Nellie Fox...Remembering a PITA

[DOUGHBOYS]

Nellie Fox is easily recognizable in his picture on baseball cards. He's the fellow with a big wad of chewing tobacco in his cheek. I delighted in seeing his card and would put a golf ball in my cheek to mimic his look.

Fox was an All-Star 11 years in a row from 1951 to 1961. An MVP of the American League in 1959 when the Yankees decided to take a year off.
Today, Fox would probably not warrant a look from Major League teams. He was not powerfully built and did not run like a flash. Fox just knew how to play the game his way.
By today's standards, his numbers would almost be laughable.
He hit 35 homers during his 19-year career.
He was caught stealing bases more than the bases he stole.

Still, Fox was a player that every Manager in baseball wanted on his team. Despite the power and speed void, two items that are paramount in today's game, Fox knew how to play baseball better than most.
A polar opposite of Yasiel Puig was Nellie Fox.
Fox was 'Shoeshine Boy' from UnderDog.
'Thanks Shoeshine Boy, you're both humble and loveable' and reliable.

Fox was dependable in playing at least 150 games for 11 years.
Devoid of power or speed, Fox found other ways to drive opposing pitchers and teams crazy.
He used a bottle bat. A bottle bat is a bat whose handle is almost as thick as the barrell of the bat.
Fox was made for the contact rate of today's game. The only present metric that would embrace him.
He led baseball every year in being the hardest man to strike out.
In playing those 150 or more games every year, Fox never struck out even 20 times during a year.
During his MVP season, Fox had a league leading 717 plate appearances, yet struck out less than other batters with only 13.
Fox was known for wasting pitches before wasting pitches was considered a thing.
And he would foul off many pitches. Pitchers never feared Fox, knowing the worst he could probably do was to line a single.
So, he would see a lot of strikes.
And pitchers would have to throw a lot of pitches in order to retire Fox.

His MVP numbers may be the worst among MVP winners.
.306/84/2/70/5
Yep, that's it.
Harmon Killebrew and Rocky Colavito had over 40 homers and 100 rbi.
His teammate, Luis Aparicio had 57 stolen bases. More than twice as many as any other player in baseball.
But, this was before fantasy baseball.
And before sabrmetrics.
Fox was most instrumental in the Sox winning the pennant that year.
That was the number one item on voters minds.
And in a way, I miss that logic.

I read a book when younger, I believe it was called, 'The Boy Who Hit .1000'
I think every kid should read the darned thing.
It was about a boy who never missed swinging at a baseball, but every ball would go foul.
Until the last swing.
It made me realize that baseball is not about Willie Mays or Mike Trout types all the time.
That fellows like Nellie Fox are/were needed for our game.
I miss them.

Now, the game revolves around 100 mile an hour pitches and miles per hour off the bat.
A full count, an automatic 'good at bat' now, was the norm for Fox.
Hitter's now, must have power or speed.
Afterall, 'anybody' can play the game 'right'.
That's coachable.
Right, Yasiel?...um hmm.
Power and speed are preferable.
Power and speed are measurable skills.
'Pesky' not a decipherable metric or skill.
I call them 'PITA' players.
Pains in the asses.
Today, PITA's have upgraded.
Dustin Pedroia is a PITA.
Brett Gardner is a PITA.
Joe Panik is a PITA.
PITA'S are players that know how to win and if their skills lack in making certain plays, determination and the right way to complete a task takes over for that lacking skill set.
Bill Mazeroski was a PITA.
Glenn Beckert.
Ted Simmons.
Bill Mueller.
PITA's are not feared, only admired.

Poor Nellie.
Even his pictures on baseball cards would be ridiculed by today's politically correct society.
Bringing smiles on faces, as they did then, now, they would be met with horror.
The thought of seeing a fellow with a chaw in his cheek, unbearable!
The thought in parents minds, that their kids would emulate Fox.
Shriek!
WATCH OUT FOR GOLF BALLS IN YOUR CHILD'S CHEEKS!
Jeez.
Nellie Fox lived at the right time, that's a 'fer sure'.