Long time Chicago White Sox shortstop who occasionally played other positions, Luke Appling sported a lifetime .310 batting average, hitting a career high .388 in 1936, winning the American League batting title twice and hitting more than .300 14 times. Luke was elected to the All-star team 7 times. He entered the service in 1944, missing that season and most of 1945. After retiring as an active player, Appling continued as a coach, mostly for the White Sox and managed the Kansas City Athletics briefly in 1967.

Luke Appling began his professional career in Atlanta, as a member of the Atlanta Crackers (Southern Association). When he retired he moved to Cumming, Georgia.