Oh, so close

When the Hall of Fame announces its class of inductees 39 years ago today – Lou Brock and Hoyt Wilhelm make the final cut – the voting reveals longtime Chicago White Sox second baseman Nellie Fox is only two votes shy of being named on the requisite 75 percent of the 395 ballots cast.

The Hall of Fame declines to round up Fox's 74.7 percent to 75 percent in his final year on the writers’ ballot, and leaves Fox out of Cooperstown.

Fox – the pride of St. Thomas, Pa. – eventually reaches the Hall in 1997, when he is elected by the Veterans Committee.

"His ability was there for everyone to see but I wish more sportswriters would have realized his other traits,” former White Sox center fielder Jim Landis says of Fox.

“He wasn't outspoken or controversial enough to get the writers’ attention,” Landis says. “He was just laid back, went out and played the game, never verbally abused anyone. His character was ideal for the ball club.”