Remembering Nellie Fox

Nellie Fox leaps over the Dodgers’ Don Zimmer after a force play at second base during the 1959 World Series

Today marks what would have been Hall of Famer Nellie Fox’s 96th birthday.

Fox — the pride of St. Thomas, Pa. — plays 19 seasons in the major leagues from 1947-65 with the Philadelphia Athletics, Chicago White Sox and Houston Colt .45s.

His greatest glories come with Chicago, where he hits .291 over 14 seasons there and wins the American League’s Most Valuable Player award in 1959 as he leads the White Sox to the World Series.

Fox ends up with 2,663 career hits, a lifetime .984 fielding percentage and a reputation as one of the game’s grittiest players.

He eventually is elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997 – 22 years after he passes away at the age of 47.

“Nellie was the toughest out for me,” says Whitey Ford, the New York Yankees’ Hall of Fame pitcher. “In 12 years, I struck him out once, and I think the umpire blew the call.”