White Sox legend Minnie Miñoso made the ultimate home run: a forever home in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, July 23. For generations of White Sox fans, he was a favorite for his outstanding performance on the field and his gregarious spirit off it.
Minnie Minoso
From pioneer professional baseball players Roberto Clemente and the White Sox’s Minnie Miñoso to “Queen of Salsa” Celia Cruz, Afro-Latinos have made a significant impact on American history. Our latest community conversation dives into Afro-Latino history in Chicago, while touching on the nuances of multi-racial identities.
Minnie Miñoso, “the Cuban Comet” broke the color line for the White Sox when he joined the team in 1951. He was selected for induction by the Golden Days Era committee on Sunday, and University of Illinois professor Adrian Burgos Jr says, it’s an honor that was long overdue.
Buck O’Neil, a champion of Black ballplayers during a monumental, eight-decade career on and off the field, joined Minnie Miñoso, Gil Hodges and three others in getting chosen for the Hall of Fame on Sunday.
Minnie Miñoso became the first Black Cuban to play in the major leagues with the Cleveland Indians. He broke the color line for the White Sox in 1951. And after his days on the field, he settled in Chicago, joined the Sox as an assistant coach, and was a mentor for generations of ballplayers.
White Sox great Minnie Miñoso, Chicago's first black major league player, died this Sunday. Professor Adrian Burgos Jr., who specializes in Latin American studies and baseball at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, joins us to discuss Miñoso's legacy.
He broke the color barrier in Chicago baseball and was the first black-Latino in the Major Leagues. Now White Sox star Minnie Minoso is up for the baseball Hall of Fame. We examine his credentials.