Nellie Fox
Second Baseman · Career Stats, Hall of Fame Bio & Records (1947-1965)
Nellie Fox was a second baseman who played in Major League Baseball from 1947 to 1965 for the Philadelphia Athletics, the Chicago White Sox, and the Houston Astros, a span of 19 seasons. In 2,367 career games, he hit .288 with 2,663 hits, 35 home runs, and 790 RBI. Nellie Fox was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997 and was a 12-time All-Star, an MVP, and a 3-time Gold Glove. His career PIV — Baseball Data Hub's era-adjusted measure of offensive impact — is 1,100.
- AVG (Batting Average):
- Hits divided by at bats. .300 is the traditional mark of an excellent hitter.
- HR (Home Runs):
- Hits on which the batter circled the bases and scored, almost always by clearing the outfield fence.
- RBI (Runs Batted In):
- Runs that scored as a direct result of a batter's plate appearance.
- OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging):
- On-base percentage plus slugging percentage, the quickest single summary of offensive value. .900 or better is star-level.
Data updated
- Position
- Second Baseman
- Bats / Throws
- L / R
- Height / Weight
- 5'10" / 160 lb
- Died
- 12/1/1975 in Baltimore, MD, USA
- MLB Debut
- 1947-06-08
- Last Game
- 1965-07-25
- Hall of Fame
- Inducted 1997 (BBWAA)
- Awards
- 12× All-Star · MVP · 3× Gold Glove
Full name: Jacob Nelson Fox
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,367 | 9,232 | 1,279 | 2,663 | 355 | 112 | 35 | 790 | 76 | 719 | 216 | .288 | .348 | .363 | .710 | 1,100 |
Career AVG .288 vs. league average .257 across their career seasons — +12.1% above league average.
Career OBP .348 vs. league average .328 across their career seasons — +5.9% above league average.
Career SLG .363 vs. league average .387 across their career seasons — 6.2% below league average.
Career OPS .710 vs. league average .715 across their career seasons — near league average.
Season-by-Season Batting
Click a stat to plot it across every season.
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | Lg AVG | Lg OBP | Lg SLG | Lg OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | PHA | AL | 7 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1948 | PHA | AL | 3 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .154 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1949 | PHA | AL | 88 | 247 | 42 | 63 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 21 | 2 | 32 | 9 | .255 | .262 (-3%) | .343 (+3%) | .384 (-23%) | .727 (-11%) | -325.9 |
| 1950 | CHA | AL | 130 | 457 | 45 | 113 | 12 | 7 | 0 | 30 | 4 | 35 | 17 | .247 | .265 (-7%) | .346 (-12%) | .401 (-24%) | .747 (-19%) | -1439.8 |
| 1951 | CHA | AL | 147 | 604 | 93 | 189 | 32 | 12 | 4 | 55 | 9 | 43 | 11 | .313 | .260 (+20%) | .336 (+11%) | .385 (+10%) | .721 (+10%) | 1260.2 |
| 1952 | CHA | AL | 152 | 648 | 76 | 192 | 25 | 10 | 0 | 39 | 5 | 34 | 14 | .296 | .252 (+17%) | .326 (+2%) | .369 (-1%) | .696 (+1%) | -52.0 |
| 1953 | CHA | AL | 154 | 624 | 92 | 178 | 31 | 8 | 3 | 72 | 4 | 49 | 18 | .285 | .264 (+8%) | .335 (+2%) | .397 (-6%) | .733 (-2%) | -190.6 |
| 1954 | CHA | AL | 155 | 631 | 111 | 201 | 24 | 8 | 2 | 47 | 16 | 51 | 12 | .319 | .261 (+22%) | .333 (+12%) | .390 (avg) | .723 (+6%) | 818.0 |
| 1955 | CHA | AL | 154 | 636 | 100 | 198 | 28 | 7 | 6 | 59 | 7 | 38 | 15 | .311 | .258 (+20%) | .332 (+10%) | .393 (+3%) | .726 (+6%) | 846.2 |
| 1956 | CHA | AL | 154 | 649 | 109 | 192 | 20 | 10 | 4 | 52 | 8 | 44 | 14 | .296 | .258 (+15%) | .331 (+5%) | .397 (-5%) | .728 (-1%) | -55.9 |
| 1957 | CHA | AL | 155 | 619 | 110 | 196 | 27 | 8 | 6 | 61 | 5 | 75 | 13 | .317 | .257 (+23%) | .323 (+24%) | .391 (+6%) | .715 (+14%) | 2241.9 |
| 1958 | CHA | AL | 155 | 623 | 82 | 187 | 21 | 6 | 0 | 49 | 5 | 47 | 11 | .300 | .257 (+16%) | .324 (+10%) | .394 (-10%) | .719 (-1%) | 19.2 |
| 1959 | CHA | AL | 156 | 624 | 84 | 191 | 34 | 6 | 2 | 70 | 5 | 71 | 13 | .306 | .256 (+19%) | .323 (+17%) | .392 (-1%) | .715 (+8%) | 1218.9 |
| 1960 | CHA | AL | 150 | 605 | 85 | 175 | 24 | 10 | 2 | 59 | 2 | 50 | 13 | .289 | .255 (+13%) | .323 (+8%) | .387 (-4%) | .711 (+2%) | 271.3 |
| 1961 | CHA | AL | 159 | 606 | 67 | 152 | 11 | 5 | 2 | 51 | 2 | 59 | 12 | .251 | .258 (-3%) | .328 (-2%) | .399 (-26%) | .727 (-15%) | -1321.2 |
| 1962 | CHA | AL | 157 | 621 | 79 | 166 | 27 | 7 | 2 | 54 | 1 | 38 | 12 | .267 | .257 (+4%) | .326 (-4%) | .393 (-13%) | .719 (-9%) | -881.0 |
| 1963 | CHA | AL | 137 | 539 | 54 | 140 | 19 | 0 | 2 | 42 | 0 | 24 | 17 | .260 | .246 (+5%) | .308 (-3%) | .371 (-18%) | .680 (-11%) | -859.4 |
| 1964 | HOU | NL | 133 | 442 | 45 | 117 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 27 | 13 | .265 | .250 (+6%) | .312 (+2%) | .377 (-16%) | .690 (-8%) | -449.8 |
| 1965 | HOU | NL | 21 | 41 | 3 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .268 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| Career · 19 seasons | 2,367 | 9,232 | 1,279 | 2,663 | 355 | 112 | 35 | 790 | 76 | 719 | 216 | .288 | — | — | — | — | 1,100 | ||
Lg columns show the league average for that season, with the player's figure as a percentage above or below it. Career totals the seasons listed above.
Game Log & Splits
View full game log (2367 games) →Per-game data from Retrosheet (regular season, through 2025).
Batting — Home / Away
| Split | G | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 1197 | 4521 | 628 | 1289 | 5 | 365 | .285 |
| Away | 1170 | 4711 | 651 | 1374 | 30 | 425 | .292 |
Last 10 Games — Batting
| Date | Tm | Opp | Res | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965-07-25 | HOU | CIN | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1965-07-19 | HOU | LAD | L | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1965-07-18 | HOU | SFG | W | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1965-07-10 | HOU | NYN | W | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1965-06-28 | HOU | CHC | L | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1965-06-20 | HOU | PHI | L | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1965-06-17 | HOU | CHC | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1965-06-16 | HOU | CHC | W | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1965-06-12 | HOU | PHI | L | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1965-06-09 | HOU | PIT | L | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 2 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2B | 2295 | 1627 | 6090 | 6373 | 209 | 1619 |
| 3B | 6 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 0 | 1 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | PHA | 2B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1948 | PHA | 2B | 3 | 0 | 13 | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| 1949 | PHA | 2B | 77 | 0 | 191 | 196 | 7 | 68 |
| 1950 | CHA | 2B | 121 | 0 | 340 | 344 | 18 | 100 |
| 1951 | CHA | 2B | 147 | 0 | 413 | 449 | 17 | 112 |
| 1952 | CHA | 2B | 151 | 0 | 406 | 433 | 13 | 111 |
| 1953 | CHA | 2B | 154 | 0 | 451 | 426 | 15 | 101 |
| 1954 | CHA | 2B | 155 | 155 | 400 | 392 | 9 | 103 |
| 1955 | CHA | 2B | 154 | 154 | 399 | 483 | 24 | 110 |
| 1956 | CHA | 2B | 154 | 154 | 478 | 396 | 12 | 124 |
| 1957 | CHA | 2B | 155 | 155 | 453 | 453 | 13 | 141 |
| 1958 | CHA | 2B | 155 | 155 | 444 | 399 | 13 | 117 |
| 1959 | CHA | 2B | 156 | 156 | 364 | 453 | 10 | 93 |
| 1960 | CHA | 2B | 149 | 148 | 412 | 447 | 13 | 126 |
| 1961 | CHA | 2B | 159 | 156 | 413 | 407 | 15 | 97 |
| 1962 | CHA | 2B | 154 | 151 | 376 | 428 | 8 | 93 |
| 1963 | CHA | 2B | 134 | 128 | 305 | 342 | 8 | 71 |
| 1964 | HOU | 2B | 115 | 114 | 231 | 317 | 13 | 51 |
| 1965 | HOU | 1B | 2 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1965 | HOU | 2B | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1965 | HOU | 3B | 6 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 0 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
Circle size = games played at each position.
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 2 |
| Second Base | 2295 |
| Third Base | 6 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | Gold Glove | 2B |
| 1959 | Gold Glove | 2B |
| 1959 | Most Valuable Player | |
| 1959 | TSN All-Star | 2B |
| 1959 | TSN Player of the Year | |
| 1958 | TSN All-Star | 2B |
| 1957 | Gold Glove | 2B |
| 1956 | TSN All-Star | 2B |
| 1955 | TSN All-Star | 2B |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 26th | 2.0 | 280 | 0 |
| 1960 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 18th | 11.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1959 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 1st | 295.0 | 336 | 16 |
| 1958 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 8th | 88.0 | 336 | 1 |
| 1957 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 4th | 193.0 | 336 | 5 |
| 1956 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 14th | 28.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1955 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 7th | 84.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1954 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 9th | 30.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1952 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 7th | 59.0 | 336 | 1 |
| 1951 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 17th | 25.0 | 336 | 0 |
Most Similar Players
Career comps based on counting + rate stats and primary position. Score is relative — closest peer anchors at ~98%.
Nellie Fox (highlighted) compared to peers across the same era.
Compare Nellie Fox
Nellie Fox: the record in brief
Nellie Fox's major league career runs from a debut on June 8, 1947 to a final game on July 25, 1965. The season rows list, in order, the Philadelphia Athletics (1947 through 1949), the Chicago White Sox (1950 through 1963), the Houston Colt .45's (1964), and the Houston Astros (1965). At 5-foot-10 and 160 pounds, Fox is listed as a second baseman. The bio says Fox hit left-handed while throwing right-handed. Fox was born on December 25, 1927, in St. Thomas, PA, USA. Fox's death is recorded on December 1, 1975, in Baltimore, MD, USA. The given name on file is Jacob Nelson Fox.
Fox's career batting table shows 2,367 games, 9,232 at bats and 2,663 hits, a .288 average, plus 35 homers, 790 runs batted in, and 76 stolen bases. Reaching base at a .348 clip and slugging .363, Fox finished with a .710 OPS. Fox's .288 average ran 12.1% above the .257 that the league posted over the same seasons.
Frequently Asked Questions about Nellie Fox
- What years did Nellie Fox play?
- Nellie Fox played in Major League Baseball from 1947 to 1965.
- Was Nellie Fox a pitcher?
- No. Nellie Fox was a position player (Second Baseman).
- How many home runs did Nellie Fox hit?
- Nellie Fox hit 35 career home runs with 2663 hits.
- Is Nellie Fox in the Hall of Fame?
- Yes. Nellie Fox was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997.
- What was Nellie Fox's career batting average?
- Nellie Fox batted .288 over his career, with 2,663 hits in 9,232 at bats.
- How many RBI did Nellie Fox have?
- Nellie Fox drove in 790 runs in his career.