Minnie Minoso
⭐ Hall of Fame 2009
Born: 11/29/1923 in Perico, Matanzas, Cuba
Died: 3/1/2015 in Chicago, IL, USA
MLB Debut: 1949-04-19 | Final Game: 1980-10-05
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 175 lbs
Full name: Saturnino Orestes Armas Minoso
Biography
Minnie Minoso, born in 1923, was a distinguished baseball player whose career spanned from 1949 to 1980. Known for his dynamic playing style and electrifying presence on the field, Minoso appeared in 1,835 games, where he showcased his exceptional hitting ability with a career batting average of .298. He recorded a total of 1,963 hits, including 186 home runs, and drove in 1,023 runs throughout his storied career. Minoso was also a threat on the basepaths, stealing 205 bases and demonstrating his remarkable speed and agility, which were hallmarks of his game during the post-war era of baseball.
Minoso's accolades included being named TSN Rookie of the Year and earning nine All-Star selections, recognizing his consistent performance and popularity among fans and peers alike. His contributions to the game were further immortalized when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009, cementing his legacy as one of the sport's greats. Minoso not only excelled statistically but also played a vital role in the integration of baseball, serving as one of the first prominent Latin American players in Major League Baseball, paving the way for future generations. His impact on the game and the cultural significance of his career remain influential in baseball history.
Negro Leagues Career Statistics
Batting
| PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 579.0 | 526.0 | 110.0 | 176.0 | 32.0 | 12.0 | 14.0 | 56.0 | 46.0 | 4.0 | 12.0 | 0.335 | 0.396 | 0.521 | 0.917 |
Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Batting
| Season | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | 172.0 | 155.0 | 26.0 | 37.0 | 5.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 14.0 | 14.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.239 | 0.318 | 0.387 | 0.705 |
| 1947 | 231.0 | 208.0 | 53.0 | 77.0 | 15.0 | 3.0 | 5.0 | 23.0 | 21.0 | 0 | 5.0 | 0.370 | 0.433 | 0.543 | 0.976 |
| 1948 | 176.0 | 163.0 | 31.0 | 62.0 | 12.0 | 6.0 | 5.0 | 19.0 | 11.0 | 3.0 | 6.0 | 0.380 | 0.423 | 0.620 | 1.043 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1835 | 6579 | 1136 | 1963 | 336 | 83 | 186 | 1023 | 205 | 814 | 584 | 0.298 | 0.389 | 0.459 | 0.848 | 26876.4 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | CLE | AL | 9 | 16 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.188 | 0.0 |
| 1951 | CHW | AL | 138 | 516 | 109 | 167 | 32 | 14 | 10 | 74 | 31 | 71 | 41 | 0.324 | 2998.4 |
| 1951 | CLE | AL | 8 | 14 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.429 | 2998.4 |
| 1952 | CHW | AL | 147 | 569 | 96 | 160 | 24 | 9 | 13 | 61 | 22 | 71 | 46 | 0.281 | 1825.3 |
| 1953 | CHW | AL | 151 | 556 | 104 | 174 | 24 | 8 | 15 | 104 | 25 | 74 | 43 | 0.313 | 2565.7 |
| 1954 | CHW | AL | 153 | 568 | 119 | 182 | 29 | 18 | 19 | 116 | 18 | 77 | 46 | 0.320 | 3745.8 |
| 1955 | CHW | AL | 139 | 517 | 79 | 149 | 26 | 7 | 10 | 70 | 19 | 76 | 43 | 0.288 | 1476.1 |
| 1956 | CHW | AL | 151 | 545 | 106 | 172 | 29 | 11 | 21 | 88 | 12 | 86 | 40 | 0.316 | 3816.1 |
| 1957 | CHW | AL | 153 | 568 | 96 | 176 | 36 | 5 | 12 | 103 | 18 | 79 | 54 | 0.310 | 2787.1 |
| 1958 | CLE | AL | 149 | 556 | 94 | 168 | 25 | 2 | 24 | 80 | 14 | 59 | 53 | 0.302 | 2534.0 |
| 1959 | CLE | AL | 148 | 570 | 92 | 172 | 32 | 0 | 21 | 92 | 8 | 54 | 46 | 0.302 | 2273.4 |
| 1960 | CHW | AL | 154 | 591 | 89 | 184 | 32 | 4 | 20 | 105 | 17 | 52 | 63 | 0.311 | 2445.4 |
| 1961 | CHW | AL | 152 | 540 | 91 | 151 | 28 | 3 | 14 | 82 | 9 | 67 | 46 | 0.280 | 1094.5 |
| 1962 | STL | NL | 39 | 97 | 14 | 19 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 4 | 7 | 17 | 0.196 | -379.1 |
| 1963 | WS2 | AL | 109 | 315 | 38 | 72 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 30 | 8 | 33 | 38 | 0.229 | -306.2 |
| 1964 | CHW | AL | 30 | 31 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0.226 | 0.0 |
| 1976 | CHW | AL | 3 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.125 | 0.0 |
| 1980 | CHW | AL | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 8 | 0 | 38 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 3B | 116 | 15 | 102 | 188 | 19 | 13 |
| OF | 1665 | 1272 | 3276 | 139 | 91 | 22 |
| SS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | CLE | OF | 7 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1951 | CHA | 3B | 68 | 0 | 82 | 122 | 14 | 10 |
| 1951 | CHA | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1951 | CHA | OF | 82 | 0 | 145 | 4 | 6 | 0 |
| 1951 | CLE | 1B | 7 | 0 | 37 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 1952 | CHA | 3B | 9 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| 1952 | CHA | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1952 | CHA | OF | 143 | 0 | 322 | 11 | 7 | 3 |
| 1953 | CHA | 3B | 10 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 2 | 0 |
| 1953 | CHA | OF | 147 | 0 | 279 | 15 | 10 | 3 |
| 1954 | CHA | 3B | 9 | 6 | 7 | 11 | 1 | 1 |
| 1954 | CHA | OF | 146 | 145 | 340 | 14 | 8 | 3 |
| 1955 | CHA | 3B | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 1955 | CHA | OF | 138 | 136 | 287 | 19 | 9 | 3 |
| 1956 | CHA | 1B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1956 | CHA | 3B | 8 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| 1956 | CHA | OF | 148 | 147 | 284 | 10 | 8 | 1 |
| 1957 | CHA | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1957 | CHA | OF | 152 | 152 | 293 | 9 | 5 | 2 |
| 1958 | CLE | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1958 | CLE | OF | 147 | 145 | 301 | 13 | 8 | 1 |
| 1959 | CLE | OF | 148 | 148 | 314 | 14 | 5 | 1 |
| 1960 | CHA | OF | 154 | 154 | 282 | 14 | 6 | 3 |
| 1961 | CHA | OF | 147 | 147 | 273 | 10 | 13 | 2 |
| 1962 | SLN | OF | 27 | 26 | 33 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1963 | WS2 | 3B | 8 | 7 | 5 | 22 | 0 | 1 |
| 1963 | WS2 | OF | 74 | 70 | 103 | 4 | 5 | 0 |
| 1964 | CHA | OF | 5 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 8 |
| Third Base | 116 |
| Shortstop | 2 |
| Left Field | 1509 |
| Center Field | 88 |
| Right Field | 107 |
| Designated Hitter | 3 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | Gold Glove | LF |
| 1960 | TSN All-Star | OF |
| 1959 | Gold Glove | LF |
| 1959 | TSN All-Star | OF |
| 1957 | Gold Glove | LF |
| 1951 | TSN Rookie of the Year |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 4th | 141.0 | 336 | 2 |
| 1959 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 12th | 26.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1958 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 18th | 6.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1957 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 8th | 55.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1956 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 27th | 3.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1954 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 4th | 186.0 | 336 | 2 |
| 1953 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 4th | 100.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1951 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 4th | 120.0 | 336 | 1 |
| 1951 | Rookie of the Year | AL | 2nd | 11.0 | 24 | 11 |