LUKE APPLING AND MY FATHER.

LUKE APPLING AND MY FATHER. Because the batter is usually at a big disadvantage when he has two strikes on him, being able to foul off pitches is an important skill. Luke Appling was famed for being able to foul off pitches until he got one he wanted. When my father took us to our first baseball game, he pointed out that when the crowd seemed to be booing, they were really cheering for Luke Appling, who was the only star on the White Sox, a future Hall of Famer. In fact, he was the only good player on the White Sox. The crowd would chant Luuuuuuke whenever he came to bat. In later years, I learned that fans will cheer the same way for any popular player named Lou.