A true shortstop

Harry Chappas gives a new meaning to his position in 1978 when as a 20-year-old rookie the 5-foot-3 Chappas plays, ahem, shortstop for the Chicago White Sox.

Officially, Chappas is listed at 5-foot-7, but he is measured by then-White Sox radio announcer Harry Caray and turns out to be all of 5-3.

Chappas’ career turns out to be just as short as he plays in only 72 games over three seasons with Chicago before permanently returning to the minors in 1981 and retiring after the 1983 season at the ripe old age of 25.

“I began to realize that (White Sox owner) Bill Veeck just wanted me to be a gimmick to put people in the seats,” Chappas tells Sports Illustrated in 1997.

“The first major league contract I signed was made of cardboard and was five feet tall. All these photographers took pictures of me next to it. I didn’t know better, so I went along, playing the role of the little guy.”

Who knows, since we all get shorter as we get older, Chappas – who would turn 68 today if he were still with us – now might measure out at 4-foot-11.

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