The first of, well, not so many

Nellie Fox is better known during his 19-year career for his prowess on defense and his ability to slash singles on offense.

In fact, the pride of St. Thomas, Pa., hits only 35 homers in the big leagues.

The first one, though, comes at a good time 73 years ago today as his two-run shot to right field in the top of the 11th inning off Boston’s Ray Scarborough snaps a 7-7 tie and carries the Chicago White Sox to a 9-7 victory before a Tuesday afternoon crowd of 8,923 at Fenway Park.

The homer also is Fox’s fourth hit of the game.

Fox ends up with 2,663 hits in his career with 2,161 of those going for singles.

He also reaches baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1997.

“No one had to tell me I was never going to be a home run hitter,” Fox says after he retires in 1965.

“I was hitting the same ball as the rest of the players, but when the big guys cracked one, it went out of the park. Mine went out of the infield.”