Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-05-27
WIN, LOSE OR
DNAV By FRANCIS STANN
Second Bose. First Fiddle

1T MAY SURPRISE some but neither Ted williams nor
Mickey Mantle be counted as the American Leagues
glamour That distinction almost certainly must
to Jacob Nelson Fox plays second base and first
fiddle for the White Sox
Nellie Fox is sprightly squirt king-size
chaw of tobacco in his cheek Williams Mantle Kluszews
and upward of 200 other major league ball players have
bigger bceps Fox gets by brains nerve imagination
and determination. He is the only Sox regular who is
hitting Manager AL Lopez regrets but later the
others will start thinks the senor and they do there
may well be a World Series in Chicago.
In light of Foxs achievements. which have been mighty
of Late there to talk via long distance to Frank
lane in Petersburg Fla where Lane had after his
wife required serious operation. 1t Frank Lane,
general manager the Louis Cardinals who may have
been the first to realize the Potentially of Fox
Back in ls4s, general manager of the white sox,
Lane traded unremembered catcher named Joe Upton
the Philadelphia Athletics for the runt-sze skinny little
nfielder, Fox.
WHEN WAS PRESIDENT of the American Assoca-
tpn Lane said the phone Il used to scout umres You
know study the had on the staff and look for
blood Naturally, had to look at ball players, too
Fox and remembered him."
Fox came up to the AS for cups of coffee 1947
l948 In 40 the AS used him SO games but his 255
batting average excited nobody called Arthur
Ehlers and offered to trade Upton for Fox.
THE deal made" Lane recalling, land then
darned if Ehlers doesn't call me back. He said:
Wouldn't you like to have Pete Suder?
'Suder! said. 81 just got Fox! He's my second
Abaseman.
"'Oh hell Frank that little guy can't play second
"Suder remember Suder was big" Lane
ceded with mirth He also slow and he
the day he played second base hit rallied
club like Fox is doing now"
LANES ADMIRATION FOR FOX knows few bounds
LET tell you things about Nellie" Frank saying
"He makes manager look good That's because he's always
hustng People this little guy bobbng and bouncing
around the place and they figure the has got
live ball club
"once. manager Paul Richards said to Fox
are Ski and rim. lookir Tn
going to rest you for while.
1T big mistake by Richards, I'll tell you. That
Fox roamed and down the dugou holerng his lungs
and jumping the other players bench The
day, Paul had Fox back in the lineup.
II asked how come such a short rest.
frank he answered. one afternoon Of Fox on the
bench is plenty Now need rest"
ACCORDING TO LANE Nellie Fox fought himself into
being good ball player"
He never had much going for him" Frank was saying
takes that extra base Most people may realize it, but
he could be the best bunter in the business
"Rog Cramer some ago. talked Nellie into using
heavier batand to bunt with it. He beat q of 81
and Ed Short publicity played up much that
pretty Fox found the third baSemen in the American
League shaking hands with him.
"Nellie's still great bunter. He improves a club
psychologcay too because when neds and oufed play
him too shallow he'll hit ball out of the park as he
The other guys on his team the with muscles
will think If that squirt do can l. And some
times they do"
And does Mr.. Lane regret that no longer has Fox
playing for him? "Fox?" he asked, as harassed as a
wheel of second-division club be- "d like to have
Nellie Minnie Mnoso, Larry Dolby and Sherm Loar too