“Little Luis” making it big
By Adrian Burgos
The 1956 season was a new era for the Chicago White Sox. Rookie Luis Aparicio took over the Sox starting shortstop job from Opening Day onward.
An offseason trade in October 1955 had virtually assured the Venezuelan native the starting job the following season. Aparicio would play in 152 of the White Sox’s 154 games in 1956. His excellent glove, base-stealing abilities and contribution to the Sox’s evolving offensive game earned him the American League Rookie of the Year Award.
Aparicio did more than replace Alfonso “Chico” Carrasquel as the starting shortstop. “Little Louie” set a new standard as a Gold Glove fielder, base stealer extraordinaire and All-Star shortstop.
Trading Places
Chicago front office determined early in the 1955 off-season that Aparicio was ready to assume shortstop duties full-time. The Sox management showed their confidence in Aparicio on Oct. 25 when they sent then-starting shortstop Carrasquel and outfielder Jim Busby to the Cleveland Indians for Hall of Fame outfielder Larry Doby.
That trade was a bold statement. Aparicio had yet to play a single major league game. Moreover, the Sox brass pulled the trigger on the trade despite Carrasquel’s notable record, having represented Chicago at three straight All-Star games from 1953 through 1955.
Big Things Ahead
Two things would make Aparicio’s debut on April 17, 1956, peculiar.
First, the White Sox opened their season hosting the Cleveland Indians. This meant the 22-year old Aparicio could look across the field at Comiskey Park and see the guy he replaced starting at the same position for Cleveland.
Second, Aparicio was replacing a fellow Venezuelan as the starting shortstop. Even more, Carrasquel was celebrated as a national sporting hero in Venezuela after he became the first Venezuelan selected as an All-Star while playing for the Sox in 1951.
A New Start
The Sox offense looked to blend power and speed in 1956. Expectations were that the newly acquired Doby would give Chicago another home run threat to complement Minnie Miñoso.
Sox manager Marty Marion looked to the rookie Aparicio to be a base-stealing threat. While the Sox hoped to take advantage of Aparicio’s speed on the base paths, they didn’t want to place too much pressure on the rookie in terms of hitting. Marion placed Aparicio in the eighth slot in the batting order to start the season.
A big offensive battle was not expected on Opening Day. Both Cleveland and Chicago sent aces to the mound.
Cleveland’s starting pitcher Bob Lemon entered the 1956 season as a six-time 20-game winner, led the AL in wins three times, and was a seven-time All-Star.
The Sox’s lefty Billy Pierce was building his own impressive resume. Pierce’s 1.97 ERA led the AL in 1955. He was also coming off his second All-Star season.
Dueling Aces
Lemon and Pierce didn’t disappoint. The two exchanged scoreless innings until the bottom of the fourth. Sox catcher Sherman Lollar doubled in Miñoso, giving the Sox a 1-0 lead.
The lead didn’t last long. Busby got revenge on his former Southside teammates by hitting a home run off Pierce to tie the game in the fifth.
Aparicio did not do much in his first two trips to the plate against Lemon. First-pitch swinging, he flew out to center in leading off in the third inning. He didn’t fare any better leading off in the bottom of the fifth, again flying out to center.
The seventh proved the decisive inning.
Lollar led off with a single. Aparicio then singled to left field for his first major league hit, and moving Lollar into scoring position. The Sox then loaded the bases on a fielder’s choice and pushed across the go-ahead run on a Jim Rivera walk, taking a 2-1 lead.
That was all Pierce needed. The Sox lefty kept the Indians off the scoreboard for a 2-1 complete game win.
A Strong Opening
Aparicio was 1-for-3 and handled four chances without an error on Opening Day 1956. That debut began to confirm that the White Sox’s front office had rightfully put their confidence in Aparicio.
Aparicio’s reputation with the leather quickly earned him a following. The smooth-fielding shortstop would win his first Gold Glove in just his third campaign, 1958.
His base-running elevated Chicago’s running game. He led the AL in stolen bases with 21 during his rookie campaign. The 1956 AL stolen base title would be the first of nine consecutive titles he would claim.
Aparicio’s speed and daring base-running got the White Sox fans into the mood. “Go-Go-Go,” the Comiskey crowd began to chant in unison, encouraging Aparicio and his teammates to run on their opponents. Soon thereafter they became the “Go-Go” Sox.
The combination of spectacular defense and exciting base stealing got Aparicio selected to represent the AL at the All-Star game in 1958. That would be his first of seven consecutive seasons being selected as an AL representative.
Aparicio’s rookie campaign and career demonstrated that the he could replace a star and even elevate the game. In 1984 when Aparicio was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame as the first Venezuelan to be enshrined.
Featured Image: Library of Congress