Luke Appling (1964)


Date of Birth: 4/2/1907
Date of Death: 1/3/1991
Birthplace: High Point, North Carolina
College: Oglethorpe University

Luke Appling played baseball at Oglethorpe College in 1929 and 1930. He then played in the Southern Association in 1930. The Chicago White Sox purchased his contract in August, 1930.

Chicago White Sox

Appling played in just six games in 1930 with the White Sox. The following season, he played in 96 games and he batted .232 with 69 hits.

In 1932, his first full season in the major leagues, Appling batted .274 with 134 hits, 20 doubles, and 63 RBIs in 139 games. The following season was a much better one for him. In 1933, he batted .322 with 197 hits, 36 doubles, and 85 RBIs in 151 games. He walked 56 times and struck out 29 times. He played in just 118 games in 1934, and he batted .303 with 137 hits, 28 doubles, and 61 RBIs.

Appling had another good season in 1935, batting .307 in 153 games. He had 161 hits, 28 doubles, and 71 RBIs. He walked a career high 122 times and he struck out just 40 times. Defensively, he also played well, leading the AL in assists with 556 and leading AL shortstops in putouts with 335.

In 1936, Appling won the American League batting title with a career high .388 batting average in 138 games. He also had career highs in hits (204) and RBIs (128). He walked 85 times and struck out 25 times. Defensively, he again led AL shortstops in double plays with 119.

Appling had a career high 42 doubles in 1937. He batted .317 with 182 hits, 18 stolen bases, 28 strikeouts to 86 walks, and 77 RBIs in 154 games. He led the AL in assists with 541 and he led AL shortstops in double plays turned with 111. He played in just 81 games in 1938, and he batted .303 with 89 hits.

Appling had strong seasons in 1939, 1940, and 1941, batting over .300 in each of those years (.314 in 1939, .348 in 1940, and .314 again in 1941). He had 162 hits and 56 RBIs in 148 games in 1939. The following season, he had 197 hits, 27 doubles, a career high 13 triples, and 79 RBIs in 150 games. In 1941, he had 186 hits, 26 doubles, and 57 RBIs in 154 games. He led the AL in assists in 1939 (461) and in 1941 (473), and he led AL shortstops in putouts in 1940 with 307.

Appling struggled in 1942, batting just .262 in 142 games. He had 142 hits, 26 doubles, and 53 RBIs. He came back strong the following season, leading the AL in games played, batting average, and on-base percentage. He finished the 1943 season with 192 hits, 33 doubles, a career high 27 stolen bases, 80 RBIs, 29 strikeouts to 90 walks, and a .328 batting average in a career high 155 games. His on-base percentage was .419. He once more led the AL in assists with 500.

Appling served in the United States military in 1944. When he returned to the White Sox in 1945, he played in only eighteen games.

Appling batted over .300 each year from 1946 through 1949. He finished the 1946 season with 180 hits, 27 doubles, 55 RBIs, and a .309 batting average in 149 games. The following season, he batted .306 with 154 hits, 29 doubles, and 49 RBIs in 139 games. In 1948, he had 156 hits, 16 doubles, 47 RBIs, and a .314 batting average. He batted .301 with 148 hits, 21 doubles, and 58 RBIs in 142 games in 1949. He led the AL in assists for the final time in 1946, when he had 505 assists. That year, he also led AL shortstops in double plays turned with 99.

Appling played in just 50 games in 1950, and he batted .234. He was released on November 9th of that year.

MLB Records

  • Led AL in batting average (2 times)
  • Led AL in assists (6 times)

Career Statistics

Career batting statistics for Appling include:

  • 2,422 games played
  • 2,749 hits
  • 440 doubles
  • 102 triples
  • 1,116 RBIs
  • 179 stolen bases
  • .310 batting average
  • .399 on-base percentage
  • .797 OPS

Career fielding statistics for Appling as a shortstop include:

  • 2,218 games played
  • 7,218 assists
  • 1,424 double plays
  • 4,398 putouts
  • 643 errors
  • .948 fielding percentage

Post Playing Career

Appling retired as a player after the 1950 season but he remained involved in baseball for over thirty more years. First, he became a minor league manager and, in 1952, he was named Minor League Manager of the Year.

Appling managed in the major leagues for only part of the 1967 season with the Kansas City Athletics. He wasn't successful with the Athletics, ending the season with a 10-30 record.

In subsequent years, Appling served as a coach for several teams, including the White Sox. His last position, in the 1980s, was as a batting instructor with the Atlanta Braves.

Appling was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1964 on the seventh ballot in a runoff election.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Luke Appling
ESPN - Luke Appling
Baseball Reference - Luke Appling

Back to Top