Jack Fox

John T. Fox

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 185 lb.

• Debut June 2, 1908
• Final Game June 20, 1908
• Born July 26, 1880 in Colchester, VT USA
• Died April 14, 1923 in Poughkeepsie, NY USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Jack Fox played in the majors for the Philadelphia Athletics during June of 1908, playing the outfield for 9 games. He was in the minors over a decade.

"Outfielder Jack Fox of Albany, is a member of Gloversville's crack basketball team. They have yet to lose their first game, having won 36 straight. They lay claim to the championship of the U.S. and Canada." - from Sporting Life of March 30, 1907

As of 1913 he was playing basketball for Utica.

Fox somehow became confused with another Jack Fox, minor league pitcher John Paul Fox, who was born and died in Reading, PA, and the wrong man's vital statistics were listed next to his name for decades. In fact, this Jack Fox spent most of his life in upstate New York, although he was born in Vermont, the son of an Irish immigrant. His brother, James, was a famous boxer under the name "Jimmy Dime", while Jack was a star basketball player in the early days of that game, before there was a professional league organized.

Fox went to France during World War I on a mission with the Knights of Columbus. He apparently contracted a serious decease there, because when he registered for the draft after the United States joined the War, he listed his profession as "resting up". He never recovered from this illness and died in 1923, aged 42.

Further Reading

• "Jack Fox", in Bill Carle, ed.: Biographical Research Committee Report, SABR, July/August 2014, pp. 8-9.