Chisox73
02-27-2006, 05:31 PM
White Sox great Minnie Minoso misses Hall of Fame election
http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20060227&content_id=1324664&vkey=pr_cws&fext=.jsp&c_id=cws
CHICAGO -- Chicago White Sox great Minnie Minoso, one of 39 former Negro League players, managers and executives under consideration for election to the Baseball Hall of Fame by a special committee this weekend, did not receive enough votes for election into the Hall. Of the 39 men being considered, Minoso and John "Buck" O'Neil are the only living candidates.
"I know that baseball fans have me in their own Hall of Fame - the one in their hearts," said Minoso. "That matters more to me than any official recognition. If it's meant to be, it's meant to be, and I am truly honored to be considered. I've given my life to baseball, and the game has given me so much. That's what matters the most to me."
Today's election represented the first time that Hall of Fame voters had considered the entire scope of Minoso's baseball career, which also included playing time in Cuba and Mexico. Nicknamed "the Cuban Comet," Minoso was the first Black Latino in the Major Leagues and the first White Sox player to break the color barrier, hitting a home run in his first White Sox at-bat on May 1, 1951.
"Minnie Minoso is a Hall-of-Famer to the Chicago White Sox," said White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf. "His career statistics place him among some of history's best - but numbers aside, Minnie Minoso helped open the door to Major League Baseball for every Latin player on the field today. Today is a difficult day for the Minoso family, but we are so proud of Minnie and all that he has given to the game of baseball and to each of us in the White Sox organization.
The 83-year-old Minoso is credited by many Latino baseball stars with being a trailblazer, paving the way for Hall of Famers such as Roberto Clemente, Juan Marichal, Orlando Cepeda, Rod Carew and Tony Perez. Minoso continues to give back to the Chicago community as an ambassador for the team and the game of baseball.
http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20060227&content_id=1324664&vkey=pr_cws&fext=.jsp&c_id=cws
CHICAGO -- Chicago White Sox great Minnie Minoso, one of 39 former Negro League players, managers and executives under consideration for election to the Baseball Hall of Fame by a special committee this weekend, did not receive enough votes for election into the Hall. Of the 39 men being considered, Minoso and John "Buck" O'Neil are the only living candidates.
"I know that baseball fans have me in their own Hall of Fame - the one in their hearts," said Minoso. "That matters more to me than any official recognition. If it's meant to be, it's meant to be, and I am truly honored to be considered. I've given my life to baseball, and the game has given me so much. That's what matters the most to me."
Today's election represented the first time that Hall of Fame voters had considered the entire scope of Minoso's baseball career, which also included playing time in Cuba and Mexico. Nicknamed "the Cuban Comet," Minoso was the first Black Latino in the Major Leagues and the first White Sox player to break the color barrier, hitting a home run in his first White Sox at-bat on May 1, 1951.
"Minnie Minoso is a Hall-of-Famer to the Chicago White Sox," said White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf. "His career statistics place him among some of history's best - but numbers aside, Minnie Minoso helped open the door to Major League Baseball for every Latin player on the field today. Today is a difficult day for the Minoso family, but we are so proud of Minnie and all that he has given to the game of baseball and to each of us in the White Sox organization.
The 83-year-old Minoso is credited by many Latino baseball stars with being a trailblazer, paving the way for Hall of Famers such as Roberto Clemente, Juan Marichal, Orlando Cepeda, Rod Carew and Tony Perez. Minoso continues to give back to the Chicago community as an ambassador for the team and the game of baseball.