Today’s 9–Luis Aparicio

I keep my White Sox collection by players last name. When that player reaches 9 cards (a page), they get a post in the Today’s 9 series. I just recently moved all my cards into alphabetical order so most of these posts are just catching up and making sure everybody get’s their due.

LUIS APARICIO

Cards (L-R) – (top row) 1968 Topps, 1969 Topps, 1969 Topps Deckle Edge

(middle row) 1981 TCMA 1959 Go-Go White Sox, 2002 Fleer Greats, 2003 Donruss Estrellas

(bottom row) 2008 Donruss Threads, 2008 Upper Deck Goudey, 2010 Topps Peak Performance

Played with the Sox from 1956-1962, 1968-1970

Was the 1956 AL Rookie of the Year

Was All-Star in 1958-1964 and 1970-1970

Was 2nd in MVP voting in 1959

Won gold gloves in 1958-1962, 1964, 1966, 1968, 1970

Was 2nd in Hits in the AL in 1966 with 182 hits.

Was 2nd in Triple in the AL in 1958 (9) and was 3rd in 1960 (7) and 1965 (10)

Led the league in stolen bases every year from 1956-1964

Led the league in singles in 1966 (143), was 2nd in 1960 (137) and 1968 (132), and was 3rd in 1961 (136) and 1969 (134)

Was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 1984.

Card back info –

“Luis returned to Chicago in 1968 after five years with Baltimore.  The shortstop has appeared in eight All-Star games and has a World Series lifetime average of .286.  Luis has led the AL in stolen bases 9 times.” – 1968 Topps

“After 5 years with the Orioles, Luis rejoined the Sox via a 6-man deal.  He has a .286 World Series batting mark.” – 1969 Topps

“Luis added to his stature as baseball’s greatest field shortstop in his fourth season with the White Sox in 1959.  Named as the starting shortstop for the American League in the All-Star game.  Luis, participated in all but four of Chicago’s 156 games and tied the club record by stealing 56 bases, matching the total of Wally Moses in 1943.  The Venezuelan born shortstop finished a close second to teammate Nellie Fox in the voting for the American League’s most valuable player award.” – 1981 TCMA 1959 Go-Go White Sox

“Aparicio played every inning of his 18-year career at shortstop, and built a legacy as a superb fielder and a solid producer on offense.  His skill at both facets of the game saw him rack up a total of nine Gold Gloves and 506 stolen bases during his Hall of Fame career.” – 2008 Donruss Threads

“Players may have hit more home runs and grabbed more headlines that Aparicio did in his career, but it’s tough to argue that any one of the big boppers was more valuable to their squad than the White Sox star.  He was one of the best defensive shortstops the Major Leagues has ever seen as he was rewarded with nine AL Gold Glove awards, and his quickness provided him with nin stolen base titles (1956-64)” – 2008 Upper Deck Goudey

“Aparicio’s statistics at shortstop are the most extraordinary in the history of the American League.  His records include those for most consecutive leaderships in fielding percentage (seven, 1959-66), most assists (8016) and most putouts (4548).  The Hall of Famer also held the mark for double plays until Cal Ripken Jr. retired with a mere dozen more.” – 2010 Topps Peak Performance

Cards in Sox uniform that I own currently – 12

I knew he was a Hall of Famer and was an all time White Sox great, but never really realized just how good he was until I was reading his stats and the write up’s on the back of his cards.