Orestes "Minnie" Minoso, 1925-2015

Former Negro League ballplayer and long time Chicago White Sox legend Minnie Minoso passed away today at the age of 89.

Minnie Minoso baseball reference page




Minnie Minoso was the first black and latino ballplayer to play big league baseball in the City of Chicago, for the White Sox, in 1951.



Minoso made his big league debut for the Cleveland Indians on April 19, 1949, at the age of 23.



Santurino Orestes Armas (Arrieta) Minoso was born on November 29, 1925, in La Habana, La Habana, Cuba.

Minoso played with the New York Cubans of the Negro Leagues, 1946-1948.


In 17 big league seasons with the Indians, ChiSox, Cardinals, and Senators, Minoso collected 1,963 base hits, including 336 doubles, 83 triples, 186 home runs, and 1,023 RBI, scoring 1,136 runs in 6,579 at bats.


Minoso was a terrific big league outfielder, with a lifetime .971 fielding percentage, committing just 112 errors while handling 3,859 total chances.



Minoso led the American League in assists by a left fielder in 1954-55-56-58-59-60.



Minoso's fielding prowess earned him three Gold Glove Awards, in 1957, 1959-60.



Minoso played in the big leagues through 1964, then went on to be a player/manager in the Mexican Leagues threw 1973.



Minoso made a comeback in 1976 with the ChiSox as player/coa h...something I remember from my teenage years watching ChiSox games on cable TV...as well as his 2nd comeback,  in 1980.

The ChiSox retired Minoso's uniform #9  in 1983, and erected a statue of the "Cuban Comet" in 2004 outside the teams ballpark, US Cellular Field.



There has been quite an outpouring of love for Minnie Minoso today, on social media, and in blogs and posts throughout media outlets.



Here's a few...including ChiSox fan President Barack Obama... http://m.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/03/01/statement-president-passing-minnie-minoso


Chicago White... @whitesox


White Sox Cards


MLB


The Sporting News


@nlbmprez



Minnie Minoso has been inducted into the Mexican Professional Baseball Hall of Fame, the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame (in exile), and the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame.



It's been a rough off season for baseball fans in Chicago, with the passing of Minoso and Chicago Cubs Hall of Famer Ernie Banks.


Today we say farwell "Mr. White Sox," may God Bless you and your family.