Chicago’s First Black Major League Baseball Player Minnie Minoso Dies

JAY COHEN, Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) — Minnie Minoso, who strike a two-run home run in his initial at-bat when he became vital joining baseball’s initial black actor in Chicago in 1951, has died, a Cook County medical investigator pronounced Sunday.

The medical examiner’s bureau did not immediately offer serve details. There is some doubt about Minoso’s age though a White Sox contend he was 92.

Minoso played 12 of his 17 seasons in Chicago, attack .304 with 135 homers and 808 RBIs for a White Sox. The White Sox late his No. 9 in 1983 and there is a statue of Minoso during U.S. Cellular Field.

Minoso done his vital joining entrance with Cleveland in 1949 and was dealt to Chicago in a three-team trade dual years later. He done his White Sox entrance on May 1, 1951, and homered in his initial image coming opposite Yankees right-hander Vic Raschi.

It was a start of a pleasing attribute between a Cuban slugger and a White Sox.

Minoso, regarded as baseball’s initial black Latino star, was a Havana local who spent many of his career in left field. He is one of usually dual players to seem in a vital joining diversion in 5 opposite decades. He got his final strike in 1976 during age 53 and went 0 for 2 in dual games in 1980 for a White Sox, who attempted unsuccessfully over a years to get a “Cuban Comet” into baseball’s Hall of Fame.

“When we watched Minnie Minoso play, we always suspicion we was looking during a Hall of Fame player,” White Sox owners Jerry Reinsdorf pronounced in an informational package constructed by a group for a 2011 Cooperstown push. “I never accepted because Minnie wasn’t elected.

“He did everything. He could run, he could field, he could strike with power, he could bunt and take bases. He was one of a many sparkling players we have ever seen.”

Saturnino Orestes Armas Minoso Arrieta was comparison for 9 All-Star games and won 3 Gold Gloves in left. He was strike by a representation 192 times, ninth on baseball’s career list, and finished in a tip 4 in AL MVP voting 4 times.

Despite a pull by a White Sox and other distinguished Latin players, Minoso has never done it to Cooperstown. His top commission during his 15 years on a writers’ list was 21.1 in 1988. He was deliberate by a Veterans Committee in 2014 and fell brief of a compulsory commission for induction.

“My final dream is to be in Cooperstown, to be with those guys,” Minoso pronounced in that 2011 package distributed by a White Sox. “I wish to be there. This is my life’s dream.”

Minoso, who done his vital joining entrance with Cleveland in 1949, strike .298 for his career with 186 homers and 1,023 RBIs. The rapid Minoso also led a AL in triples and steals 3 times in any category.

Playing in an epoch dominated by a Yankees, Minoso never played in a postseason.

“Every immature actor in Cuba wanted to be like Minnie Minoso, and we was one of them,” Hall of Fame slugger Tony Perez said. “The approach he played a game, tough all a time, hard. He was really unchanging personification a game. He attempted to win each game. And if we wish to be like somebody, and we picked Minnie, we have to be consistent.”

Minoso seemed in only 9 games in his initial army with a Indians, though he took off when he was dealt to Chicago as partial of a three-team trade in 1951 that also concerned a Philadelphia Athletics. He went low in his initial image coming opposite Yankees right-hander Raschi, and strike .375 in his initial 45 games with a White Sox.

Minoso finished that initial deteriorate in Chicago with a .326 batting average, 10 homers and 76 RBIs in 146 games for a Indians and White Sox. He also had a vital league-best 14 triples and an AL-best 31 steals.

It was Minoso’s initial of 8 seasons with during slightest a .300 batting average. He also had 4 seasons with during slightest 100 RBIs.

“I have ball in my blood,” Minoso said. “Baseball is all I’ve ever wanted to do.”

___

Associated Press author Caryn Rousseau contributed to this report.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This element might not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Article source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/01/minnie-minoso-dead-dies_n_6778620.html?utm_hp_ref=chicago&ir=Chicago