Minnie Minoso, the first black baseball player in Chicago, died Sunday at the age of 90. The former White Sox star is not only remembered for his achievements on the field, but being a hero to Latin American players that would follow.
He made his debut with the White Sox in 1951, after starting his career with the Cleveland Indians. Minoso was a native of Cuba, and considered by many as the black Latino star of the game.
As part of a 2011 interview, Minoso said he didn’t see the need to make a separate distinction about his race.
“I’m as black as anybody. (There are) two races to me – there is black and white, and I respect the love of both. That doesn’t mean because you’re not born in Cuba, my skin has not changed. I’m black.”
The White Sox retired Minoso’s No. 9 in 1983, and there’s a statue of him at U.S. Cellular Field. His death comes about five weeks after the passing of Ernie Banks, the first black player for the Chicago Cubs.