MLB History: The best major leaguers to come out of Cuba
By Bill Felber
5. Minnie Minoso, Havana, Indians, White Sox, Indians, White Sox, Cardinals, Senators, White Sox, 1949-1964, 1976, 1980, +50.5
Saturnino Orestes Minoso took a circuitous path to the majors that began in the sugar cane fields of the 1940s, wound through semi-pro ball, and eventually took him to stardom in the Cuban winter league.
The first American to discover his talent was Abe Saperstein, famed as founder of the Harlem Globetrotters, but segregation remained the policy in the majors so Minoso signed instead with the Negro League’s New York Cubans.
In 1948, Cleveland Indians owner Bill Veeck signed Minoso and farmed him to Dayton. Following a brief appearance with the Indians in 1949, Minoso lingered two more seasons with San Diego of the Pacific Coast League before cracking the majors for good in 1951.
Less than a month into his big league career, the Indians packaged Minoso to Chicago in a three-team, eight player trade. The White Sox installed the 25-year-old in left field and he burst into stardom, batting .324 with 10 homers, 74 RBIs and a league-leading 31 stolen bases. Minoso finished second in Rookie of the Year voting, fourth in Most Valuable Player voting, and made the first of an eventual seven All Star teams.
As sharp as was Minoso’s debut, he soon improved. He hit .303 in 1953, .320 in 1954, topped 100 RBIs in both seasons, and led the American League in steals for three consecutive seasons. Combining power with speed, he hit 18 triples and 19 home runs in 1954. His naturally bubbly personality brought him popularity on the South Side even as his game brought him fame.
So it came as somewhat of a shock when the White Sox traded their star back to Cleveland in 1958. In his departure, Minoso would fuel the path to Chicago’s 1959 pennant, the team’s first in 40 seasons, bringing outfielder Al Smith and pitcher Early Wynn in return. Both would be fixtures in the White Sox’ championship run.
In Cleveland, Minoso topped .300 in 1958 and 1959, then was traded back to Chicago prior to the 1960 season. Minoso hit .311 in his return, making his seventh All Star team and winning a Gold Glove. But he was 34 by then and age-related decline had set in. Following the 1961 season, the Sox traded Minoso again, this time to St. Louis.
He returned briefly to Chicago in 1964 before retiring, only to make two encores. In 1976 and again in 1980, Minoso – in his 50s both seasons – signed for brief stints with the Sox that made him the only player ever to compete in five decades. At age 54 in 1980, he made two unsuccessful pinch hitting appearances.