The Minnie Minoso Effect
So much was made – and rightly so this past season about the impact of young, exciting players from Cuba.
Today, on his birthday – we celebrate the man who opened the door for players like Yasil Puig and Jose Abreu – Minnie Minoso.
Born Saturnino Orestes Armas Miñoso Arrieta in Perico, Cuba – the Cuban Comet began his professional baseball career in the Negro Leagues appropriately with the New York Cubans where he quickly became an All Star at third base. In his first year for the Cubans, Minoso hit .309 and followed that up in 1946 helping New York win the Negro National League pennant and capture the World Series from the Negro American League’s Cleveland Buckeyes.
Minoso’s Negro Leagues career lasted only three seasons (he was an All Star in 1947 and 1948) as in 1949 he made the move to the Major Leagues as the color barrier was slowly falling and joined Larry Doby on the Cleveland Indians roster.
Every move to the big leagues from the Negro leagues is historic even after Jackie Robinson signed with the Dodgers. Minoso’s move was not only historic because of the color of his skin but also because he became the first Black Cuban player to play Major League Baseball. Later in 1951, Minnie was traded to the Chicago White Sox becoming their first player of color. He “quickly” led the Sox in stolen bases his first three seasons.
Between his Negro Leagues, Major and Minor League baseball career and an almost decade long time in Mexico, Minoso played in five different decades making his last appearance for the Pal Hose in 1980. Thew only player in baseball history to do so. Chicago retired his #9 in 1983.
Inexplicably, Minoso is not in the Hall of Fame after a career that saw him make nine All Star games, win three Gold Gloves and hit .298 during a career which saw crowds chant Go! Go! when he wheeled around the bases.
Minoso like Robinson, will be most remembered as a player who brought a new never before seen form of entertaining baseball to stadiums across the country and someone who influences the game even today by opening the door to the baseball crazed country of Cuba.
Happy birthday Minnie!
Dave Barr (@daveabarr)
Monarchs to Grays to Crawfords 
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