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Minnie Miñoso Baseball player

Minnie Miñoso (Saturnino Orestes Armas "Minnie" Miñoso Arrieta, /mɨˈnoʊsoʊ/; Spanish pronunciation: [miˈɲoso], born November 29, 1925), nicknamed "The Cuban Comet" and "Mr. White Sox", is a Cuban American former professional baseball player. He began his career in the Negro league in 1946, becoming an All-Star third baseman with the New York Cubans in 1947 and 1948. He was signed by the Cleveland Indians after the 1948 season as baseball's color line slowly fell. In 1949, he became the first black Cuban in the major leagues, and went on to become a seven-time All-Star. In 1951, as a rookie left fielder for the Chicago White Sox, he became the first black player in White Sox franchise history, and one of the first Latin Americans to be named to a major league All-Star team.Miñoso was one of the most popular and dynamic players in the major leagues, leading the "Go-Go White Sox" as they became one of the premier teams of the 1950s and 1960s. He led the American League (AL) in triples and stolen bases each three times, and in hits, doubles and total bases each one time, and in batted over .300 eight times. Willie Mays along with Minoso, have been widely credited with leading the resurgence of speed as an offensive weapon in the 1950s; only Mays, with 179 stolen bases, exceeded Minoso's 167 steals during the decade. Miñoso, a rare power threat on a team known for defense and speed, held the White Sox record for career home runs from 1956 to 1974. Minoso was also particularly adept at reaching first base, leading the AL in times hit by pitch a record ten times, and holding the league mark for career times hit by pitch from 1959 to 1985. Minoso also led the AL left fielders in assists six times and in putouts and double plays each four times, and was presented three Gold Glove Awards when he was in his 30s.Minoso first retired from the major leagues following the 1964 season. In 1965, he went to play and manage in Mexico through 1973. He returned to the White Sox as a base coach in 1976, and made brief but highly publicized home plate appearances in three games in 1976 and two in 1980, becoming the third player to get a hit after the age of 50 and the second player to appear in the major leagues in five decades. Minoso's White Sox uniform number 9 was retired in 1983, and a statue of him was unveiled at U.S. Cellular Field in 2004. Minoso was elected to the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame in Exile in 1983, and to the Mexican Professional Baseball Hall of Fame in 1996.

Personal facts

Birth date	November 29, 1925
Birth place	Havana , Cuba

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