Nellie Fox

Nellie Fox: Hall of Fame second baseman, 1959 AL MVP, and one of the toughest hitters to strike out in MLB history.

Jacob Nelson Fox (December 25, 1927 – December 1, 1975) was an American professional baseball player. Fox was one of the best second basemen of all time, and the third-most difficult hitter to strike out in Major League Baseball (MLB) history. Fox played in the big leagues from 1947 through 1965 and spent the majority of his career as a member of the Chicago White Sox; his career was bookended by multi-year stints for the Philadelphia Athletics and, later, the Houston Astros.

Quick Facts

Position: Second baseman
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Born: 25 December 1927
Birthplace: St. Thomas Township, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died: 1 December 1975
Place of death: Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Debut league: MLB

Lore & Background

Fox was born on Christmas Day 1927 in St. Thomas Township, Pennsylvania. He was the youngest of three sons born to a carpenter. At age 16 in 1944, his mother wrote a letter on his behalf to Connie Mack, enabling him to attend an open tryout for the Philadelphia Athletics. Fox started his professional career with the Lancaster team of the Pennsylvania Interstate League and the Jamestown Falcons.

He played a range of infield and outfield positions, ultimately settling at second base. Fox was an American League All-Star for twelve seasons, an AL Most Valuable Player for one season, and an AL Gold Glove winner for three seasons. He had a .288 major-league career batting average with 2663 hits, 35 home runs, and 790 runs batted in. He hit .300 or more six times, and led the AL in singles eight times (seven consecutive seasons) and in fielding average six times as a second baseman.

His career fielding percentage was .984. In 1959, when the 'Go Go' Chicago White Sox won the American League pennant, he hit .306 with 149 singles and 70 RBI. He coached for the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers after his playing career. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997.

Reader's Guide

Fox's major league career began in 1947 when he started to play for the Philadelphia Athletics, but he played mostly in the minor leagues, appearing in a total of ten MLB games in 1947 and 1948. The Athletics traded Fox to the Chicago White Sox for Joe Tipton on October 29, 1949. He spent the next 14 seasons with the Sox, making 12 AL All-Star teams and 15 of 16 AL All-Star Game selections beginning in 1951. His best season came in 1959, when he received the AL Most Valuable Player award.

In the World Series, Fox batted a team-high .375 with three doubles, but the Sox lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in six games. Fox played his final two seasons (1964–65) with the Houston Colt .45s and Astros. Fox was 5-foot-9, but made up for his modest size and minimal power with his good batting eye, excellent fielding, and baserunning speed. He led the league in most at-bats per strikeouts a phenomenal 13 times in his career.

Fox was one of the best second basemen in the major leagues. He played next to a pair of slick-fielding White Sox shortstops from Venezuela, Chico Carrasquel (1950–55) and Luis Aparicio (1956–62). He was the first major league Gold Glove Award winner for a second baseman in 1957, and he received two more Gold Glove awards, in 1959 and 1960. Fox was a coach for the Houston Astros (1965–67) and the Washington Senators/Texas Rangers (1968–72).

Frequently Asked Questions

What were his major awards and honors?

During his time in the league, he was selected to twelve All-Star games and captured the Most Valuable Player title in 1959. His defensive skills were also honored with three Gold Glove awards during a three-year span.

What was Nellie Fox known for on the field?

Fox specialized in making contact rather than power hitting, which made him incredibly difficult for pitchers to strike out. He served as a key defensive anchor for the popular "Go Go" White Sox squads of the 1950s and early 1960s.

When was he inducted into the Hall of Fame?

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997, his election was handled by the Veterans Committee rather than the Baseball Writers Association. This honor recognized his lasting impact on the sport long after he passed away in 1975.

Did he play for teams other than Chicago?

While famous for wearing White Sox pinstripes, he began his journey with the Philadelphia Athletics and concluded it with Houston. He was acquired by Chicago late in 1949 and remained their primary second baseman until his trade to Houston.