Orestes (“Minnie”) Minoso
On this date in 1951, Orestes ("Minnie") Minoso became the first Black Chicago White Sox player.
A veteran of the Negro Leagues' New York Cubans and Bill Veeck's Cleveland Indians, Minoso had a sensational rookie year, batting .326 with 173 hits while leading the league in triples and stolen bases. In a questionable and possibly racist decision, sportswriters gave the Rookie of the Year Award to the Yankees' statistically inferior Gil McDougal.
Minoso led the American League in steals for three consecutive years as a fast outfielder. For his career, Minoso batted .298 with 1,962 hits and is still mentioned as a possible Hall of Fame candidate.
20th Century Baseball Chronicle
Year-By-Year History of major league Baseball
Copyright 1999, Publications International Ltd.
ISBN 0-7853-4074-2
