Nineteen fifty-six was a banner year for Aparicio. He was a standout -leading the league in stolen bases, assists, and total putouts -though he also led in errors. The following year, he joined the Southern Association, playing for Memphis. Moving to the United States, he played with Waterloo, a White Sox farm team in 1954. "Discovered" that same year, Aparicio was offered a contract to play for the Chicago White Sox. In fact, in 1953, he took his father's place as shortstop for the Maracaibo Gavilanes. Later, he played for the Barquismeto Cardinales.įollowing in his father's image, Aparicio became a shortstop -assuming the position he would continue to play for his entire professional career. 350, which helped to propel his team into the Latin American World Series.
In fact, his slight stature later earned him the recognizable nickname of "Little Looie." Deciding that baseball was his destiny, Aparicio left high school after completing two years and began playing with an amateur team in Caracas, Venezuela. passed along his considerable knowledge, teaching his son the "ins" and "outs" of the game and the particulars involved in becoming an effective and valuable team player.Īttending public schools in Maracaibo, Aparicio grew to his 5'9" height, and 155-160 pound weight by high school. Playing the game he loved in the Venezuelan league (with the Caracas Club) to the age of 41, Aparicio Sr. Aparicio Sr., a tractor driver for an oil company, was an avid baseball player and the very first Venezuelan to ever be offered a major league contract to play baseball. It's not surprising that he became enraptured with baseball at a very early age. Luis Aparicio was born in Maracaibo, Venezuela, on April 29, 1934. In fact, many consider Luis Aparicio to be baseball's best all-around shortstop. While home runs were not his specialty, Aparicio's physical prowess and multi-faceted assets as a baseball player in the 1950s, 1960s, and l970s are well recorded in baseball history. "Little Looie" set an example of skill, strength, and dexterity that seized the spotlight usually afforded to power hitters. However, one individual who did not fit this mold, yet achieved star status, is Luis Aparicio. Most will agree that in the game of baseball, power is king.
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