19 Facts About Luke Appling

Luke Appling was signed by the minor league Atlanta Crackers in 1930 and debuted with the Chicago White Sox later that year.

Luke Appling interrupted his career to serve in World War II in 1944 and 1945.

Luke Appling played for Chicago until 1950, then was a minor league manager and major league coach for many years.

Luke Appling served one stint as an interim major league manager in 1967.

Luke Appling later said that he had been lefthanded, a trait that he shared with his father, until he was in high school.

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Luke Appling was signed by the Southern League Atlanta Crackers that year.

Luke Appling was a good hitter in his first year, but committed 42 errors in 104 games.

Luke Appling appeared in only six games for the White Sox in 1930.

Luke Appling finished second in the AL Most Valuable Player voting and earned his first All-Star Game selection.

Luke Appling played in 81 games in 1938, missing much of the season with a broken leg.

Luke Appling missed the entire 1944 season due to military service in the United States Army, then returned in time to appear in only 18 games the next year.

Luke Appling had remained a solid contributor into his forties, but White Sox ownership was dedicated to a youth movement and he retired after the 1950 season.

Luke Appling was well known for his ability to foul off pitches.

Luke Appling was a star for the ball club, a good hitter, a good fielder, good at driving in runs, good everything, just a good, good ballplayer.

Luke Appling was popular, and everybody wanted an autographed baseball from a big league club, and especially from a guy like Luke Appling.

Luke Appling was famous among his teammates for complaining about minor ailments such as a sore back, a weak shoulder, shin splints, or a sprained finger.

Luke Appling was a successful minor league manager after his playing days were over, winning pennants with Memphis in the Southern Association and Indianapolis of the American Association and being named minor league manager of the year in 1952.

Luke Appling was a major league coach for the Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers, Baltimore Orioles, Athletics and White Sox during the 1960s and early 1970s.

In 1989, The New York Times profiled the then 82-year-old Luke Appling, who had been an annual Spring Training coach with the Atlanta Braves for 14 years and was serving as a minor league coach during the season.