ESPN reported that multiple legendary players from the Negro League were recently inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Buck O’Neil joins Gil Hodges, Minnie Minoso, and three other legends in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Former Minnesota Twins teammates Tony Olivia, Jim Kaat, and Bud Fowler were all chosen by pair of veterans on the committees. However, both Olivia and Kaat are 83 years of age and the only amongst the living. The six new inductees will be honored in July 2022. David Ortiz, Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and Curt Schilling are all first-time candidates on the ballot.
The new rules honoring Negro League contributions grant an opportunity for O’Neil, Minoso, and Fowler were to make the Hall of Fame. In December of last year, Major League Baseball made a significant correction to its record books, addressing a long-standing oversight in the history of the game.
Buck O’Neil’s contribution to the Negro League
O’Neil was a two-time All-Star at first base in the Negro League. He was the first Black coach in the National or American league. O’Neil became an ambassador for the sport before he died in 2006 at the age of 94. O’Neil’s life-size statue in Cooperstown will continue his honor forever.
O’Neil’s body of work has unfortunately gone undetected for the casual fan. The release of the nine-part Ken Burns documentary “Baseball” made the casual fan understand better. The Negro League is rich in history and baseball knowledge. The number of legends that the MLB benefited off from the Negro League is astronomical and even more concerning the casual baseball fan tends to have no clue.
Who was Minnie Minoso?
Minoso earned two All-Star selections in the Negro Leagues before making history as the Chicago White Sox’s first Black player in 1951, as reported by ESPN. He was born in Havana, while with the White Sox and Indians he was a seven-time All-Star. He was better known as the “The Cuban Comet”.
Minnie Miñoso paved the way for Cuban-born players like José Abreu, Yasmani Grandal, Yoán Moncada and Luis Robert.
The Cuban connection is strong on the South Side of Chicago and it doesn't stop here. pic.twitter.com/1SOxZ075jb
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) August 21, 2020
Ironically, there was nothing mini about Minoso. He hit over .300 eight times with the Cleveland Indians and Sox. He topped the American League in stolen bases on three occasions and consistently hit double-digit home runs throughout his career. Not to mention, he won three Gold Gloves playing left field.
The White Sox retired his jersey number in 1983. He later remained close to both the organization and its players before his passing in 2015.
