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Luis Aparicio ROY 1956 Chicago White Sox Autographed Signed OML Baseball COA

~~THIS ONE IS A BEAUTY!

Great looking single signed baseball by former 1956 American League Rookie of the Year...Luis Aparicio.

Luis played for the Chicago White Sox 1956-62, 1968-70, Baltimore Orioles 1963-67 and Boston Red Sox 1971-73. Luis was named the 1956 American League Rookie of the Year, was named to ten All-Star teams, won nine Gold Glove Awards, led the American League in stolen bases for nine consecutive seasons 1956-64, was a member of the 1966 World Champion Baltimore Orioles and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984.  Luis signed the sweet spot of this OML Allan H. Selig baseball with a blue ballpoint pen and he also inscribed underneath his name, "56 ROY", to note his accomplishment.  He signed this baseball on Saturday February 21, 2004.

Luis Aparicio was an acrobatic, graceful shortstop with exceptional range and hands. He holds the all-time record for most games played at short (2,581), and American League marks for assists (8,016), chances (12,564) and putouts (4,548). Aparicio also resurrected the stolen base as an offensive weapon, stealing over 50 bases three straight seasons and leading the league in thefts nine consecutive times. He was a starter for 18 seasons with the White Sox, Orioles and Red Sox. Did you know ... that over his 18-year major league career, Luis Aparicio never played a single big league inning at any position other than shortstop? Luis' Hall of Fame Teammates Included: Larry Doby, Nellie Fox, George Kell, Early Wynn, Robin Roberts, Brooks Robinson, Jim Palmer, Frank Robinson, Hoyt Wilhelm, Carlton Fisk, Carl Yastrzemski and Orlando Cepeda.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia...

Luis Ernesto Aparicio Montiel (born April 29, 1934) is a former shortstop in professional baseball and a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. His career spanned three decades, from 1956 through 1973. Aparicio played for the Chicago White Sox (1956–62, 1968–70), Baltimore Orioles (1963–67) and Boston Red Sox (1971–73). He batted and threw right handed.

Playing career

Born in Maracaibo, Zulia State, Venezuela, Aparicio 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 Rookie of the Year and The Sporting News Rookie of the Year awards.

Over 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 were generally successful during his tenure, but when he showed up overweight and had an off year in 1962, the White Sox dealt him to the Baltimore Orioles the following season.

Aparicio regained his form in Baltimore and 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.

Aparicio batted a more than respectable .262 for his career but he also shares the distinction of tying the longest major league hitless streak for non-pitchers in the last 50 years by going 0 for 44 with the Boston Red Sox in 1971. He batted a career low .232 that year. But even in his last year as an active player in 1973 he rebounded to hit .271 while still playing regularly at age 39.

Baseball records

At his retirement, Aparicio was the all-time leader for most games played, assists and double plays by a 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 2583 games played in the position. Amazingly, he never played any position other than shortstop.

Baseball honors

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.

He was given the honor of throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at Game One of the 2005 World Series, the first World Series game to be played in Chicago by the Chicago White Sox since the 1959 World Series, when Aparicio had been the starting shortstop for the Sox.

Landmarks bearing his family name

There is a stadium in Maracaibo, Venezuela bearing his father's name. The full name of the stadium is Estadio Luis Aparicio El Grande (Stadium Luis Aparicio the Great) in honor to Luis Aparicio Ortega. Also, the sports complex where the stadium is located is named Polideportivo Luis Aparicio Montiel

There are also several streets and avenues bearing his name throughout Venezuela.

In 2006 Aparicio had a life-sized bronze statue of himself unveiled at U.S. Cellular Field.

Lifetime guarantee in regards to this autographed baseball which also comes with a COA from Gearhart Enterprises, Inc. Member of the UACC. UACC Registered Dealer #RD189.