Luke Appling was born on Tuesday, April 2, 1907, in High Point, North Carolina. Appling was 23 years old when he broke into the big leagues on September 10, 1930, with the Chicago White Sox. His biographical data, year-by-year hitting stats, fielding stats, pitching stats (where applicable), career totals, uniform numbers, salary data and miscellaneous items-of-interest are presented by Baseball Almanac on this comprehensive Luke Appling baseball stats page.
"When (Luke) Appling was around, the real blunder was to ask him, 'How do you feel?' It would sometimes take half an hour before he stopped telling you." - Maury Allen in Big-Time Baseabll (1978)
Luke Appling![]() Luke Appling Autograph on a 1988 Pacific Legends Baseball Card (#4 | Checklist) |
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| Biographical Data | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Luke ApplingLuke Appling Pitching Stats |
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| Year | Age | Team | G | GS | GF | W | L | PCT | ERA | CG | SHO | SV | IP | BFP | H | ER | R | HR | BB | IBB | SO | WP | HB | BK | HLD |
| - | - | Did Not Pitch | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Career | G | GS | GF | W | L | PCT | ERA | CG | SHO | SV | IP | BFP | H | ER | R | HR | BB | IBB | SO | WP | HB | BK | HLD | ||
Luke ApplingLuke Appling Hitting Stats |
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| Year | Age | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | GRSL | RBI | BB | IBB | SO | SH | SF | HBP | GIDP | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| 1930 | 23 | White Sox | 6 | 26 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .308 | .308 | .385 |
| 1931 | 24 | White Sox | 96 | 297 | 36 | 69 | 13 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 28 | 29 | 0 | 27 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 7 | .232 | .303 | .313 |
| 1932 | 25 | White Sox | 139 | 489 | 66 | 134 | 20 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 63 | 40 | 1 | 36 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | .274 | .329 | .374 |
| 1933 | 26 | White Sox | 151 | 612 | 90 | 197 | 36 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 85 | 56 | 1 | 29 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 16 | .322 | .379 | .443 |
| 1934 | 27 | White Sox | 118 | 452 | 75 | 137 | 28 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 61 | 59 | 1 | 27 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 13 | .303 | .384 | .405 |
| 1935 | 28 | White Sox | 153 | 525 | 94 | 161 | 28 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 71 | 122 | 8 | 40 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 9 | .307 | .437 | .389 |
| 1936 | 29 | White Sox | 138 | 526 | 111 | 204 | 31 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 128 | 85 | 6 | 25 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 14 | .388 | .474 | .508 |
| 1937 | 30 | White Sox | 154 | 574 | 98 | 182 | 42 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 77 | 86 | 6 | 28 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 10 | .317 | .407 | .439 |
| 1938 | 31 | White Sox | 81 | 294 | 41 | 89 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 42 | 1 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | .303 | .392 | .350 |
| 1939 | 32 | White Sox | 148 | 516 | 82 | 162 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 56 | 105 | 5 | 37 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 11 | .314 | .430 | .368 |
| 1940 | 33 | White Sox | 150 | 566 | 96 | 197 | 27 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 79 | 69 | 6 | 35 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 11 | .348 | .420 | .442 |
| 1941 | 34 | White Sox | 154 | 592 | 93 | 186 | 26 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 57 | 82 | 11 | 32 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 10 | .314 | .399 | .390 |
| 1942 | 35 | White Sox | 142 | 543 | 78 | 142 | 26 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 53 | 63 | 1 | 23 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 7 | .262 | .342 | .341 |
| 1943 | 36 | White Sox | 155 | 585 | 63 | 192 | 33 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 80 | 90 | 12 | 29 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 13 | .328 | .419 | .407 |
| 1945 | 38 | White Sox | 18 | 57 | 12 | 21 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 12 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .368 | .478 | .526 |
| 1946 | 39 | White Sox | 149 | 582 | 59 | 180 | 27 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 55 | 71 | 2 | 41 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 15 | .309 | .384 | .378 |
| 1947 | 40 | White Sox | 139 | 503 | 67 | 154 | 29 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 49 | 64 | 3 | 28 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 15 | .306 | .386 | .412 |
| 1948 | 41 | White Sox | 139 | 497 | 63 | 156 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 94 | 3 | 35 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 17 | .314 | .423 | .354 |
| 1949 | 42 | White Sox | 142 | 492 | 82 | 148 | 21 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 58 | 121 | 1 | 24 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 23 | .301 | .439 | .394 |
| 1950 | 43 | White Sox | 50 | 128 | 11 | 30 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 12 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 7 | .234 | .300 | .320 |
| Career | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | GRSL | RBI | BB | IBB | SO | SH | SF | HBP | GIDP | AVG | OBP | SLG | ||
| 20 Years | 2,422 | 8,856 | 1,319 | 2,749 | 440 | 102 | 45 | 0 | 1,116 | 1,302 | 68 | 528 | 74 | 0 | 11 | 212 | .310 | .399 | .398 | ||
Luke ApplingLuke Appling Fielding Stats |
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| Team | POS | G | GS | OUTS | TC | TC/G | CH | PO | A | E | DP | PB | CASB | CACS | FLD% | RF |
| 1930 White Sox | SS | 6 | 6 | 174 | 33 | 5.5 | 29 | 12 | 17 | 4 | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .879 | 4.50 |
| 1931 White Sox | 2B | 1 | 1 | 24 | 6 | 6.0 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .833 | 5.63 |
| 1931 White Sox | SS | 76 | 71 | 1,861 | 421 | 5.5 | 379 | 147 | 232 | 42 | 37 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .900 | 5.50 |
| 1932 White Sox | 2B | 30 | 27 | 733 | 178 | 5.9 | 172 | 62 | 110 | 6 | 16 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .966 | 6.34 |
| 1932 White Sox | 3B | 14 | 13 | 333 | 41 | 2.9 | 35 | 13 | 22 | 6 | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .854 | 2.84 |
| 1932 White Sox | SS | 85 | 82 | 2,147 | 519 | 6.1 | 482 | 195 | 287 | 37 | 66 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .929 | 6.06 |
| 1933 White Sox | SS | 151 | 151 | 4,057 | 903 | 6.0 | 848 | 314 | 534 | 55 | 107 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .939 | 5.64 |
| 1934 White Sox | 2B | 8 | 8 | 189 | 38 | 4.8 | 37 | 21 | 16 | 1 | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .974 | 5.29 |
| 1934 White Sox | SS | 110 | 110 | 2,900 | 618 | 5.6 | 584 | 243 | 341 | 34 | 55 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .945 | 5.44 |
| 1935 White Sox | SS | 153 | 153 | 4,082 | 930 | 6.1 | 891 | 335 | 556 | 39 | 93 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .958 | 5.89 |
| 1936 White Sox | SS | 137 | 137 | 3,654 | 832 | 6.1 | 791 | 320 | 471 | 41 | 119 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .951 | 5.84 |
| 1937 White Sox | SS | 154 | 154 | 4,039 | 870 | 5.6 | 821 | 280 | 541 | 49 | 111 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .944 | 5.49 |
| 1938 White Sox | SS | 78 | 77 | 1,966 | 427 | 5.5 | 407 | 149 | 258 | 20 | 37 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .953 | 5.59 |
| 1939 White Sox | SS | 148 | 148 | 3,862 | 789 | 5.3 | 750 | 289 | 461 | 39 | 78 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .951 | 5.24 |
| 1940 White Sox | SS | 150 | 150 | 3,977 | 780 | 5.2 | 743 | 307 | 436 | 37 | 83 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .953 | 5.04 |
| 1941 White Sox | SS | 154 | 154 | 4,122 | 809 | 5.3 | 767 | 294 | 473 | 42 | 95 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .948 | 5.02 |
| 1942 White Sox | SS | 141 | 141 | 3,633 | 725 | 5.1 | 687 | 269 | 418 | 38 | 77 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .948 | 5.11 |
| 1943 White Sox | SS | 155 | 155 | 4,120 | 836 | 5.4 | 800 | 300 | 500 | 36 | 115 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .957 | 5.24 |
| 1945 White Sox | SS | 17 | 17 | 260 | 100 | 5.9 | 93 | 37 | 56 | 7 | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .930 | 9.66 |
| 1946 White Sox | SS | 149 | 149 | 3,827 | 796 | 5.3 | 757 | 252 | 505 | 39 | 99 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .951 | 5.34 |
| 1947 White Sox | 3B | 2 | 1 | 24 | 2 | 1.0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 2.25 |
| 1947 White Sox | SS | 129 | 128 | 3,413 | 689 | 5.3 | 654 | 232 | 422 | 35 | 86 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .949 | 5.17 |
| 1948 White Sox | 3B | 72 | 69 | 1,789 | 262 | 3.6 | 247 | 84 | 163 | 15 | 13 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .943 | 3.73 |
| 1948 White Sox | SS | 64 | 62 | 1,604 | 363 | 5.7 | 343 | 133 | 210 | 20 | 50 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .945 | 5.77 |
| 1949 White Sox | SS | 141 | 140 | 3,161 | 729 | 5.2 | 703 | 253 | 450 | 26 | 95 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .964 | 6.00 |
| 1950 White Sox | 1B | 13 | 13 | 301 | 103 | 7.9 | 103 | 91 | 12 | 0 | 16 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 9.24 |
| 1950 White Sox | 2B | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .000 | 0.00 |
| 1950 White Sox | SS | 20 | 15 | 443 | 90 | 4.5 | 87 | 37 | 50 | 3 | 13 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .967 | 5.30 |
| Career | POS | G | GS | OUTS | TC | TC/G | CH | PO | A | E | DP | PB | CASB | CACS | FLD% | RF |
| SS Totals | 2,218 | 2,200 | 57,302 | 12,259 | 5.5 | 11,616 | 4,398 | 7,218 | 643 | 1,424 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .948 | 5.47 | |
| 3B Totals | 88 | 83 | 2,146 | 305 | 3.5 | 284 | 98 | 186 | 21 | 15 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .931 | 3.57 | |
| 2B Totals | 40 | 36 | 949 | 222 | 5.6 | 214 | 87 | 127 | 8 | 20 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .964 | 6.09 | |
| 1B Totals | 13 | 13 | 301 | 103 | 7.9 | 103 | 91 | 12 | 0 | 16 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 9.24 | |
| 20 Years | 2,359 | 2,332 | 60,698 | 12,889 | 5.5 | 12,217 | 4,674 | 7,543 | 672 | 1,475 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .948 | 5.43 | |
Luke ApplingLuke Appling Miscellaneous Stats |
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| Baserunning Statistics | Other Positions | Common Hitting Ratios | Common Pitching Ratios | |||||||||
| Team | SB | CS | SB% | PH | PR | DH | AB/HR | AB/K | AB/RBI | K/BB | K/9 | BB/9 |
| 1930 White Sox | 2 | 0 | 1.000 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 0.0 | 0.0 | 13.0 | - | - | - |
| 1931 White Sox | 9 | 2 | .818 | 17 | 2 | n/a | 297.0 | 11.0 | 10.6 | - | - | - |
| 1932 White Sox | 9 | 8 | .529 | 10 | 0 | n/a | 163.0 | 13.6 | 7.8 | - | - | - |
| 1933 White Sox | 6 | 11 | .353 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 102.0 | 21.1 | 7.2 | - | - | - |
| 1934 White Sox | 3 | 1 | .750 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 226.0 | 16.7 | 7.4 | - | - | - |
| 1935 White Sox | 12 | 6 | .667 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 525.0 | 13.1 | 7.4 | - | - | - |
| 1936 White Sox | 10 | 6 | .625 | 1 | 0 | n/a | 87.7 | 21.0 | 4.1 | - | - | - |
| 1937 White Sox | 18 | 10 | .643 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 143.5 | 20.5 | 7.5 | - | - | - |
| 1938 White Sox | 1 | 3 | .250 | 3 | 0 | n/a | 0.0 | 17.3 | 6.7 | - | - | - |
| 1939 White Sox | 16 | 9 | .640 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 0.0 | 13.9 | 9.2 | - | - | - |
| 1940 White Sox | 3 | 5 | .375 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 0.0 | 16.2 | 7.2 | - | - | - |
| 1941 White Sox | 12 | 8 | .600 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 592.0 | 18.5 | 10.4 | - | - | - |
| 1942 White Sox | 17 | 5 | .773 | 1 | 0 | n/a | 181.0 | 23.6 | 10.2 | - | - | - |
| 1943 White Sox | 27 | 8 | .771 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 195.0 | 20.2 | 7.3 | - | - | - |
| 1945 White Sox | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 1 | 0 | n/a | 57.0 | 8.1 | 5.7 | - | - | - |
| 1946 White Sox | 6 | 4 | .600 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 582.0 | 14.2 | 10.6 | - | - | - |
| 1947 White Sox | 8 | 6 | .571 | 9 | 0 | n/a | 62.9 | 18.0 | 10.3 | - | - | - |
| 1948 White Sox | 10 | 4 | .714 | 5 | 1 | n/a | 0.0 | 14.2 | 10.6 | - | - | - |
| 1949 White Sox | 7 | 12 | .368 | 2 | 0 | n/a | 98.4 | 20.5 | 8.5 | - | - | - |
| 1950 White Sox | 2 | 0 | 1.000 | 18 | 1 | n/a | 0.0 | 16.0 | 9.8 | - | - | - |
| Career | SB | CS | SB% | PH | PR | DH | AB/HR | AB/K | AB/RBI | K/BB | K/9 | BB/9 |
| 20 Years | 179 | 108 | .624 | 67 | 4 | n/a | 196.8 | 16.8 | 7.9 | - | - | - |
Luke ApplingLuke Appling Miscellaneous Items of Interest |
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| Team | Roster | Uniform Numbers | Salary | All-Star | World Series |
| 1930 Chicago White Sox | n/a | $4,200.00 | n/a | - |
| 1931 Chicago White Sox | 5 | $4,200.00 | n/a | - |
| 1932 Chicago White Sox | 8 | $4,200.00 | n/a | - |
| 1933 Chicago White Sox | 4 | $5,000.00 | - | - |
| 1934 Chicago White Sox | 4 | $7,500.00 | - | - |
| 1935 Chicago White Sox | 4 | $7,000.00 | - | - |
| 1936 Chicago White Sox | 4 | $12,000.00 | Stats | - |
| 1937 Chicago White Sox | 4 | $18,500.00 | - | - |
| 1938 Chicago White Sox | 4 | $15,000.00 | - | - |
| 1939 Chicago White Sox | 4 | $13,500.00 | Stats | - |
| 1940 Chicago White Sox | 4 | $13,500.00 | Stats | - |
| 1941 Chicago White Sox | 4 | $14,000.00 | Stats | - |
| 1942 Chicago White Sox | 4 | $14,000.00 | - | - |
| 1943 Chicago White Sox | 4 | $11,000.00 | Stats | - |
| 1945 Chicago White Sox | 4 | $11,000.00 | n/a | - |
| 1946 Chicago White Sox | 4 | $12,000.00 | Stats | - |
| 1947 Chicago White Sox | 4 | $16,000.00 | Stats | - |
| 1948 Chicago White Sox | 4 | $17,000.00 | - | - |
| 1949 Chicago White Sox | 4 | $17,000.00 | - | - |
| 1950 Chicago White Sox | 4 | $25,000.00 | - | - |
| Luke Appling Stats by Baseball Almanac | ||||

Lucius Benjamin Appling was a Major League Baseball player who spent his entire Hall of Fame career with the Chicago White Sox (1930-1943, 1945-1950). Did you know that Luke, his nickname, was once a lefty? He told Baseball Almanac, "My Daddy was left-handed, and I was left-handed when I was little. In fact, I was left-handed all the way to high school. Then I switched over to right-handed cause I wanted to play shortstop."
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