Luis Aparacio and Bert Campaneris- Hispanic Sports Legends

Bert Campaneris and Luis Aparicio are Hispanic legends, both former All-Star major league shortstops. Bert Campaneris and Luis Aparicio were quite similar in size and style, both anchoring pennant and World Series champion infields. Bert Campaneris and Luis Aparicio are revered even today throughout Latin American baseball playing nations, so great was their contribution to the game.

Luis Aparicio, nicknamed "Little Looie", was born in Maracaibo, Venezuela on April 29th, 1934. Standing but five foot nine inches tall and weighing only 160 pounds, he broke in with the Chicago White Sox in 1956 and promptly led the American League with 21stolen bases. He would lead his league in this category from 1956 until 1964, with his highest total coming in '64, when he swiped 57. Never a high average hitter, he was an excellent bunter and his speed helped to bring the stolen base back into vogue throughout baseball.

He teamed with future Hall of Famer Nellie Fox to form one of baseball's all time best middle infield double play combinations. The White Sox had some of their highest finishes during the early part of Aparicio's playing days, coming in third in the American League in 1956, second in both '57 and '58, and winning the pennant in 1959. He hit .308 in the World Series against the Dodgers that fall, but the Pale Hose bowed to Los Angeles in six games.

Aparicio's fielding was nothing short of superb. He had a great arm and even greater range, getting to balls that few shortstops before or since could reach. He was awarded with nine Gold Gloves for fielding excellence, and had a career fielding percentage of .972. He held the records for most double plays, assists, put-outs, and games played at shortstop at the time of his retirement. He still holds the mark of 2,581 games played at short; incredibly, during his eighteen years in the majors he never played an inning at another position.