Luis Aparicio was a Venezuelan professional baseball player who is widely regarded as one of the greatest shortstops of all time. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 18 seasons, beginning in 1956 and ending in 1973. During his career, he was a nine-time All-Star, a Gold Glove Award winner ten times, and the American League (AL) Rookie of the Year in 1956.

Aparicio began his career with the Chicago White Sox and quickly established himself as one of the most talented shortstops in the game. He was known for his outstanding defensive play, as well as his excellent base-stealing ability. He led the AL in stolen bases for nine consecutive seasons and set the all-time record with 506 stolen bases. He was also an excellent hitter, batting .262 for his career with 2,677 hits, 1,282 runs scored, and 1,726 runs batted in (RBIs).

In 1964, Aparicio was traded to the Baltimore Orioles, where he continued to be a force in the infield. He won the Gold Glove Award in each of his nine seasons with the Orioles and was named to the All-Star team four times. He also helped the Orioles win the AL pennant in 1966 and the World Series in 1970.

Aparicio finished his career with the Boston Red Sox in 1973. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984 and his number 11 was retired by the White Sox in 1984. He is also a member of the Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame. Aparicio's 18-year career was a testament to his skill, determination, and longevity. He is widely considered one of the greatest shortstops of all time.