Scrappy Nellie Fox was a catalyst for the "Go-Go" White Sox of the 1950s. The 12-time All-Star was the American League MVP in 1959, leading the White Sox to their first World Series in 40 years. He led the American League in hits four times and in fewest strikeouts 10 times. He compiled 2,663 hits, while striking out just 216 times in 9,232 at-bats. He was a three-time Gold Glove winner and set the major league record for consecutive games played at second base (798).

Paul Richards said of Fox, "I've never seen anybody who wanted to play more than Fox did. In spring training you had to run him off the field to get him to rest, and I mean literally run him off."