ORESTES “MINNIE” MINOSO
Born: November 29, 1925
Died: March 1, 2015
Sunday, March 1, 2015. Minnie Minoso died today in Chicago at the age of 89 – thus, putting a final end to the wildly playful rumor that Minoso might be able to persuade the new commissioner to allow him another “one time at bat” token appearance with the Chicago White Sox this coming season that would expand his career MLB record to a total of six (6) decades as an active big league player. Minnie previously played for five consecutive decades (1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s), but only the first three of those units were serious part of his career. Minoso played three games with the White Sox in 1976 and two games again with the Chicago American Leaguers in 1980 – simply to keep the decade streak going. He was 1 for 8 total at the plate in those two extended decades, with the lone single he collected coming in 1976. When he tried to keep it going in 1990, he was refused permission by then MLB Commissioner Fay Vincent, who rebuked the continuation of this practice as a stunt that detracted from the integrity of serious play.
We don’t think that decision by Vincent was a major setback for Minnie Minoso. He wasn’t the kind of guy who would willfully do anything to hurt the reputation of the game. He was just a fiery indomitable spirit from pre-Castro Cuba who nurtured his love for the game in the heart of all those Latin American countries that breed little boys to grow up fire-breathing baseball as either their ultimate – or only – sports dream worth chasing.
Look out for the landslide of career stories that will now be forthcoming as columns in memoriam in the immediate days ahead. If you are looking to reflect on what Minoso actually did in the 15 serious (1949, 1951-64) and 2 not-so-serious (1976, 1980) years of his MLB career, check out the impressive stats he put together over time on his way to a .298 MLB career batting average. If not everything there is to his story, which they are not, the numbers will serve to help remind you, as it has me, why we have not forgotten the great (BR/TR) left fielder and third baseman. For some of us, he was another premium baseball card hero from our sandlot days – and never one of the cards that ended up as a noise maker in our bicycle spokes.
We shall conclude here with a poem dedicated to both Minnie Minoso and the rest of us. Earlier today, I had a more personal reason to send the same poem to a dying friend, but I have since been informed that he has now slipped into a coma and may never be able to see or hear of it. I almost left it out of this column because of the personal emotions that tie me to the other situation and how they got stirred by the news of his coma. We may almost certainly will never speak again. In fact, even as I write, he may be gone.
That recognition did it for me. The lesson of everyone’s life and death, and that includes Minnie Minoso and my old classmate, who may have left this world on the same day, but their life lessons are also ours. Unless we too already have slipped into comas today, “The Clock of Life” is a poem for all people and all seasons. The sooner we get its meaning, and move on in greater appreciation for each moment we are here to breathe life into today as the only time we ever own, the better.
This one’s especially for you, Minnie Minoso, and for all we may learn from your life!
Rest in Peace ~ with Love and Peace, Orestes “Minnie” Minoso! And thank you for, once upon a time, making our sandlot dreams as blue as the Houston summer skies once were – when yesterday was today. These days, we choose to find the even deeper blue skies of our realization that everything that is beautiful, loving, and possible for us is within reach of us in dependence upon the choices we make each day that we are blessed to be here – and without us waiting for the first obstacle-free day to get started with anything we say is important to us. – You understood that truth, Minnie. Otherwise, you never could have made the career mark you left on baseball.
God Bless you too, as in – Now and Forever!
The Clock of Life
By Robert H. Smith
The Clock of life is wound but once,
And no man has the power,
To tell just when the hands will stop,
At late or early hour.
To lose one’s wealth is sad indeed,
To lose one’s health is more,
To lose one’s soul is such a loss,
That no man can restore.
The present only is our own,
So live, love, toil with a will,
Place no faith in “Tomorrow”
For the Clock may then be still.
The Pecan Park Eagle 
March 2, 2015 at 3:33 am |
Thanks for your reflections Bill on MM’s legacy. As a total footnote Roy Sievers becomes the oldest living member of the expansion Washington Senators: http://thestlbrowns.blogspot.com/2015/03/roy-sievers-becomes-oldest-living.html
March 2, 2015 at 4:04 am |
Emmett – Thanks for bringing Roy Sievers’ ascendancy to oldest living baseball Senator status to wider light. I guess that sort of makes Roy’s legacy over into something akin to him now becoming “The Strom Thurmond” of the Baseball Senators! 🙂
Regards, Bill
March 2, 2015 at 5:41 am |
In my mind’s eye, I see number “9” in White Sox pinstripes in a slightly open stance, crouched down and crowding the plate. Hit by a pitch 192 times. R.I.P.
March 2, 2015 at 6:06 pm |
Did a little digging was anyone aware that he played professional baseball in 7 decades in in his 60’s and 70’s which makes him the oldest player ever to play pro ball:
1993 — age (67) St. Paul Saints Northern League Ind
2003 — age (77) St. Paul Saints Northern League Ind
March 3, 2015 at 1:51 pm |
Wonderful tribute, Bill! I don’t remember ever actually meeting Minnie,
but I heard so much about him that It made me feel as if I knew him. I suppose that he will never make it to Cooperstown now. With all the emphasis on offense as a requirement, it makes me wonder why his lifetime .298 hasn’t won him a place in the Hall!
I really like the poem. Thanks for sharing and Blessings to you and your very ill friend.