Monday, May 16, 2022

1986 Sportflics Decade Greats: Luis Aparicio/Nellie Fox

 


Luis Aparicio: Luis Aparicio came up with the White Sox as a 22-year-old shortstop, and led the AL in stolen bases. It was the first of nine straight seasons for him to lead the league in steals. Considered the greatest-fielding shortstop of his generation, he also had a great batting eye, walking as often as he struck out. A walk and a steal were considered an "Aparicio double".  He had some of the least impressive "traditional" hitting stats of any Hall of Famer - .262 batting average (only one season above .280); 83 HR (only one season with 10), and 791 RBI (never more than 61 in a season). He did have 2,677 hits, but never more than 182 in a season. I have his Topps cards from 1966-1969 and 1972-1974, as well as his Topps Stamps from 1961 and 1969 and his 1969 Milton Bradley.

Nellie Fox: Fox shares this card with Aparicio because they were double play partners for several seasons. Fox, the second baseman, was not at Aparicio's level as a fielder, though he still won three gold gloves. He had less speed than Aparicio and even less power (35 HR in a 19 year career). However, he had an all-time great batting eye, walking 719 times to 216 strikeouts. He led the AL in hits four times, with 2,663 total hits and a .288 lifetime batting average. I have Fox's 1960, 1964 and 1965 Topps cards.

1 comment:

  1. I've heard many people say over the years that neither of these guys should be in the HOF, so it's kind of interesting to see them sharing a card like this.

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