by Amaury Pi Gonzalez

The news of former Chicago White Sox great Minnie Minoso’s death is deeply felt by the White Sox organization, the Sox plan to have a dedication for Minoso 92, before their first pre season game which is scheduled this Wednesday March 4th against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Cuban born Minoso in his first at bat with the White Sox hit a two run homer and became the first black man to play for the White Sox in that at bat in 1951.

The Cook County Coroner said that Minoso had passed away on Sunday morning at 1 AM at a filling station he reportedly was found in his car in the driver’s seat and had died of a heart attack due to clogged arteries this was determined after Minoso had a autopsy that found he died from a torn pulmonary artery. Minoso earlier Saturday evening had celebrated a friends birthday and had stopped off afterwards at the gas station. Minoso broke into the majors with the Cleveland Indians in 1949 but was later traded in a three man deal to the White Sox before the 1951 season. In 17 seasons he played 12 of them were with the Sox.

Minoso also hit for average with a .307 average, 135 homers, and 808 RBIs, in 1983 the White Sox retired Minoso’s number 9. The Sox placed a statue of Minoso outside of U.S. Cellular Field. There is one photo of Minoso talking to his statue during the dedication, Minoso was decked out in a fancy suit for the occasion. He was quite honored at the dedication of his statue.

Minoso was a right handed hitter and while it’s very rare for a player to get a first at bat home run when they make their first appearance for a club Minoso did it in his first at bat with the Sox in 1951 when he hit one for a two run dinger off New York Yankees righty pitcher Vic Raschi. Minoso was mostly a leftfielder and was known as the “Cuban Comet.”

Minoso played in five different decades and was one of two major leaguers who played in five decades. Minoso in 1976 at the age of 53 got his final big league hit. In 1980 at the age of 57 Minoso he came to bat twice going 0-2 in 1980 in his final big league appearance. White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf said of Minoso, “when I watch Minnie Minoso play, I thought I was looking at a Hall of Fame player. I never understood why Minnie was never elected.”

Minoso won three gold gloves and was elected to the MLB All-Star game nine times, he finished fourth four times as the top A.L. vote getter for an MVP award. Minoso also is ninth on baseball’s all time hit by pitch list he was hit 192 times. Former Cincinnati Reds first baseman and Cuban born player Tony Perez said that ever since he was a kid he wanted to be like Minoso, “Every young player in Cuba wanted to be like Minnie Minoso and I was one of them. The way he played the game, hard all the time, hard. He was very consistent playing the game. He tried to win every game. And if I want to be like somebody and I picked Minnie you have to be consistent.” said Perez

Listen to Amaury’s podcast below regarding Minnie Minoso right here on http://www.sportsradioservice.com