Minnie Minoso
Orestes "Minnie" Minoso. "The Cuban Comet". "Mr. White Sox". Left fielder for the Chicago White Sox in 1951-1957, 1960-1961, 1964, 1976, and 1980. In 1958, first black player to play for the Chicago White Sox. Career .298 batting average. 1,963 hits and 186 home runs in 17 MLB seasons. 9-time All-Star. 3-time Gold Glove. 3-time AL stolen base leader. Chicago White Sox #9 Retired. Also starred for the New York Cubans in the Negro Leagues. First black Cuban in MLB.
Excerpt from Minoso's SABR biography: An episode during the 1954 season in a game against the Yankees illustrates what a novelty Latino players still were in major-league baseball during the mid-1950s. Casey Stengel, always looking for an edge, ordered utility infielder Willie Miranda to curse at Miñoso, hoping to distract him in the batter’s box. Miranda assumed a menacing pose, and in a harsh-sounding tone invited him out to dinner after the game. Miñoso played along, shaking his fist at Miranda and replying in an equally menacing tone that he would be delighted. He stepped back into the box and smacked a game-winning triple.
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