25. Luis Aparicio

 

 

(7 of 27 lists - 90 points - highest ranking #1 BigEdWalsh)

 

bio by Texsox -

 

Today's generation of baseball fans may believe that the Latin American explosion of players is a recent phenomenon. In fact, White Sox fans have enjoyed a long list of players to the point that the phrase Venezuelan shortstop should give Sox fans goose bumps.

 

Sandwiched between Chico Carrasquel and Ozzie Guillen was the best of them all, Luis Aparicio. Little Louie, along with Soxtalk Fan Favorite Nellie Fox, formed the greatest middle infield tandem in baseball. Bill Veeck, who had been around baseball a long time, exclaimed "He's the best I've ever seen. He makes plays which I know can't possibly be made, yet he makes them almost every day."

 

At the time, lumbering ox with big bats was the style in the AL. With the fast Aparicio leading off and the contact hitter Fox second, the Sox went to a hit and keep running style that catapulted the Go-Go Sox to the AL title in 1959 breaking the Yankee dominance. That year the Sox were first in stolen bases and last in homeruns. Fox won the 1959 MVP with "Little Louie" a close second.

 

I remember watching a game when I was very young, probably seven or eight, and having my grandfather tell me to remember this man, you may never see a better shortstop in your lifetime. Those were strong words of praise coming from a diehard Cub fan for any Sox player and made a great impression on me. I can recall peering through the snow on the old black and white TV and trying to remember every move. I honestly cannot remember what Aparicio did that day, but I'll always remember the respect in my grandfather's voice.

 

 

Career:

 

· Led shortstops 8 times in fielding percentage

 

· Nine consecutive stolen base titles

 

· Most games at shortstop

 

· Most double plays

 

· Most assists as shortstop

 

· Nine Gold Gloves in three decades

 

· Seven time assist leader

 

· Four time put out leader

 

· 1956 Rookie of the Year

 

· 13 All Star Games

Never had seen that video with Mel Allen. How rude that Mel calls him Louis. Tex in the bio you also called him Louis.

Edited August 17, 200817 yr by CaliSoxFanViaSWside

They Anglo-ified Latino names in the '50s and '60s sometimes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Luis was one of the most exciting and skillful ballplayers I've ever had the pleasure to watch.

Never had seen that video with Mel Allen. How rude that Mel calls him Louis. Tex in the bio you also called him Louis.

 

I should have known better. Several of my sources were using Louis, and my spell checker defaulted to that.