Posted on 03/02/2015 7:36:12 PM PST by Impala64ssa
The baseball world lost another legend on Sunday with the death of former Chicago White Sox outfielder Minnie Minoso. Minoso was a seven-time All-Star while playing with the White Sox in the 1950s and 1960s, but much more than that he was a pioneer. When he was traded by the Cleveland Indians to the White Sox in 1951, he became the city of Chicago’s first black player.
There is some dispute over when Minoso was born, but the team website said he was 92. The Chicago Tribune reported that Minoso was found dead in his car at a Chicago gas station on Sunday morning and that foul play was not suspected. The Cuban slugger spent 12 of his 17 seasons with the White Sox and hit a two-run home run in his first at-bat. The White Sox retired his No. 9 in 1983 and erected a statue at U.S. Cellular Field in 2004. Minoso is one of only two players to appear in a game in five different decades. He had two at-bats for the White Sox in 1980 at age 54. He was also famous for getting plunked. Between 1952 and 1961 he led the league in times hit by a pitch nine times, and is ninth on the all-time list with 192.
His career was much more than just frivolities. He was a career .298 hitter, a three time Gold Glover and four times finished in the top four of American League MVP voting. His combination of power and speed also put him in rare company:
(Excerpt) Read more at sports.yahoo.com ...
Condolences to family and friends of MInnie Minoso.
It’s been a rough few weeks in Chicago. First, the Cubs lost Ernie Banks and now the White Sox lost Minnie Minoso. Two greats.
Perfect hook slide.
Absolutely. Two greats. If I had a field of dreams, they’d be playing on it.
I saw him in an old-timers game in the Astrodome in the 80s. He was around 60 or so and ran the bases like a crazy man. Much like he did when he was active. Several other greats were there including Bob Feller.
Minnie was old when I was a kid watching on Channel 44 every at bat and every pitch of the South Side Hitmen circa 1977 on a Black and White TV.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/minosmi01.shtml
I saw him several times in the late 50’s and early 60’s when I would go to Tiger games with my dad. I remember him as an exciting player to watch.
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