Luke Appling, Chicago White Sox, 2,422 games
The third member of the 1930s White Sox to complete 20 seasons with that franchise, Appling played shortstop as a teammate of Faber and Lyons from 1930 until Faber’s retirement at the end of 1933. He and Lyons played alongside each other until Lyons left in 1946, and Appling played under Lyons during the pitcher’s managerial reign.
Sold by the Atlanta Crackers to the Sox late in 1930, Appling got into six games that season and showed enough to be installed as the team’ shortstop one year later. He topped .300 for the first of nine straight times in1932, topping out at .388 in 1936 when he won the American League batting title.
Never a power hitter, Appling was a relentless presence on the bases. For a long-time player and future Hall of Famer, he holds a rare distinction: his career on-base average (.399) was higher than his career slugging average (.398).
Appling added a second batting title when he hit .328 during the 1943 war season. He did not play in 1944, going into the military, but returned late in the 1945 season and continued as a regular at shortstop – with occasional diversions to third base – through 949. Reduced by age – he was 43 – to part-time duty in 1950, he announced his retirement, having spent 20 seasons in a Sox uniform.
Appling was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1964.