Luis Aparicio
The man who revolutionized shortstop play in the American League led the majors in stolen bases nine straight seasons from 1956 to 1964, swiping 506 bags during that dominant stretch. Aparicio proved that speed could be a weapon even for middle infielders, finishing with 506 career steals while playing Gold Glove defense at baseball's most demanding position.
His 1970 campaign at age 36 stands as his offensive peak, posting a .313 average and 109 OPS+ that represented his career high. That season showcased the complete player Aparicio had become — combining his trademark speed and glove work with unexpected pop at the plate. The Venezuelan shortstop opened doors for Latin American players while redefining what fans expected from the position.
Nine Gold Gloves tell the defensive story, but Aparicio's true legacy lies in changing how the game was played. He turned stolen bases from an occasional tactic into a systematic offensive weapon, paving the way for the next generation of speedsters.
Career · Batting
18 seasons| Year | Team | G | AB | HR | RBI | AVG | OPS | OPS+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | CWS | 152 | 533 | 3 | 56 | .266 | .653 | — |
| 1957 | CWS | 143 | 575 | 3 | 41 | .257 | .649 | — |
| 1958 | CWS | 145 | 557 | 2 | 40 | .266 | .653 | — |
| 1959 | CWS | 152 | 612 | 6 | 51 | .257 | .647 | — |
| 1960 | CWS | 153 | 600 | 2 | 61 | .277 | .666 | — |
| 1961 | CWS | 156 | 625 | 6 | 45 | .272 | .665 | — |
| 1962 | CWS | 153 | 581 | 7 | 40 | .241 | .614 | — |
| 1963 | BAL | 146 | 601 | 5 | 45 | .250 | .623 | — |
| 1964 | BAL | 146 | 578 | 10 | 37 | .266 | .688 | — |
| 1965 | BAL | 144 | 564 | 8 | 40 | .225 | .625 | — |
| 1966 | BAL | 151 | 659 | 6 | 41 | .276 | .676 | — |
| 1967 | BAL | 134 | 546 | 4 | 31 | .233 | .583 | — |
| 1968 | CWS | 157 | 622 | 4 | 36 | .264 | .636 | — |
| 1969 | CWS | 156 | 599 | 5 | 51 | .280 | .714 | — |
| 1970 | CWS | 146 | 552 | 5 | 43 | .313 | .776 | 109 |
| 1971 | BOS | 125 | 491 | 4 | 45 | .232 | .587 | 86 |
| 1972 | BOS | 110 | 436 | 3 | 39 | .257 | .649 | 98 |
| 1973 | BOS | 132 | 499 | 0 | 49 | .271 | .633 | 90 |
| Career | 2601 | 10230 | 83 | 791 | .262 | — | — | |
Matchups, projections, comps — grounded in Lahman, Retrosheet, and Statcast.