Banks gone...but Minnie still promoting baseball, Sox

                

The death of Cub great Ernie Banks, first black to play for the Cubs, reminds me that Saturnino Orestes Armas Miñoso Arrieta, known simply as Minnie Minoso, the first White Sox black to play, is not only still alive at 89 (or maybe 91) but still working for the Sox. Minoso had this to say about Banks' death: "The city belonged to him. "Everywhere you move, they don't just talk about him like a ballplayer. They talk about him like a person." That's Minnie, still connected to the Sox nearly 64 years after his debut on the South Side, hitting a center field homer on the first pitch of his first at bat, May 1, 1951. That, and an early season 14 game winning streak is what made me a Sox fan at age 6. Banks was more fortunate than Minnie, breaking the Cubs' color barrier two and a half years later at just 22. That gave him a full 19 years to pile up stats that got him a first ballot entry into the Hall of Fame. Minnie was 26 (or possibly 28) in his first full Sox season but he still was one of the best left fielders, hitters and base runners of his era for 15 years, 12 with the Sox.
Minnie is still swinging for the Hall fences, and striking out due to forces beyond his control.

If you attend Sox opening day you may see two Minnies; the statute erected in 2004 and the flesh and blood Minnie, the best goodwill ambassador a club could have. Come on Hall voters, put Minnie up their where he belongs  with his north side soul brother "Lets play two" Ernie.