Levine: Minoso A True Baseball Legend
By Bruce Levine-
(CBS) Orestes "Minnie" Minoso was more than just a former Chicago White Sox player. Having played in five different decades, Minoso transcended the usual great guy/great player commentary made after one passes. Around U.S Cellular Field, he was known as Mr. White Sox. When Ernie Banks passed away in late January, Minoso was impacted on many different levels.
"Ernie was a great man and longtime friend of mine," Minoso said at Banks funeral. "I stayed up all night after hearing about Ernie, hoping God won't take me next."
Minoso passed away over the weekend. The White Sox said he was 90.
Arguably the most popular player on the White Sox in the 1950s and 1960s, Minoso worked for the team in the community relations department for the last 30 years.
"What a great (person) he was," White Sox right-hander Jeff Samardzija said. "He reminded me a lot of (Alfonso) Soriano. I often wondered if somewhere along the way, those two crossed paths. Very similar personality. Always a smile on their face, happy and that is what you want and need in a clubhouse. It is a tough loss for the White Sox family and more so for the family of baseball."
Minoso by the numbers fell short of Hall of Fame expectations. But if you consider the 10 years he spent in the Negro Leagues and Cuban baseball due to sanctions on players of color, Minoso belongs in. He was the first player of color in Chicago, two years before Banks made his debut with the Cubs in 1953.
Though he never played in the postseason, Minoso had five different stints with the White Sox. He was chosen for nine different All-Star games, playing in eight. Posting a career .298 batting average, he hit 186 home runs and stole 205 bases during a 17-year career. He would be the darling of the sabermetrics ERA of rating players, with a gaudy .389 career on-base percentage. A fearless competitor, he led the American League in the hit-by-pitch department 10 times. His batting style had him crowding the plate in the batter's box to take away the outside breaking ball.
Many White Sox personnel and front office people were in shock Sunday after hearing the news of Minoso's passing.
"Our organization and city have suffered a heart-breaking loss," White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said. "We have lost a great man and a dear friend. Many tears are falling."
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
