Manager Al Lopez guides team to first pennant in 40-years. A former big-league catcher Lopez relied on the hustling of team leader, Nellie Fox, to break the 'damn Yanks' streak of four straight pennants and nine of last ten AL pennants - 1949-1958, 1955-1958.

The 5-ft, 9-inch, 150-pound Nelson Fox, was rightly nicknamed 'the Mighty Mite.' A 12-time American League All-Star second baseman, he led the league in fewest strikeouts 11 times and helped the Sox finished first or second highest in fielding percentage in ten consecutive seasons. A sure-handed fielder, he finished first in fielding percentage six times, was first in assists for AL second basemen six times, first in double plays four times and collected an amazing streak of ten successive putout titles - and the durable keystoner led or tied in games played eight straight seasons - 1952-1959 - all while playing for the White Sox.

A member of baseball's Hall of Fame, Fox led or tied for the league lead in hits four times, hit better than .300 six-times and posted a .288 lifetime batting mark.

However, what stands out the most in minds of fans during this era was 'Little Nellie's' never-ending hustling. His winning-style of play, rubbed off on his teammates and certainly played a major role in the White Sox success in capturing the 1959 American League pennant.

Fox teamed up with shortstop Louie Aparicio, who was second in the All-Star balloting, to form one of the best middle infield in baseball history. Aparicio, who's also in the Hall of Fame, won eight straight fielding percentage titles at short - 1959-1966.

A ballhawk in center-field was Jim Landis, one of the top fielders in White Sox history. He led all AL center-fielders with 420 putouts in '59. Catcher, Sherm Lollar won three AL double play titles for backstops and finished first in catcher fielding percentage in five different seasons.

In 1959 Lopez's pitching corps, aided by the perhaps the best defense in the last 90-odd years, posted the lowest earned run average in the majors - 3.29 - while finishing with a 94-60 record, a full five games ahead of second-place Cleveland. And, although the team hustled throughout the World Series, they came up short - losing to the LA Dodgers 4-games to 2.

Hall of Fame pitcher Early Wynn, finished third in the MVP balloting and was the only AL pitcher to win over 20 games in '59. He led the league in innings with 255 2/3 and posted a 22-10 record - the fifth time he won 20 or more, including four times while a member of Cleveland's famed 'Big Four'.

1959 Chicago White Sox Lineup:

Luis Aparicio, Shortstop... Nelson Fox, 2nd Base... Al Smith, LF... Earl Torgeson, 1st Base... Sherman Lollar, Catcher... Jim Rivera, RF... Jim Landis, CF... John 'Bubba' Phillips, 3rd Base...

Billy Goodman, 3B/1B... Ted Kluszewski, 1B... Sammy Esposito, 3B... John Romano, Catcher... Norm Cash, OF... Jim McAnany, OF... Harry 'Suitcase' Simpson, OF... Don Mueller, OF/1B... Earl Battey, Catcher... Johnny Callison, OF... Del Ennis, OF... Ray Boone, IF...

Larry Doby, OF... Cam Carreon, Catcher... Joe Hicks, Joe Hicks, OF... Ron Jackson, 1st Base... J.C. Martin, Catcher... Lou Skizas, OF...

Pitchers:

Early Wynn, 22-10... Billy Pierce 14-15... Bob Shaw 18-6... Turk Lown 9-2... Dick Donovan 9-10... Barry Latman 8-5... Gerald Staley 8-5...

Rudy Arias 2-0... Ken McBride 0-1... Ray Moore 3-6... Gary Peters 0-0... Claude Raymond 0-0... Don Rudolph 0-0... Joe Stanka 1-0...

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The New York Yankees won eight pennants during the decade of the 1950s, and finished second in '54 and third in '59. The Cleveland Indians captured the pennant in 1954, and finished in second place six-times. Another highly successful team was the Boston Red Sox, who finished in the first division eight times. The Chicago White Sox won the AL pennant in 1959 and grabbed city bragging rights with a total of nine first division finishes in the ten seasons of the '50s. And, the Detroit Tigers captured 3 first division finishes in the then - eight team, one division American League.

Even Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics managed to vault into first division - 1952 - before they moved to Kansas City prior to the 1955 season. The St Louis Browns were 7th and 8th twice each before heading to Baltimore in 1954... and, the old Washington Senators were a second division team in all 10 years of the '50s.

Fans Favorites - Players Bios:

* Nellie Fox, Chicago White Sox Second Baseman - the ultimate team-player, he led the American League in hits four times, batted over .300 six times, punched over 20 doubles 10 consecutive years, scored 1,279 career runs en-route to a Hall of Fame career. An ever-hustling fielder on defense, Fox batted second in the Sox lineup and sparked the club with his' on-field leadership. A slap hitter, he rarely struck out, and was an excellent hit-and-run batter - during his outstanding 19-year career, he struck out just 216 times in 2,367 games... Nelson Fox career stats: .288 BA, 355Ds, 112Ts, 32 HR, 1279 Runs, 790 RBIs, 719Ws, 216Ks, 76 Stolen Bases, a .363 on-base-pct, 2,663 hits in 9,232 at-bats... Phil. Athletics 1947-49; White Sox 1950-63; Houston Astros 1964-65.

* Frank Bolling, Detroit Tigers Second Baseman - a first-class fielder with a solid batting eye, he broke into the majors at age 23 in 1954 in Tigerland. A patience hitter, he scored more career runs than he struck out - 692-to-558. The always hustling second baseman was an immediate success with his glove and bat. Frank Bolling, one year younger than his brother Milt, lined over 19 doubles in his first 11 big-league seasons, including 21, 27 and 25 Ds from '56-'58. He batted .259, with 27 Ds, 6 Ts, and 15 Hr, scored 72 runs, 40 RBIs in 146 games in '57. Traded to the Milwaukee Braves in '61, he whacked 16Ds, 15 HR and scored 86 runs... Frank Bolling career stats: .254 BA, 221Ds, 40Ts, 106 HR, 692 Runs, 556 RBIs, 462 Walks, 556Ks, 1,415 hits in 5562 at-bats spanning 1540 games... Detroit 1954-60; Milwaukee Braves 1961-65; Atlanta Braves 1966.

* Milt Bolling, Boston Red Sox Shortstop/Infielder - a line drive hitter and a solid fielder, the 6-ft, 1-inch, 177-pounder played 11 games in his rookie season, 1952 with the Red Sox. Playing shortstop full-time starting in '53 and '54, Milt hit .263 and .249, with career-highs with 20 doubles and 6 homers... however, Milt suffered injuries from then-on and played just 6 games in '55, 45 games in '56 before being traded to Washington in mid-'57 and retired after playing just 24 games in '58... Milt Bolling lifetime record: .241 BA, 50Ds, 7Ts, 19 HR, 127 Runs, 94 RBIs, 280 hits in 1161 at-bats.

* Bob Keegan, Chicago White Sox Pitcher, Right-handed - a popular player among White Sox fans, he was 7-5 W/L, with a 2.74 ERA in his rookie year of 1953... nicked named 'Smiley,' he followed that season with a brilliant sophomore season posting a strong 16-9 record, a 3.09 ERA, completing 14-of-29 starts, while working 209.7 innings. The 6-ft, 2.5-inch, 208-pounder tossed a no-hitter in 1957 in old Comiskey Park and was 10-8 for the season... Robert Keegan career stats: 40-36 W/L, 3.66 ERA, 135 Games, 87GS, 29GC, 233Ws, 198Ks, 6 Shutouts, 644.7 innings... White Sox 1953-58.

* George Strickland, Cleveland Indians Shortstop - a top-of-the-line defensive player and a line drive hitter, he originally broke in with Pittsburgh in 1950... traded to the Tribe in late-'52... the always hustling shortstop was highly regarded by Indians' fans until he retired after the '60 season. Strickland lined over 10 doubles five times and hit a career-best .284 in '53 and although he went 0-for-9 in 4 games for Cleveland in the '54 World Series, he did some solid defensive work... George Strickland career numbers: .224 BA, 84Ds, 27Ts, 36 HR, 305 Runs, 284 RBIs, 362Ws, 453Ks, 633 hits in 2,824 at-bats, 971 games.

* Cliff Fannin, St Louis Browns Pitcher, Right-handed - born in Louisa, Kentucky on May 13, 1924... a well-regarded team player, he was one of the Brownies veteran mound masters as the 1950s rolled in - and had his best years during the mid-1940s. In '48, he posted W/L records of 10-14, 4.17 ERA, completed 10-of-29 starts, while working 212.7 innings and pitched 3 shutouts... and then rang up a 8-14 mark in '49 in 143 innings... Clifford Fannin lifetime stats: 34-51 W/L, 4.85 ERA, 164 Games, 98GS, 28GC, 393Ws, 352Ks, 6 Shutouts, 733 innings... St. Louis Browns 1945-1952.

* Pete Daley, Boston Red Sox Catcher - Right-handed - the muscular 6-foot, 195-pounder broke into the majors with the Red Sox in 1955 and in his 7-year career averaged around 60-70 games per/year. Pete Daley hit 11 doubles, 3 triples, 5 homers with 29 RBIs in his sophomore season (1956)... traded to Kansas City in '60, he batted .263 with 17 extra base hits in 73 games, including 5-for-14 in pinch-hitting. Peter Daley career: .239 BA, 49Ds, 8Ts, 18 HR, 93 Runs, 120 RBIs, 87Ws, 187Ks, 259 hits in 1084 at-bats, 391 games. Boston 1955-59; KC 1960, Washington 1961.

* Wally Burnette, Kansas City Athletics Pitcher, Right-handed - tossed a nice curve ball and change-up... he completed 4-of-14 starts in his rookie season, 1956, posted a 6-8 record, with a compelling 2.89 ERA in 121.3 innings... switched to bullpen duties in '57 he appeared in 38 games, was 7-12 W/L for a A's team that finished the year with a lousy 59-94 record. That season, Burnette was 5-6, with one save in 29 relief appearances. In 1958, his last major league season, he went 1-1, with an 3.49 ERA in 12 games. Born in Blairs, Virginia, Wallace Burnette career: 14-21 W/L, 3.56 ERA, 68G, 27GS, 5GC, 1 Shutout, 1 Save, 259 hits in 262.2 innings, and collected 11 hits for a .143 BA.

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