The great “Miñoso” was born in 1925

minnie-minoso

Saturnino Orestes Armas (Arrieta) Miñoso was born in El Perico, Cuba, a town near La Habana, on this day in 1925.   He learned to play ball in the sugar cane fields.

Orestes made his debut in 1948 with Cleveland but became a regular in 1951 with the Chicago White Sox.   From 1951 to 1961, “The Cuban comet”, as he was known, was one of the most consisent hitters in the American League.   He led the AL in triples 3 times, once in hits, and 4 times in stolen bases.

Overall, he retired with a .298 career batting average and 1, 963 hits.   His average dropped under .300 because of his last 3 years when he was no longer the same hitter.

The great “Miñoso” died in 2015 and remains one of the most popular players in White Sox history.