American League Kings (Nellie Fox/Harvey Kuenn)

Harvey Edward Kuenn (December 4, 1930 - February 28, 1988) played only 63 minor league games before being called up by the Detroit Tigers where he tore up the league earning the 1953 American League Rookie of the Year Award. Kuenn enjoyed an extraordinary rookie campaign as he led the American League in plate appearances (731), at-bats (679) and hits (209), setting a rookie record with 167 singles in 155 games. He also earned his first of eight All-Star Game appearances and consideration for the league’s Most Valuable Player Award for his first of nine times. Harvey came up with the Tigers as a shortstop, but eventually moved to the outfield when Billy Martin was acquired from the Kansas City Athletics. Kuenn led the league four times in hits, three times in doubles, twice in at-bats and once in plate appearances and games and won the 1959 batting title with a .353 average. He was often among the league elite in batting as he hit .300 or better nine times in his 15-year career. No slouch in the field, Harvey finished his career with a .966 career fielding percentage with 3,028 putouts, 2,345 assists, 468 double plays and 1919 errors in 5,564 chances. Harvey played 15 years for the Tigers (1952-1959), the Cleveland Indians (1960), the San Francisco Giants (1961-1965), the Chicago Cubs 91965-1966) and the Philadelphia Phillies (1966). He appeared in one World Series losing effort with the Giants who lost to the New York Yankees in 1962. Harvey Kuenn ended his career with a .303 batting average, 2,092 hits including 356 doubles, scored 951 runs and drove in 671 RBI.

Jacob Nelson Fox (December 25, 1927 - December 1, 1975) had agility defensively in the field, excellent baserunning ability and a keen eye at the plate, leading the American League four times in hits and in fewest strikeouts ten times. In his 19-year career, Nellie collected 2,663 hits while only striking out 216 times, and he never K’ed more than 18 times in a season. Fox was drafted by the Philadelphia A’s (1947-1949) but couldn’t find a starting role until he was moved to the Chicago White Sox (1950-1963) where he flourished alongside, among others, fellow Hall of Famer Luis Aparicio making up one of the best defensive infields in the league. In 1959, Fox was named the AL Most Valuable Player, posting a .306 average, 191 hits and 70 RBI as he helped guide the White Sox to the AL pennant, their first in 40 years. Fox was a 15-times All-Star selection and won three Gold Gloves. Nellie Fox retired with 2,663 hits, 1,279 runs, 690 RBI and a .288 career batting average. The Veterans Committee elected Jacob Nelson Fox to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997.