[barrysloate]

I told this story a few years back on the memorabilia side, but it's worth telling again.

Around 1965, my friend Steven and I went to Shea Stadium to see a Mets- Colts game, as he was a big Houston fan. Somehow we had seats in the front row behind first base. In those days, Nellie Fox was the first base coach for Houston.

As we bought food during the day Steven was putting his loose change in his top pocket. At one point he leaned forward too far and all the change fell onto the field, rolling in all directions. We both assumed it was lost.

But when the inning ended, Nellie Fox ran over to us, bent down, picked up every last coin a returned the change to my friend. I can still picture that moment when we got to interact with a future Hall of Famer. I don't recall Fox uttering a single word, but I'll always remember his kindness.

Edited to say I think they changed their name to the Astros by 1965.