Minnie Minoso to the Hall Of Fame
One of my great wishes is that the Veterans Committee will finally put Minnie Minoso in the Hall of Fame. Minoso, a very dark skinned Cuban, was the first player of African heritage to appear in a game for one of Chicago's major league teams. His hustle and enthusiasm combined with his outstanding play to quickly make him a fan favorite. His success paved the way for Ernie Banks and other Chicago stars.
The old Comiskey Park was a notorious pitcher's haven. Minnie would average 15 home runs a year there, but hit 20 or more in his two years with Cleveland. In 9 full years with the White Sox he made 6 All Star teams, won 3 Gold Gloves, led the league in triples and stolen bases three times apiece, scored at least 100 runs four times and over 90 three other years, and drove in over 100 runs four times. He also routinely led the majors in being hit by pitches. His lifetime batting average was.298; .304 with the White Sox.
Baseball-Reference.com lists his birth year as 1925, but in the book We Played the Game Minoso says he was born in 1922. Thus, he he was 28 when he first appeared in a Chicago uniform. Ironically, a series of White Sox publicity stunts that had him appear as a DH in 1976 and 1980 may have cost him an earlier induction. It is not as though he is undeserving. Baseball-Reference.com ranks him 22nd among left fielders, ahead of such luminaries as Jim Rice and Lou Brock. Sadly, Minnie Minoso passed away in Chicago on March 15, 2015 and the chance was lost to honor him while he was still living.
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