William Robert “Bob” Allison was born July 11, 1934 in Raytown, Missouri. A gifted all-around athlete Allison hit 30 or more home runs three times and 20 or more in eight different seasons. He wasn’t an especially fast player, but was among the most feared baserunners of his time in hustling out numerous doubles and triples. At the three outfield positions he showed good range, and his strong arm was rated as one of the best in the league.
Theodore Amar Lyons was born December 28, 1900 in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Lyons never pitched in the minor leagues and never pitched in a World Series, but 21 seasons of yeoman work for the seldom-contending White Sox earned his 1955 election to the Hall of Fame.
Virgil Oliver Trucks, nicknamed “Fire”, was born April 26, 1917 in Birmingham, Alabama. While with the Tigers in 1952, this burly Southerner tossed a pair of no-hitters against the Senators and the Yankees, joining such luminaries as Johnny Vander Meer, Allie Reynolds, and Nolan Ryan as the only pitchers to accomplish this feat in a single season.
Robert Groom was born September 12, 1884 in Belleville, Illinois. As a pitcher, Groom was fast and intimidating, and his demeanor generally serious and inscrutable. His ball movement was extraordinary, occasionally so extraordinary that inexperienced backstops had trouble catching him.
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