Wednesday will mark 42 years since August 12, 1984, when Luis Aparicio became the first Venezuelan, and the fourth from Latin America, inducted into the Hall of Fame, following Roberto Clemente, Martín Dihigo, and Juan Marichal.
“I want to thank my father, who was a much better shortstop than me,” Luis said in his induction speech, “for giving me what I needed to excel in the Major Leagues. Thank you to the fans in Chicago, Baltimore, Boston, and Venezuela for making me so happy. Thank God for so many special moments, like this one.”
But Luis wouldn't have become such a prominent figure if he hadn't been born with flat feet. Because of his flat feet, he was rejected from the Venezuelan Armed Forces, where he could have served his entire life, perhaps even reaching the rank of general.
However, he was the stolen base champion for nine consecutive seasons. When Luis arrived in the Majors in 1956, base stealing was all but forgotten.
Aparicio in the American League and later, Maury Wills (Dodgers) in the National League, revived those emotions.
He reached base on walks 736 times and connected for 677 hits, for an average of 262. He had 411 at-bats left to be put out, on purpose, with ground balls to first or second to bring runners closer.
“How many of those made it home?” Al López wondered in an interview I conducted with him after his retirement. Al managed Luis in Chicago between 1957 and 1962. And Al added: “Nobody has that answer. Aparicio’s mind was far superior to that of all the others I managed. Discovering that by stealing bases he could help his team more effectively was a demonstration of his intelligence for the game.”
In “The National Baseball Hall of Fame Almanac 2016”, it reads…:
“Few players of Luis Aparicio’s stature have been able to shine in the Major Leagues like he has.”
When he started losing range to both sides, he became a better shortstop. Because he had studied the hitters and was always positioned where the balls were going.
It was in 1954, when they signed Luis in Chicago, because they were satisfied with the services that Alfonso (Chico) Carrasquel had provided them since 1950.
Aparicio spent two years in the minor leagues. After the 1955 season, the White Sox needed a power left-handed hitter and approached the Indians about Larry Doby. The Indians, in turn, asked for Alfonso and center fielder Jim Busby.
So, Chicago asked their minor league staff if Aparicio was ready for the major leagues. The answer is historic…:
“He arrived here already prepared!”
He debuted on April 17, 1956
On April 17, 1956, the White Sox lined him up as the eighth batter and shortstop.
With 21 stolen bases, he won the first of his nine consecutive titles. No one else has won that award more than six times in a row; he also led the league in sacrifice bunts with 14, and the writers voted him Rookie of the Year.
In 1959, he carried the team on his shoulders, stealing 56 bases and scoring 98 runs, to lead them to the World Series. He finished second in the league's Most Valuable Player voting, behind his teammate and fellow second baseman, Nelly Fox.
But the Dodgers didn't let them savor the October champagne, beating them in the World Series in six games. Luis batted .308 with eight hits, including a double against Sandy Koufax. Only one player finished with a better average: Ted Kluszewski, at .391, also of the White Sox. Aparicio was the first Venezuelan to appear in a World Series.
In 1966, manager Hank Bauer watched his Orioles dispatch the heavily favored Dodgers in four games of the World Series. The only Latin American player in that series was Aparicio. The Dodgers had none.
They only let me go once.
In the spring of 1974, the Red Sox, for whom Luis had played since 1971, were training in Winter Haven, Florida.
Aparicio was about to turn 39, but he sweated every day on the training field, like the best rookie. They called him to the club offices.
“Unfortunately,” they told him, “we have to let you go.”
Aparicio went to the hotel to pack his things for his trip to Venezuela, and the phone rang. It was George Steinbrenner. He said:
"I sent an emissary, he's carrying a blank contract, so you can write in how much you want to charge the Yankees for the next two seasons."
“Thank you very much, Mr. Stenbrenner. But I only get to be free once in my life,” Luis replied.
Thanks to the life that has given me so much, even a reader like you.
Juan Vene is a traitor; he should be dishonored by being removed from the Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame, and his publications should even be removed from this media outlet.