Nellie Fox
⭐ Hall of Fame 1997
Born: 12/25/1927 in St. Thomas, PA, USA
Died: 12/1/1975 in Baltimore, MD, USA
MLB Debut: 1947-06-08 | Final Game: 1965-07-25
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 160 lbs
Full name: Jacob Nelson Fox
Biography
Nellie Fox, born in 1927, was a distinguished American baseball player who made a significant impact on the game during his career from 1947 to 1965. Primarily playing as a second baseman, Fox was renowned for his exceptional defensive skills and keen batting ability, finishing his career with a robust .288 batting average. Over the course of 2,367 games, he accrued 2,663 hits, 790 RBIs, and 35 home runs, while also showcasing his speed on the bases with 76 stolen bases. His durability and consistency on the field earned him 15 All-Star selections, reflecting his status as one of the premier players of his era.
Fox played during a transformative period in baseball, known for the competitive nature of the game in the mid-20th century, a time that saw the rise of powerful hitters and the integration of players from diverse backgrounds. His contributions to the Chicago White Sox, in particular, solidified his legacy, as he became a fan favorite and a key figure in the franchise's history. In recognition of his remarkable career and influence on the sport, Nellie Fox was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997, ensuring his place among the game's greats.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2367 | 9232 | 1279 | 2663 | 355 | 112 | 35 | 790 | 76 | 719 | 216 | 0.288 | 0.348 | 0.363 | 0.710 | -383.6 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | PHA | AL | 7 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1948 | PHA | AL | 3 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0.154 | 0.0 |
| 1949 | PHA | AL | 88 | 247 | 42 | 63 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 21 | 2 | 32 | 9 | 0.255 | -381.7 |
| 1950 | CHW | AL | 130 | 457 | 45 | 113 | 12 | 7 | 0 | 30 | 4 | 35 | 17 | 0.247 | -1804.4 |
| 1951 | CHW | AL | 147 | 604 | 93 | 189 | 32 | 12 | 4 | 55 | 9 | 43 | 11 | 0.313 | 1260.2 |
| 1952 | CHW | AL | 152 | 648 | 76 | 192 | 25 | 10 | 0 | 39 | 5 | 34 | 14 | 0.296 | -67.3 |
| 1953 | CHW | AL | 154 | 624 | 92 | 178 | 31 | 8 | 3 | 72 | 4 | 49 | 18 | 0.285 | -247.7 |
| 1954 | CHW | AL | 155 | 631 | 111 | 201 | 24 | 8 | 2 | 47 | 16 | 51 | 12 | 0.319 | 818.0 |
| 1955 | CHW | AL | 154 | 636 | 100 | 198 | 28 | 7 | 6 | 59 | 7 | 38 | 15 | 0.311 | 846.2 |
| 1956 | CHW | AL | 154 | 649 | 109 | 192 | 20 | 10 | 4 | 52 | 8 | 44 | 14 | 0.296 | -72.7 |
| 1957 | CHW | AL | 155 | 619 | 110 | 196 | 27 | 8 | 6 | 61 | 5 | 75 | 13 | 0.317 | 2241.9 |
| 1958 | CHW | AL | 155 | 623 | 82 | 187 | 21 | 6 | 0 | 49 | 5 | 47 | 11 | 0.300 | 19.2 |
| 1959 | CHW | AL | 156 | 624 | 84 | 191 | 34 | 6 | 2 | 70 | 5 | 71 | 13 | 0.306 | 1218.9 |
| 1960 | CHW | AL | 150 | 605 | 85 | 175 | 24 | 10 | 2 | 59 | 2 | 50 | 13 | 0.289 | 271.3 |
| 1961 | CHW | AL | 159 | 606 | 67 | 152 | 11 | 5 | 2 | 51 | 2 | 59 | 12 | 0.251 | -1710.2 |
| 1962 | CHW | AL | 157 | 621 | 79 | 166 | 27 | 7 | 2 | 54 | 1 | 38 | 12 | 0.267 | -1137.2 |
| 1963 | CHW | AL | 137 | 539 | 54 | 140 | 19 | 0 | 2 | 42 | 0 | 24 | 17 | 0.260 | -1077.4 |
| 1964 | HOU | NL | 133 | 442 | 45 | 117 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 27 | 13 | 0.265 | -560.6 |
| 1965 | HOU | NL | 21 | 41 | 3 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.268 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 24 | 4 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0.375 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | WS | CHA | 6 | 24 | 4 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0.375 |
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
| 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 |