Harry Perry Chappas (born October 26, 1957 in Mount Rainier, Maryland) is a former shortstop with the Chicago White Sox in parts of three seasons, from 1978 until 1980. Though he appeared in only 72 career games, he became a cult hero on the South Side due primarily to his stature. Chappas was measured by Harry Caray and publicly declared to be , an inch or two shorter than established star Freddie Patek. He was one of the shortest players in Major League history, although Chappas stated in an interview in '' Sports Illustrated'' that he was closer to , and implied that team owner

Bill Veeck William Louis Veeck Jr. ( ; February 9, 1914 – January 2, 1986), also known as "Sport Shirt Bill", was an American Major League Baseball franchise owner and promoter. Veeck was at various times the owner of the Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Br ...

exaggerated his short stature for publicity reasons. Chappas' professional baseball career began with the barnstorming ex- Negro league Indianapolis Clowns, who had become racially integrated, and had developed into more of an entertainment product than a competitive team. When Chappas later made his major league debut, he became the final player and first white player to make the major leagues from a team formerly a member of the Negro leagues. Chappas signed with the White Sox in 1976 as a sixth round draft pick. He impressed Veeck with good performances for the Appleton Foxes in 1978. This earned Chappas a September callup, during which he hit an effective .267 in 20 games. Primarily due to his height, he gained more and more national interest, highlighted by an appearance on the cover of '' Sports Illustrated'' during

spring training Spring training is the preseason in Major League Baseball (MLB), a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for Schedule (workplace), roster and position spo ...

in 1979. In spring training that year, Chappas unseated veteran

Don Kessinger Donald Eulon Kessinger (born July 17, 1942) is an American former professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a shortstop from to , most prominently as a member of the Chicago Cubs where, he was a six-time Al ...

and became the opening day shortstop. He lost his job after two weeks after missing a sign as a baserunner, only returning in September. Chappas made the opening day roster the following year as well, but only as a reserve player, and he was subsequently sent to the minors after hitting .160 in 50 at bats. Overall, Chappas hit .245 in the majors and hit a single home run, off the Brewers' Bill Travers, in 1979.

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Chappas, Harry 1957 births Living people Appleton Foxes players American expatriate baseball players in Canada American expatriate baseball players in Mexico Baseball players from Maryland Chicago White Sox players Denver Bears players Edmonton Trappers players Glens Falls White Sox players Indianapolis Clowns players Iowa Oaks players Knoxville Sox players Major League Baseball shortstops Miami Dade College alumni Miami Dade Sharks baseball players People from Mount Rainier, Maryland Sportspeople from Prince George's County, Maryland Savannah Braves players Sultanes de Monterrey players Tigres de Aragua players American expatriate baseball players in Venezuela