Luis Ernesto Aparicio Montiel, (born April 29, 1934 in Maraca Ibo, Zulia State, Venezuela) came from a baseball family. His father, Luis Sr. was a notable shortstop in Venezuela and owned a Winter League team with Aparicio's uncle, Ernesto.

Aparicio was heavily scouted by the Cleveland Indians, but Chicago White Sox GM Frank Lane, on the recommendation of fellow Venezuelan shortstop Chico Carrasquel, signed Aparicio for $5,000 down and $5,000 in first year salary. He played well in the minors and then led the American League in stolen bases in his debut year of 1956, winning both the MLB Rookie of the Year and The Sporting News Rookie of the Year awards.

During the next decade, Aparicio set the standard for the spray-hitting, slick-fielding, speedy shortstop. He led the AL in stolen bases in nine consecutive seasons (1956-64) and won the Gold Glove Award nine times (1958-62, 1964, 1966, 1970). He was also a ten-time All-Star (1958-64, 1970-72) and a key player on the 1959 "Go-Go" White Sox that won the American League pennant that year. The White Sox dealt him to the Baltimore Orioles the following season.

Aparicio was ninth in the MVP balloting in 1966 when he helped the Orioles reach the World Series, which they won. He returned to the White Sox for the 1968 season after being traded for Don Buford and had his best overall offensive season in 1970, hitting .312 and scoring 86 runs. He put in three more seasons with the Boston Red Sox before retiring for good.

At his retirement, Aparicio was the all-time leader for most games played, assists and double plays by a MLB shortstop and the all-time leader for putouts and total chances by an AL baseball shortstop. Through the 2005 season, Aparicio holds the major league record of 2581 games played in the position. Amazingly, he never played in another position than shortstop.

Luis Aparicio was inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984, the first native of South America so honored. In 1981, Lawrence Ritter and Donald Honig included him in their book The 100 Greatest Baseball Players of All Time. In 1999, The Sporting News did not include him on their list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, but Major League Baseball did list him as one of their 100 nominees for their All-Century Team.

League Leadership Rankings

1956 AL games 4th(tied) 152; singles 9th 114; bases stolen 1st 21; worst ops 6th .653; worst rcaa 8th -21; sacrifices 1st(tied) 14.

1957 AL at bats 8th 575; runs 10th(tied) 82; singles 7th 117; triples 6th(tied) 6; bases stolen 1st 28; caught stealing 5th(tied) 8; worst ops 4th .649; sacrifices 8th(tied) 9; plate appearances 9th 640; outs 6th 455.

1958 AL singles 8th(tied) 117; triples 2nd(tied) 9; bases stolen 1st 29; caught stealing 9th(tied) 6; worst ops 5th .653; rcap 9th(tied) 17; sacrifices 10th(tied) 8; outs 7th(tied) 434.

1959 AL games 5th 152; at bats 2nd 612; runs 6th(tied) 98; hits 8th 157; singles 4th 128; bases stolen 1st 56; caught stealing 1st(tied) 13; worst ops 3rd .647; sacrifices 5th(tied) 11; sacrifice flies 5th(tied) 7; plate appearances 2nd 686; outs 1st 497.

1960 AL games 2nd(tied) 153; at bats 2nd 600; runs 6th 86; hits 7th(tied) 166; singles 2nd 137; triples 3rd(tied) 7; bases stolen 1st 51; caught stealing 3rd(tied) 8; worst ops 6th .666; sacrifices 1st 20; sacrifice flies 9th(tied) 6; plate appearances 2nd(tied) 670; outs 1st 480.

1961 AL at bats 5th 625; hits 9th(tied) 170; singles 3rd 136; bases stolen 1st 53; caught stealing 1st 13; worst ops 5th .665; outs 6th 488.

1962 AL bases stolen 1st 31; caught stealing 1st 12; worst ops 1st .614; worst rcaa 4th(tied) -24; outs 9th(tied) 472.

1963 AL at bats 6th 601; singles 10th(tied) 119; triples 5th(tied) 8; bases stolen 1st 40; caught stealing 7th(tied) 6; worst ops 6th .623; outs 4th 479.

1964 AL runs 6th 93; singles 10th 121; bases stolen 1st 57; caught stealing 1st 17; outs 8th 466.

1965 AL triples 3rd 10; bases stolen 4th(tied) 26; caught stealing 8th(tied) 7; worst ops 5th .625; sacrifices 2nd 14; outs 7th 471.

1966 AL at bats 1st 659; runs 5th(tied) 97; hits 2nd(tied) 182; singles 1st 143; triples 4th(tied) 8; bases stolen 4th 25; caught stealing 4th(tied) 11; sacrifices 2nd 12; plate appearances 1st 707; outs 1st 512.

1967 AL bases stolen 7th 18; worst ops 2nd .583; outs 8th 443.

1968 AL at bats 3rd 622; hits 3rd(tied) 164; singles 2nd 132; caught stealing 7th(tied) 11; plate appearances 7th(tied) 664; outs 4th 486.

1969 AL at bats 8th 599; hits 7th(tied) 168; singles 3rd 134; triples 9th(tied) 5; bases stolen 9th 24; sacrifices 5th(tied) 10; plate appearances 9th 681.

1970 AL hits 10th 173; singles 7th(tied) 136; average 4th .313.

1971 AL worst ops 3rd .587; worst rcaa 1st(tied) -24.

1973 AL worst ops 9th .633; sacrifices 4th(tied) 12; sacrifice flies 2nd(tied) 7.

Achievements and Honors

• 1956 AL Rookie of the Year Award
• 10-time AL All-Star (1958-1964 & 1970-1972)
• 9-time AL Gold Glove Winner (1959-1962, 1964, 1966, 1968 & 1970)
• AL At Bats Leader (1966)
• 9-time AL Stolen Bases Leader (1956-1964)
• AL Singles Leader (1966)
• 50 Stolen Bases Seasons: 4 (1959-1961 & 1964)
• Won a World Series Ring with the Baltimore Orioles in 1966
• Baseball Hall of Fame: Class of 1984

Career Statistics

Contact Information

Direct emails for Luis Ernesto Aparicio Montiel to laparicio@hofmag.com