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* First Ernie and now Minnie…
White Sox legend Minnie Minoso died Saturday night in Chicago, the team announced Sunday.
Minoso, whose full name was Saturnino Orestes Armas “Minnie” Minoso Arrieta, was the first black player White Sox history when he debuted with the team on May 1, 1951, the Sox said.
The so-called “Cuban Comet” was a seven-time All-Star who was almost as well known for his post-retirement job an ambassador for the team, interacting with many fans at Sox games at U.S. Cellular Field and at community events.
“Our organization and our city have suffered a heart-breaking loss today,” said Jerry Reinsdorf, chairman of the White Sox. “We have lost our dear friend and a great man. Many tears are falling.”
Player after player has said Minoso was the perfect teammate, with a love for the game that bubbled up like a spring.
‘‘When I die, I want to be playing baseball,’’ Minoso once said. ‘‘They don’t bury me without my uniform.’’
It would have been nice, in its way, to see him right there on the green grass of the Sox’ lovely spring-training complex when he took his last breath. And if he’s buried in his No. 9 Sox uniform, so be it.
His accomplishments — he ran the bases like a gazelle, drove in 100 or more runs four times and hit .300 or higher eight times in an era when hitting was hard and steroids were unheard of — make him worthy of special honors. But the equanimity he showed while breaking into a sports world that was foreign and didn’t necessarily want him is the amazing part.
‘‘I know we are all going to go at some time, but I had gotten to the point where I really felt Minnie was going to live forever,’’ Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said. ‘‘I don’t think he ever had an unhappy day. If he did, he never let anyone know he was unhappy. He was always upbeat. He always had a smile. He always had something nice to say to somebody.’’ […]
As new Sox pitcher Jeff Samardzija put it, sadly and succinctly: ‘‘What a great dude.’’
* A bit more background…
Born in Cuba, Minoso was the only player ever in professional ball to play in seven different decades, in Cuba, the Negro Leagues, the Majors, in Mexico, and in the Minors. He was an eight-time All Star, and had a lifetime .298 average. He barely missed being elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2011 and 2014.
That last snub was ridiculous. The man belongs in the Hall.
* More…
Minoso’s No. 9 was retired by the Sox in 1983, and his statue was unveiled at U.S. Cellular Field in 2004. He made his major-league debut with the Cleveland Indians in 1949 and was acquired by Sox general manager Frank Lane in a three-team trade two years later. In his first game with the Sox, he homered against the Yankees’ Vic Raschi in his first at-bat.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Mar 2, 15 @ 1:58 pm
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Awesome dude. Meet him in his outfield seats during the white sox playoff run in 2005. He came out for 2/3 innings to cheer with the fans then went up to his booth.
Comment by Person 8 Monday, Mar 2, 15 @ 2:04 pm
The more we learn about advanced statistics, the more we see how great he was. He was the best player on the second best team in baseball in the 1950s. The problem was the best team was in the White Sox league. As a pioneer, he was so meaningful for the game. He really should be in the HOF.
Comment by Carhartt Representative Monday, Mar 2, 15 @ 2:06 pm
I only saw him play a couple of times in his later years. Met him a few times and he was every bit as gracious and an ambassador of the game as Ernie Banks. My grandfather used to talk about what a great player he was all the time. Judging from his numbers, he ought to be in the HOF. Heck, even Bill James says he should have been one of the best 30 outfielders of all time. Tough year for Chicago baseball icons.
Comment by Stones Monday, Mar 2, 15 @ 2:08 pm
As a diehard Chicago White Sox fan, I feel this loss tremendously. One of the first Black Latino Major League Baseball players, he is s bona fide legend who will be sorely missed. RIP, Minnie!
Comment by Black Ivy Monday, Mar 2, 15 @ 2:08 pm
He totally belongs in the Hall. That veteran’s group has served mostly to keep people out rather than put deserving people in. They were there to “fix” inequities from cynical sportswriters. Instead, they just became more cynical than that group- and that’s hard to do.
A Hall without Santo making it in his lifetime or Minoso, is a Hall that loses some credibility for me. Hey it’s their sport, and they can make the rules however they want. No Minnie, No Ron, and there are certainly others….means it isn’t the great hall that rewards the best that ever were. It’s a more complicated version of All Star voting.
RIP Minnie. Like the great Ernie, you changed the world with your smile and joy. You treated a business like a game. I hope St. Peter hit you with an inside pitch and sent you running hard to first base…on the other side of those Pearly gates where a life well lived is rewarded handsomely.
Comment by A guy Monday, Mar 2, 15 @ 2:08 pm
I grew up in Sox Country, so every old man who grew up back when Minnie was a player, told me what a great guy he was. Sadly, I think Minnie outlived a lot of his first fans. The old men I remember telling me about this Sox great have already passed.
It wouldn’t have been easy to have been the first major league professional black Chicago baseball player. Chicago has an embarrassing history of racism. As a white kid growing up on the Southeast Side, I couldn’t fathom how ugly the City treated non-whites. In our part of town, you’d be insulting your next door neighbors if you had a problem with skin color. It wasn’t until I started working downtown did I meet so many college educated bigots who wouldn’t even venture to my part of the City. So, I can’t imagine how bad it would have been for Minnie way back in 1951.
I’m glad he lived long enough to see us bury those days.
Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Mar 2, 15 @ 2:09 pm
What has kept him out of the Hall all these years?
Comment by D.P.Gumby Monday, Mar 2, 15 @ 2:15 pm
One of the greatest players of the 50s, a true five-tool threat.
And like a lot of great and historic stories in baseball, there’s Bill Veeck, who signed Minnie in Cleveland not long after breaking the AL color line with Larry Doby.
Minnie was anywhere from 89 to 95, and he died of natural causes early on a Sunday morning, driving himself, after leaving a party. We should all have such a life in full.
Comment by Wordslinger Monday, Mar 2, 15 @ 2:22 pm
Used to work for Henry Regnery and to this day
Mr.Minoso and Mr.Buckley are still some of the best examples I know of human beings because of the way they treated others.
http://www.amazon.com/Extra-Innings-My-Life-Baseball/dp/B002MGYM6S/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1425327378&sr=1-5
Comment by Illinoisvoter Monday, Mar 2, 15 @ 2:25 pm
==What has kept him out of the Hall all these years?==
The veterans committee does kind of suck. They have kept Tony Oliva out too who put up similar numbers, but with a left fielder they expect big power numbers, ignoring how cavernous Comiskey Park was. Minoso had huge doubles and triples numbers even if he didn’t put it in the stands 30 times a year.
Comment by Carhartt Representative Monday, Mar 2, 15 @ 2:29 pm
Veteran sportswriters group ..”Get off my Hall of Fame!”
Comment by Fr. Murphy Monday, Mar 2, 15 @ 2:31 pm
My wifes best friend lived 2 doors down from him. We would stop by for dinner from time to time and he could always be seen watching sportscenter front window. A few times came out to talk and had the most fascinating stories about playing with so many of the games legends. Could of written a 2,000 page story book from his life and not run out of stories.
RIP
Comment by Very Fed Up Monday, Mar 2, 15 @ 2:41 pm
Chicago was incredibly blessed to have both Ernie and Minnie.
I hope they do bury him in his uniform. Minnie was a class guy all the way and came from a time when players seemed to actually love the game not just the paycheck. RIP, and thanks for all the memories, Minnie!!
Comment by Responsa Monday, Mar 2, 15 @ 2:48 pm
What kept Minoso out of the hall of fame? Simple answer- he never played for a team based in New York. If he had worn Yankee pinstripes he would have been enshrined many years ago.
Comment by DuPage Dave Monday, Mar 2, 15 @ 2:56 pm
DuPage Dave is right. If Minnie played in New York, he would have been a first ballot HOF’er. Harold Baines would be in the Hall biq, too, albeit not on the first ballot.
Comment by Center of the Baseball Universe bias Monday, Mar 2, 15 @ 3:01 pm
one just thought that Minnie would go on forever. such a treat to see him at Nellie Fox Society lunches, at the games, around town. a bright, fun person. filled with life. and got not nearly enough credit even in Chicago for his work on the field. trailblazer in multiple ways. mentor. I will always regard him as
Abreu’s abuelo.
Comment by Amalia Monday, Mar 2, 15 @ 3:08 pm
Got to talk with him for a little while at an event, really nice dude…
Comment by OneMan Monday, Mar 2, 15 @ 3:24 pm
My Grandfather and my Dad both used to work at Mack Truck, right across the street from old Comiskey Park. They would often go to the games and see Minnie get hit by a pitch because he stood so close to the plate. Later when my brothers and I played Little League ball, dad would always say, “let it hit you like Minoso, so you can get on base!”
Comment by One of the 35 Monday, Mar 2, 15 @ 3:32 pm
I used to run into him all the time while going to work in the early 90s. I had to catch a bus near the (then) Sears Tower and he’d walk west on that block nearly every day. It must have taken him hours to get where he was going because he’d be stopped every few feet by someone who just wanted to say hi.
Comment by Cheryl44 Monday, Mar 2, 15 @ 3:36 pm
What kept Minnie out of the Hall of Fame? He wasn’t good enough. 186 career homers for a left fielder isn’t going to cut it.
Baseball Reference shows players with comparable stats. Here are the comps for Minnie:
Carl Furillo (925)
Cy Williams (903)
Ken Griffey (901)
Amos Otis (898)
Gary Matthews (895)
Ben Chapman (894)
Dixie Walker (894)
Bob Watson (888)
Gee Walker (885)
Tony Oliva (885)
All better than average players, some even considered great. None are Hall of Famers.
Rest in peace Minnie. But he didn’t deserve the Hall.
Comment by Michael Westen Monday, Mar 2, 15 @ 4:39 pm
I met him years ago in Chicago. I was with a group at a convention and the guys recognized him. He came over and talked to us. Minnie kidded me about being a Cubs fan–but gently.
Comment by Nearly Normal Monday, Mar 2, 15 @ 5:09 pm
He was a great human being. Kind and always considerate.
Comment by Mokenavince Monday, Mar 2, 15 @ 5:54 pm
This man lived for baseball. He was a Sox ambassador to be sure, but, sometimes, while the Sox were out of town, he could be found in Wrigleyville too.
I read his book and Minnie had no use for Castro — he lost all of his real estate investments in Cuba due to the revolution.
Comment by Under Further Review Monday, Mar 2, 15 @ 6:16 pm
The comparisons made in the 4:39pm obviously don’t include his speed (Minnie led the league several times in SB’s) nor his defensive prowess (really, are you seriously comparing a Gold Glover to Carl Furillo?).
Throw in the fact that he played in the biggest park in the majors (old Comiskey) for a substantial part of his career and the comparisons actually make the case for his enshrinement — and I’m guessing it’ll happen sooner rather than later.
Back to that ridiculous list, I do think Tony Oliva (despite his bad knees) will also eventually be an HOFer as well.
Comment by A Minnie Hall vote Monday, Mar 2, 15 @ 6:36 pm
A great loss for Chicago Sports.
Certain players and certain teams;
Hull and the Hawks (and Stosh Mikita)
Butkus and the Bears
Ernie and the Cubs
Minnie is a guy when I heard his name, it was White Sox.
Chicago Sports is a little dimmer, losing a star.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 2, 15 @ 7:20 pm
Early 1990s Old Timers Game - Cleveland - Playing Right Field , Minoso at age 7? amazingly threw a runner out at 3rd
( Don’t remember a thing about the real game that day - but remember that throw )
Comment by x ace Monday, Mar 2, 15 @ 8:28 pm
Michael, how many of those players lost a bunch of their prime seasons to the color barrier? His first full season in the majors, he was probably 27 years old. He lost 3 or 4 prime seasons as a result. Baseball-Reference (where you got the similarity scores from) lists the player he is closest to in production from 28 to 36 as being the Cardinals’ Enos “Country” Slaughter who is a Hall of Famer. His WAR is higher than all of those players and Minoso was definitely more than a collection of numbers. He also did it facing racism that none of the others faced and he was an idol for Cuban and Latin American baseball players from Tony Perez through Jose Abreu. His influence is huge.
Comment by Carhartt Representative Monday, Mar 2, 15 @ 8:53 pm
=The comparisons made in the 4:39pm obviously don’t include his speed (Minnie led the league several times in SB’s) nor his defensive prowess (really, are you seriously comparing a Gold Glover to Carl Furillo?).=
I never saw Furillo play OF, I’m 46. However, as a kid I remember reading a book and a scout was raving about Clemente. He said he had an arm like “Carl Furillo”. Was he a butcher in other ways? I always thought he set the standard for OF arms in the 50s.
Comment by Carhartt Representative Monday, Mar 2, 15 @ 8:55 pm
“My mother and father taught me to be a good citizen, a good human being, and to love life.”
Minnie Minoso
Comment by John Etheredge Monday, Mar 2, 15 @ 9:18 pm