham.
Wickersham went to Detroit in the Rocky Colavito trade between the Kansas City Athletics and the Tigers after the 1963 season. Topps was on the ball and included him in this set and he responded by having a career year setting personal bests in Ks (164), innings (254), complete games (11), starts (36) and wins with 19. His mark of 19-12 with a 3.44 ERA was by far the best of his 10 year career as he never won more than 12 games in any other season. During the ’64 season Wickersham was ejected from a game during the 7th inning, he left with the scored knotted at 1 and received a no-decision. The Tigers went on to win the ball game, which could have been his 20th win. After the ’67 season the Tigers traded him to the Pirates for Dennis Ribant.
From there he went to the Kansas City Royals and after the ’69 season he was traded to the Atlanta Braves, but never pitched for them. 1969 would be his final big league season. His career line reads 68-57 with a 3.66 ERA, 29 complete games, 5 shutouts, 18 saves and 638 strikeouts. You can view his complete stats
here. Wickersham is also one of only 4 players to have played for both the Kansas City Athletics and KC Royals. The back of this card credits Wickersham as being the Athletics most active pitcher prior to his trade to Detroit. Thanks again to
Mark’s Ephemera for sending this giant chunk of cardboard my way! 46 years, LATER!
Mr. Tiger spent all of his 22 seasons in baseball playing for the Tigers where he was an 18 time All Star, a 10 time Gold Glove Award winner and a World Champion. He retired after the 1974 season with 399 homers and 3007 hits for Detroit. 
He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1980 and will forever be known as Mr. Tiger and was a pretty Nitty Gritty guy as well... I love this hobby. 45 years LATER.
Todays Nitty Gritty Card of the Day comes from 1956 Topps, card #117 of Detroit Tigers pitcher Virgil Oliver Trucks. Everyone knows the story of "Fire" Trucks. The back of the card shows a brief synopsis mentioning his 4 no-hitters in the minor leagues and his two no-hitters for Detroit in 1952. It also mentions that he paced the League in shutouts in both 1949 and '52. His 33 career shutouts ranks him 87th of All Time, which becomes more impressive because 229 hurlers started more games than him in their careers. This card shows Trucks on his second stint with Detroit. He was traded to Kansas City after the 1956 season. 
The rendering on the side shows him appearing to field a grounder from third base. Thanks for reading! I love this hobby! 64 years LATER!
